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Monday, October 31, 2016

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Inspirations - Monday, October 31, 2016


Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.


Mahatma Gandhi – 1869-1948, Indian Independence Leader

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Inspirations - Friday, October 28, 2016


Your imagination is either keeping you stuck or leading you to new territory. How are you using yours?

Sandy Gallagher – CEO of Proctor Gallagher Institute

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Inspirations - Thursday, October 27, 2016


Don’t be afraid to be unique or speak your mind, because that’s what makes you different from everyone else.

Dave Thomas – 1932-2002, Businessman and Philanthropist

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Inspirations - Wednesday, October 26, 2016


The individual who only does enough work to get by seldom gets much more than “by.”

Napoleon Hill

***

THE VOTE: Encouragement & Reflections


There are few things likely to make one more tired of the political process than the focus of the past several months on the national scene.  Despite how tired you think you may be, there is a task and a challenge that needs to be met between now and when the polls close.
There are many things to keep in mind.  One thing is that you being tired, frustrated, and confused are among the many distractions designed to keep you from exercising your rights and responsibilities.  Another thing to keep in mind, is that you are probably not as tired as Rosa Parks was, not as threatened as Dr. Martin Luther King was, not as injured as four young girls who died when an Alabama Church was dynamited. Please remember that Politics are much more inclusive than the much publicized Presidential Election; in fact much of it is local.


On October 14, I attended a Candidate Meet-n-Greet event hosted by (BWPAC), the Black Women’s Political Action Committee.  BWPAC has for years provided a forum for candidates to meet the public, and exchange ideas.  BWPAC provides the location, the food, introduces the candidates, and encourages interactions between candidates and the public.
The forum allows and encourages dialogue in a non-confrontational atmosphere, where concerns can be addressed one on one, or in small groups.  The forum provides one an opportunity to discuss issues without the dramatic, distractive, emotional rhetoric that so often invades our television screens, and tires us of the political process.
A Big Thank You to the organization for their encouragement and support of the political process. The extent of the organization’s political message is this:  BECOME INFORMED AND EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE!

Despite claims to the contrary, it is not the Ivory Towers of the elite that make this nation great, but rather the giving, pain, sacrifice and suffering of many.  Among those were the Indians who helped the Pilgrims survive harsh winters, the first responders of 9/11, those who today help to keep an uneasy peace in a world bent on terrorism, and those who insist that the peacekeepers recognize rights and due process.  Our greatness lies in our diversity and ability to be respectful and accepting of others.  

Below are just a few of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in order that we might work together toward a greater good. They did not leave us towers from which we would look down upon others, but rather foundations upon which we can build. I am so thankful that we did not build a wall to keep them out!



Monday, October 24, 2016

Inspirations - Tuesday, October 25, 2016


Just remember, when you think all is lost, the future remains.

Dr. Robert H. Goddard – 1882-1945
Engineer, Professor, and Physicist

Jamie Taylor - Alumni Spotlight - September, 2016

Alumnae Spotlight September 2016

Source: http://www.laurelschool.org/page.cfm?p=882

Jamie Taylor ’02

Jamie Taylor '02 Alumnae Spotlight photo

Jamie Taylor always has loved the game of golf. Having known from a young age that golf was her passion and her desired profession, Jamie spent her youth dedicating herself to the sport and improving her game. The lack of a golf team at Laurel was no deterrent; Jamie took it upon herself to start a Varsity golf team in 2000 and captained it until her graduation—leading to a full collegiate scholarship to Gannon University. After receiving a BS in Business Management, as well as an MBA from Gannon, Jamie went on to pursue a profession in the world of golf. She has gone from a program leader to an instructor to a head golf professional, receiving her LPGA Class A Membership in 2013. Currently the Event Coordinator for the LPGA Foundation, she spends her days envisioning, creating and executing golf clinics for girls across the country and around the world. She loves not only immersing herself within the sport, but being able to give back to communities and introduce the game of golf to girls from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Jamie entered Laurel in the Sixth Grade. In Upper School, she played volleyball, tennis, basketball and, of course, golf and was the President of the United Cultural Society and the Vice President of Student Government her Senior year. She is a proud member of the Green Team.
What was your favorite class at Laurel?
My favorite class was Spanish. I love learning new languages and about other cultures. I loved that Senora Harrison made us speak Spanish during our entire class period. Senoras Harrison, Hardy and Villaseca gave us such a great foundation that I was able to teach my college Spanish class when the teacher struggled to convey some of the fundamentals to my classmates!
What do you think makes a Laurel education distinct?
Laurel gave me the confidence to speak up in the classroom. Before Laurel, when I attended public school, we had to raise our hand and wait for the teacher to call on us. When I came to Laurel, open dialogue was encouraged. And now as an adult, I have no problems speaking up in a room full of top executives. Laurel also encouraged us to be independent women, not having to fit a mold. As an African American woman in the golf industry, I do not have many role models that look like me. So for me to get into the industry, I was able to have the confidence to apply for jobs that were not easy to obtain because of the confidence that Laurel instilled in me.
What do you feel is the greatest strength of an all-girls school?
The best thing about going to school in an all-girl environment was being able to be myself. Women are nurturing creatures. So I was able to be comfortable with myself and not be criticized for it. I also was empowered by my classmates who excelled in so many areas. Laurel does a great job recognizing girls for their accomplishments at all ages, and that was motivation for me to want to excel.
What drew you to Gannon University after Laurel?
There were many things that drew me to Gannon—having a female golf coach; attending a university with small classroom sizes; not having to walk more than four blocks to get to classes; and having a college president who took pride in knowing the entire student body by first name. But, the initial draw to Gannon was that the chairs in the admissions office were just like the ones in Laurel’s admissions office. That little reminder of a familiar place was the icing on the cake!
Did you always know you wanted to be involved with the LPGA?
I knew that I wanted to be a golf professional since the age of 12. One of the biggest benefits is that I can teach golf anywhere in the world as an LPGA member. Many countries seek us out because we are highly regarded. The LPGA Headquarters was not a place I considered employment, only because I thought living in Florida would be unbearable! But fortunately, I get to work indoors when I am in town. I still get to travel around the world and teach and that has always been my dream.
What does your job entail?
I am responsible for organizing golf events for the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Program. I typically have many phone meetings with tournament directors or golf course managers to talk about logistics on how we can execute a clinic at their facility. Then I have to come up with what the event will look like, recruit other female teaching professionals to assist, and set up the registration for the event. On-site, I set-up and facilitate the clinic with my co-workers and do a lot of posting on social media. My favorite part is after each event, our team gets together and discusses the highs and lows so that we can make the next event even better. We are a unique team because we are one of the few all-female departments at the LPGA.
What do you love most about the sport of golf?
I love the challenge and that no round of golf is the same. I am extremely competitive, so having to play against myself and the golf course is exciting! I also enjoy being outside and seeing nature in various forms. It’s like walking in the park while hitting a little white ball.
Describe one of your greatest challenges.
When I was laid off from my first job with the First Tee of Ventura County in Ventura, CA, after four months, I almost left the golf industry. I was not sure how to recover and ended up going back home and re-evaluating what I wanted to do with my life. I even worked a temporary job at an engineering company as a marketing assistant. Fortunately, some of my Laurel friends encouraged me to continue teaching, which led to running a golf camp for the Cleveland Metroparks, three months later. That job led to a full-time position as a head golf professional, only ten months after coming home. I had that job for seven years and was able to get my LPGA Class A membership certification paid for through that job.
How do you think Laurel has influenced your life since graduation?
I can say that my college experience was much easier than Laurel academically. Laurel prepared me to be very organized and have good time management skills. It was easy to seek help when I struggled in a subject because I was comfortable asking for help when I was at Laurel. Above and beyond college, my steady friendships with Laurel alums have allowed me to make professional connections. Laurel has supported me during my career, even to the point of having alums take a golf clinic with me.
What advice would you give to current Laurel girls?
I would tell any Laurel girl to live a limitless life. I have gone through some scary moments and have lived to see some great outcomes. Do not let anyone prohibit you from pursuing your dreams. And start pursuing them now! Do not let your adolescence prohibit you from already starting to work towards your adult goals.
What do you do for fun?
I like to travel to foreign places whenever possible, to try new foods and to have new experiences. I get bored easily, so I am always looking for new ways to enjoy life.
What has been the most surprising life lesson you have learned?
The best lesson so far is that I can learn from anyone. I have had the pleasure of teaching golf to people as young as 3 and as old as 95. Each student I encounter teaches me new ways to think or do things. It is so exciting when a person takes in information in a new way. It keeps me fresh and gives some innovative ways to teach!

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Inspirations - Monday, October 24, 2016


If you don’t fail now and again, it’s a sign you’re playing it safe.

Woody Allen – Actor and Director

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Inspirations - Friday, October 21, 2016


To sit back and let fate play its hand out and never influence it is not the way man was meant to operate.

John Glenn – Astronaut and U.S. Senator

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Inspirations - Thursday, October 20, 2016


The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind.


William James (1842 - 1910)
American Philosopher and Psychologist

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Inspirations - Wednesday, October 19, 2016


If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.

Frank A. Clark – 1860-1936, Lawyer and Politician

Monday, October 17, 2016

Inspirations - Tuesday, October, 18, 2016


The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions – the little soon forgotten charities of a kiss, a smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge – 1772-1834, Poet

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Inspirations - Monday, October 17, 2016


I was an overnight success alright, but 30 years is a long, long night.

Ray Kroc – 1902-1984, Businessman and Philanthropist
Visionary Builder of McDonald's Restaurant Chain

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Inspirations - Friday, October 14, 2016


As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.

Andrew Carnegie – 1835-1919, Industrialist

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Inspirations - Thursday, October 13, 2016


If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?


T.S. Eliot
Essayist, Publisher, Playwright

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Inspirations - Wednesday, October 12, 2016


Shallow men believe in luck, believe in circumstances -- it was somebody's name, or he happened to be there at the time, or it was so then, and another day would have been otherwise. Strong men believe in cause and effect.


Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)
American Poet and Essayist

Monday, October 10, 2016

Inspirations - Tuesday, October 11, 2016


It’s not what you do once in awhile; it’s what you do day in and day out that makes the difference.


Jenny Craig – Weight Loss Expert

Sunday, October 09, 2016

Inspirations - Monday, October 10, 2016


Opportunity often comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat.

Napoleon Hill – 1883-1970, Author of Think and Grow Rich

Thursday, October 06, 2016

Inspirations - Friday, October 7, 2016


You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.


Ralph Waldo Emerson
American Poet and Essayist

Wednesday, October 05, 2016

Inspirations - Thursday, October 6, 2016


Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstances.

Bruce Fairchild Barton (1886 - 1967)
American Advertising Executive

Tuesday, October 04, 2016

Inspirations - Wednesday, October 5, 2016


Remember that if the opportunities for great deeds should never come, the opportunities for good deeds are renewed day by day. The thing for us to long for is the goodness, not the glory.

F.W. Faber

Monday, October 03, 2016

Inspirations - Tuesday, October 4, 2016


If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live a life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.


Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862)
American Philosopher and Writer

Sunday, October 02, 2016

Inspirations - Monday, October 3, 2016


To love what you do and feel that it matters -- how could anything be more fun?

Katharine Graham (1917 - 2001)
Chairman of Washington Post