"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end"

I know it has been a while since I have written. Where to begin?

At the end... cause "every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."

2010 ended with me preparing for the Passion 2011 conference in Atlanta. It was SO amazing!!!! Starting on the first day of 2011, in just 4 short days, 22,000 college students raised over a million dollars for social injustices around the world.

There is strength and impact in numbers.

And our age is not a limitation:

1 Timothy 4:12

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Louie Giglio started out the conference saying 2 things that really stuck out to me:

1. TIME's  Person of the Year was Mark Zuckerberg who is only 26. He undoubtedly changed the way we communicate and ultimately impacted the entire world. And, Louie said, we can impact the world too. Soooooooo true.
2. He pointed out that this New Years was 1/1/11. And 1 is the number of new beginnings. And that many ones represent lots of new beginnings for 2011. 

 And, according to Semisonic, "every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."

I think this is really true too.

As I start out the beginning of 2011, I face an end: It is "Closing Time" for college.

Their song sums it up for me:

Closing time
Open all the doors and let you out into the world
...

Closing time
You don't have to go home but you can't stay here

As my final semester unfolds, I don't know where it is that I'll be going BUT I look forward to new beginnings...

And impacting the world :)

I hope you do too, embracing 2011 as a year of new beginnings, whether you are a senior in college or a senior citizen... 12 or 20 or 103 or anything in between.

Best of luck in 2011!!!

Also get excited for November... 11/11/11 ;)

Growing Up and Growing My Network - Center for Women's Speed Networking Event

Monday night made me an adult. Or at least it made me feel like one.

I walked into the Center for Women’s 9^th Annual Entrepreneurs Networking Event, wearing slacks and carrying my first set of official business cards. I went in as a senior in college overwhelmed by my future and I left encouraged, empowered, and informed with new contacts and job options.  

I wish every senior had the opportunity that I did. Lucky enough to be serving as the Center for Women intern, I planned to attend the event to help them but I did not realize how much I would be helping myself.

Entering a room filled with tons of tables and wonderful women, I found my place at the correctly numbered table. Each table was numbered for 3 different rounds of speed networking, which was much like speed dating only, at the end of the night you end up with job opportunities rather than romantic ones.

And I certainly did end up with opportunities – many of them. Throughout the two hours I was able to meet and exchange business cards with almost 30 women!?! I have already received an email, a phone call and a LinkedIn request… all from one evening.

I have been told over and over again in college that it is more of who you know rather than what you know.  

I cannot think of a better or more enjoyable way to increase who I know than an event like Monday night’s. It was so encouraging to see women excited and motivated in what they were doing for themselves and for the community. I walked away with job opportunities and contacts but, more importantly, empowerment to feel like I can truly make an impact in my community, as was evident in each of the women I met.

As if this was not enough, the event also increased what I know as well. The incredibly eloquent and entertaining Dr. Elaine Yarbrough spoke on Women’s Wisdom. She had startling statistics and revealing data on how women are disadvantaged starting as children in elementary school classrooms up to working women in the board rooms. Fortunately, she also shared advice on how to support other women and stand up for ourselves in the office, home, and community.

I now feel like I have a jumpstart to do just that because of this event and all the great connections I made there!

If you want to join me, be sure to check out the Center for Women and become a member if you aren’t already.

Annnnnd, be sure to come out to the 10^th Annual Entrepreneurs Networking event in 2011, especially if you missed the fun this year!