Week 17

Week in Review

Monday October 22, 2018

Have you ever just woken up and known that it’s going to be a good week? That’s how we felt when we woke up this morning. It started off with breakfast being coffee cake. What’s not to love about cake being served for breakfast?

Following breakfast, some of us attended an Accountability Leader group meeting. This is where all the Accountability Leaders form every dorm (where we live) gather to discuss everything that has been going on and what the topic of our next small group meeting will be about.

After lunch, we attended our final Toastmasters class. This class has helped us with speaking in front of others. Altogether, we had to do 10 speeches varying from 4 to 10 minutes in length. It has been a good class to help build our confidence. If we can speak to a large group, then how much better will we be at speaking to individuals?

By the end of the day, we were tired, but many of us were still able to get in a workout. Exercise is an important aspect in life, not only for the body but the mind as well. It requires a tremendous amount of self-discipline and teaches you that pride can lead to injury. It’s usually the guy who throws the heavy weight around that gets hurt. Instead, when lifting, as well as in life, we should slow down, really focus on what we are doing and perfect the technique being used. This will lead to much greater results. Keep up the hard work, Fearless Fall ’18.

Wray R. (a.k.a. “Sweet Playground”)

Tuesday October 23, 2018

Today, we had computer lab. For most of us, it feels good to have completed all of our lessons. Some of our brothers are still in the process of finishing up, but they are constantly striving to get it done. Working with the computers is a great accomplishment, and the skills we’ve learned are very helpful to have on the outside.

In addition, we did our Coat of Arms poem – our families are going to love them. The love and support we continue to show each other motivates us to never give up and know that we have each other’s backs. Our class is awesome and full of love for each other. Fall ’18, we have come a long way, and every day we continue to grow. Now that we are at the finish line, it doesn’t mean we stop here; we keep pressing forward so we can be there for our Spring ’19 brothers.

Louis M. (a.k.a. “Bubba Gump”)

Wednesday October 24, 2018

Today, we were up at 7 a.m. as we are every Wednesday for our Servant-Leader meeting. A Servant-Leader meeting is when all the graduates and the present classmates meet to talk about any changes involved or any news that we need to know about in PEP.

After that, we left and then returned at 1 p.m. for our last Entrepreneurship class and test. We had a guest speaker who talked to us about tips for effective presentations. After his lecture, several participants were called up to present different chapters from a book called Integrity Selling for the 21^st century. Afterwards, we ended the day with a pop quiz on integrity selling. The class lasted longer than we expected, but all the information received will be very useful for the Business Plan Competition that is soon to come.

Melvin B. (a.k.a. “Chocolate Sunday”)

Thursday October 25, 2018

Today the class of Fall ‘18 had a break, a day off from going to class. Things are starting to slow down, and this is our last week for tests. While we rested, some of us slept in and some went to help the brothers of Spring ’19. This is a chance for us to pass on knowledge to the new class and help lead them in the right direction.

Yesterday was the last day for Mr. Bert S.’s (a.k.a. “Chocolate Truffles”) class on Entrepreneurship; so, for the class of Fall ’18, this is when we have to keep on pushing and not become complacent. The brothers are all working together on their 7 to 10 minute pitches for the upcoming Pitch Day event. This is where we try to sell people on our businesses. It’s time to show how much we have learned, and we’re all cheering each other on as time gets closer for us to get our shine on.

Tomorrow, we have one more test on the book Crime and Punishment, which is classic Russian literature. So after this, there are no more tests. Afterwards, we will find out our GPAs and who our class valedictorian is. Keep pushing Fall ’18, we’re almost there. Good luck to everyone.

Stephen G. (a.k.a. “Gru”)

Friday October 26, 2018

Today, Fearless Fall ’18 went into class excited about taking our last test. Everyone’s energy was positive and very chill. But not only did we take our last test, we were also greeted by two wonderful guest speakers: Steve H. and David R.

Their presentation to us was about Integrity Selling. The entire class participated very well as we stood up one by one stating our names and our business plans. The feedback we received was motivating and straight forward. Steve H. and David R. were very honest and respectful at the same time. Both guest speakers’ chemistry was on point with one another. By the end of our productive day, we all celebrated together like one big happy family. Salute to all my PEP brothers and soon-to-be graduates.

Kevin B. (a.k.a. “Whoppers”)

Expressions

“Life is difficult….”

~ Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled

This is a statement that has probably been said billions of times throughout history, but the crux of this statement is all about what we do when life becomes difficult. For many of us, decision-making hasn’t been our forte. This is the time for us to learn how to make good decisions. Our lives haven’t been easy, as demonstrated by the fact that we are here, but now that we know where we went wrong, it’s time to change our thought processes. The routes of brain synapses are pathways that have been built by thinking the same ideas and responses regularly, like “ruts” in the road. If we have made the same choices and favored handy responses habitually, they have made “ruts” in the road and, like water flowing through the path of least resistance, so our thoughts become automatic. In contrast, when we learn, the synapses take and make a NEW path. It isn’t easy for the electrical impulse to follow a new path because it’s unfamiliar and hasn’t made a “rut” yet. Think about the accountability process: it isn’t easy for us to stop swearing or whatever it is we habitually do wrong, because there is a lane that we always adhere to. It follows that we can change the way we think by using different channels consistently and faithfully. Try to change the way you respond to things that ordinarily irk you, or try to be nice to people you wouldn’t normally even talk to. Say kind things like “thank you” and “yes ma’am” and “yes sir.” Eventually these things will become easier to do because you will be building new neural pathways and change will happen as time progresses. You will grow and become someone you never thought you could be. Change begins in your thoughts, and your thoughts become your actions, and in time your actions become your habits. I pray that all of you will become better people and become gifts to society so that this world will be a better and safer place. Your children need you. Your family needs you. This world needs you.

Gary C. (a.k.a. “Yoda”)