Week 17
Week in Review
Monday August 1, 2016
We cannot get an effective start to the day without Folger’s in our cups. I am sure that everyone can agree no matter where we are at. By the way it’s Monday, yet another reason to start the day and the rest of the week with some coffee. Make that a double shot please. Mondays are computer lab or Toastmasters day. Some of us have a double dose of fun with computer lab and Toastmasters on the same day. Computer lab is always fun for me. I think that this above anything else makes time fly by; there are a few of us that are still trying to get the hang of PowerPoint but little by little we’re getting there.
One thing I can say about my class is that we are persistent; we have not seen a single man in the class just give up because things were too hard on us. It makes me proud to know that we are striving for something better. Now Toastmasters is a different story altogether. I am not afraid to speak on the microphone anymore, this is something I would never have thought of doing in the world. I guess this is another fear that PEP has taught me and my fellow classmates to overcome. As for my class we had a pretty good day in Toastmasters. We had some really great pitches and some that still need a little work, but all around they were pretty good. My PEP brothers have come a long way since we first started this program, and to be honest I have seen nothing but good come out of this class so far. I say this to my brothers: “Keep up the good work.”
Michael B. (a.k.a. Tin Man)
Tuesday August 2, 2016
Three days before our Pitch Day event! As it gets closer the butterflies get stronger. We should be used to speaking in front of people by now, right? After all, we do take a public speaking course. Well, it is easier said than done. It is one thing to speak in front of our brothers, but it is a whole different ball game when it comes to speaking in front of a group of volunteers. We are trying to get all the practice that we can done before Friday. We all went to the PEP room to do a few pray out’s for some brothers who made parole and are on their way “to the house” (what we call being released from prison) and the rest of the day was – you can guess what we did … yes, more pitches. But just because we have Pitch Day coming up on Friday, that doesn’t mean we were excused from our last entrepreneurship test.
The day’s work is not done once we leave class. We still have to study and of course conduct mock pitch panels to get more practice on our pitches. It is hard work but it is necessary for us to be ready for Friday.
Dennis C. (a.k.a. Sweet Chocolate Gummy Bear)
Wednesday August 3, 2016
Awaking today with the knowledge that we were going to be able to learn and grow a little more brings so much joy. Some began the day with our mandatory meetings to see how things are going with everyone. Some awoke having to go to the computer lab to finish up on assignments, and some awoke to looking for a place where they can utilize and help in some way – uplifting and encouraging each other is something we hold dear to our hearts. So it was good we were able to work on our pitches together, holding panels in the PEP room in preparation for the big event that’s only two days away. Trying to shake all the nervousness off, we gave each other constructive feedback and advice. We got through and got a little better at what we are trying to achieve. Later on tonight we are going to hold more panels to make sure it sticks. There are big smiles across everyone’s faces, knowing that they are overcoming and becoming who they are meant to be.
Charles D. (a.k.a. Smokey the Bear)
Thursday August 4, 2016
Today is Thursday August 4th one day before Pitch Day. It is encouraging to watch my fellow classmates practice their pitches one last time before they have to say them to the executives who will be pouring into these very rooms in less than 24 hours. I say that because we are doing a whole lot better than when we first started pitching. All the hard work has paid off. Still, we are all very nervous. If someone is not nervous before presenting their pitch, it probably means that they do not care and do not take pride in their work. Tonight, I will continue practicing my pitch and, hopefully, most of the butterflies will disappear. We have all worked very hard to get to this point in the class; tomorrow will be our time to shine!
Cory D. (a.k.a. Sweet Stutter Box)