Brennan's April Blog

2011-04-07

It seems like yesterday that I was writing my first blog entry as a National Officer and now I am writing my last. When I look back on this year, all I can think of is the song, “Don’t Blink,” by Kenny Chesney. I just remember last May when I was around my best friends and I almost collapsed with excitement as they called my name because I won the election for Western Region Vice President. It was the best feeling of my life and I will never forget it. Also, I will always cherish the memories that I have experienced this past year with DECA members from all over the country. I guess life really does go faster than you think, so remember, “don’t blink.”

I would just like to thank everybody that I have met this past year for making this the best year of my life. I would have never imagined four years ago as I took my first steps into my marketing classroom, that this would have all happened. I have traveled to some of the best cities around the United States and even to a third world country in Africa. I have met so many wonderful and genuine people from all across the world, and many of them I will stay friends with for the rest of my life. Thanks again to everyone for all the memories over the years, they mean so much to me.

I just would like to give three tips of advice, that I have learned from all my experiences these past four years. Hopefully you can learn from my situations, and you won’t make the same mistakes I have made.

1. “The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.” – Abraham Lincoln

Throughout life, you will work with people you don’t get along with - people you don’t agree with, people who are not your friend. When I first started my DECA career, I always thought I was right, and I never listened to anyone that wasn’t my friend. To sum it up, I did not work well with people I didn’t get along with. The moral of the story: no matter if you want it or not, you are always going to have to work with teammates that you may not get along with. At the end of the day, you need to put your problems behind you, and focus on the task at hand. There is nothing more important than teamwork and accomplishing the goal. Wipe away the bad and hold on to the good. Remember, you will ALWAYS have something in common with anyone you work with, so start there.

2. “You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it. Period.”- The Pursuit of Happyness

My next piece of advice is simple: go after your dreams. Decide what you want, go after it and don’t let anyone stop you. I don’t care what anyone else says, everything in life is 100% mental. Therefore, you can do whatever you want in life. If you want to be an astronaut, be an astronaut. If you want to be a millionaire, be a millionaire. If you want to go to Harvard, go ahead and do it. Go after your dreams, don’t let anything get in the way, and have fun along the way.

3. “No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change.”- Barbara de Angelis

Want to be happy in life? I have the solution…be happy! Don’t care what anyone else thinks or says, and do what makes you happy! If you don’t like something about your life and you are not happy about it, change it! You control your own happiness and that is all there is to it. Don’t focus on the bad things; focus on the positive in your life. Remember, you are the captain of your ship, on YOUR pursuit to happiness.

I forgot to add one thing, make sure you if you guys go to ICDC, take part in the DECA 5k! Please make sure to join my team as well! It is a competition between the National Officers on who can get the most teammates. You should join my team because I am actually running the race along side my teammates in preparation for my races over summer like the Tough Mudder. Plus, I am dressing like a full size AVATAR! I will paint my whole body blue and look exactly like the characters you see in the movie! Who wouldn’t want to be lead by an Avatar? I think no one. Aside from the competition, it is very important that you join the race because all the money is going to benefit MDA. Not only will you be benefiting MDA, but you will also have the opportunity to win one of six I-Pads or even a cash prize! Even if you don’t want to run or walk, you can still donate money. Thanks ahead of time for all the people that donate to MDA.

Remember that if you guys ever need anything, email me at decabrennan@gmail.com or add me on Facebook (Search Brennan Boehne). Thanks for reading and I can’t wait to see you in Orlando!

Yours truly,

Brennan