Take chances, make mistakes, get messy

I get lots of ideas for things I just have to make happen.

If my inner monologue was a physical entity that people could touch and feel it would look like a Hallmark card and talk in cheesy never-give-up clichés. I am very passionate about people following their dreams, taking risks and embracing their failures.

I got this way because I have failed a lot while trying to make my goals happen. Failing has taught me that if I wasn't able to walk through the proverbial door, then I was going to knock down a wall.

As motivation for you to not give up on your dreams, here are some of my attempts at greatness that didn't work out. It was through the adversity of these experiences that I was able to develop my inner strength.

At age seven I was selling sticks; they weren't normal sticks, I painted them. I would go door to door in my neighborhood asking if anyone wanted a fabulous stick. I got one kid to buy one for 50 cents. My business closed because I realized sticks were not a unique commodity. I am still known as the girl who tried to sell sticks.

I went to a huge high school in San Antonio. Very competitive. I wanted to be involved in everything. Except, you had to interview and be chosen to be in most of the clubs. Here are the organizations I tried out for, but didn't make: Student Senate (twice), House of Representatives (twice), Dance Team (I made it the second year, though, and was put on the varsity team), Peer Support and FRIENDS.

After high school, I went to Kansas State University. During my 4 and half years there, I tried for many organizations and internships that I did not get, including Classy Cats Dance Team- In my defense, my high school dance team did high kick (like the Rockettes). I would like to think that if the Classy Cats were a high kick team, I would have made it. Officer in my sorority (twice)- I was later chosen as an officer (both times) when other girls didn't make grades. This one still hurts.

Greek Week staff. Greek ambassador. Chimes Junior Honor Society. Alumni Student Ambassador. Theta Xi sweetheart. K-State Winter Dance performance- they just don't do high kick! Writing assistant for K-State media relations. Public Relations intern for K-State career services. Fleishman-Hillard internship- my best friend got it. I wanted to die.

Believe it or not, I survived and I figured out some important things about the ways of the world; one of those things being that I could empower myself. Once I realize that fact, I was able to put things in action.

My first venture into this new state of mind was a fundraiser for the victims of the 2004 tsunami. My idea was that if every member of the Greek community donated $1, we would be able to raise $3,500 for the victims. I got the girls in my sorority to help me spread the word. In the end we raised $1,500.

Taking things into my own hands proved to be the best thing I could do.

I started being chosen for things that actually had to do with my major, and I got two awesome internships.

In the end, I had a hefty résumé when I left KSU regardless of my "misfortunes."

My point: Realize that messing up, making mistakes, and taking chances is really valuable to your development into an adult.

Don't play it safe because you think you might fail or you might be uncomfortable. In fact, you should try to make yourself as uncomfortable as possible.

And, realize that as students here, you have the resources you need to make your dreams come true.

You have more than 500 students at your disposal, you have computers at your will, and you have adults ready to help you.

So please, live and learn, mess up, color outside the lines, think outside the box, the world is your oyster, dream big, don't let anyone tell you no, fight for your rights….and on and on.

"If you aren't prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original"- Sir Ken Robinson.