The Arbor Aristocrat Aug. 2013 – Jan. 2015
s e fi i l a u Q r e n n u Local R X s l a i r T c i p m y l for O Students Pursue Internships - X 100 Years of Dairy Farming - x
Tunnels Under SAU Campus? - x Meckleys Orchard Fall Destination- x
Use Your Head Apply to Spring Arbor University
Inside... Student Internships - 12
Tunnels Under Spring Arbor University? - 23
Meckleys Orchard Preps for Fall Festival - 34
Williams Family Farm - 33
Martins Marathon - 43 Local News - 32 National Sports - 32 Chruch Review - 32 Running Recap - 32 Editorial - 32
STUDENT INTERNSHIPS On Campus Internship Assistance Graduation is coming and the working world seems right around the corner. In a mad scramble for job experience, students scour the web for possible internship fits. Students at Spring Arbor University (SAU) can narrow their search by using on campus resources. Chad Melton, Career Advisor in the Office of Career Development, said it is a combination of the Career Development and specific departments to match students with potential internships.
comfortable going into situations. At times this environment can create a space of preparation that wouldn’t be there if you were just blindly applying for something.” When and How to Start the Search Melton recommended starting the internship search as early as sophomore year. He added that some organizations will specifically look for juniors, because it gives students enough time to establish a strong academic foundation in their field.
What is Career Development? The Career Development Office is located in the lower level of the student center under the stairs leading to the Dining Commons. Career Development will help with documentation such as resumes and cover letters, as well as assisting students in polishing interviewing skills.
Kim Hayworth “I think it is helpful to come get ideas on how to make your resume more attractive, because you Kim Hayworth received a new position after are trying to catch people’s eye,” said Melton. the faculty restructuring this fall, and her job “We also help with interviewing skills so you are title is now Vice President of Student Success and Calling. Much of her work requires correspondence with the Career Development. “Within the job market, internships are something an employer definitely wants to see.”
– Chad Melton, Career Development Office
“An initial meeting with Career Development is an ideal start for students (in the internship search process),” said Hayworth. Hayworth said this first meeting is essentially a strategy forming session, where Career
—4—
Development functions to get students moving in the right direction. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the many resources available, including: • • • • •
Linked In Alumni Student family and friends SAU family and friends Faculty
Additional Search Tools Melton said one way Career Development connects students to internships is with an online job board called NACELink. After registering for an account (see table), students can search different internships and begin the application process. “NACElink is one of a few tools offered,” said Melton. “I will post there but it’s not effective as the only option because students don’t get to it. I will also push out internship opportunities to faculty. They are a great resource because they know students best and know if a specific internships opportunity would be a right fit.” Online sources can be used, but Melton said these “cold calls” can be more difficult to find success with. Instead, he emphasized the importance of networking and the use of people you know to bridge the gap between individual and organization.
The Future of Career Development Changes are brewing for the Office of Career Development and the internship connection programs at SAU. According to Hayworth, Spring Arbor will soon be revealing a new center, called the Center for Student Success and Calling. Career Development will merge in as branch of the Center of Student Success and Calling. This change to administration will come alongside a change in internship structure as well. “Currently, internships are housed in individual academic departments,” said Hayworth. “We are building toward an internship clearinghouse, where students of all majors can make connections with potential internships.” Hayworth said she is working with Melton to create opportunities for student employment within the Center of Student Success and Calling. Responsibilities will include assisting students with grad plans, resume and cover letter coaching, and internship search assistance. These positions will be paid. Hayworth said she believes these student leaders will help create a better informed campus. The idea is for the employees to take what they learn working for the Center for Student Success and Calling to help their peers on and off the clock.
Access NaceLink 1. Visit: go.arbor.edu/cougarcareerlink 2. Cick the NACElink logo 3. Create Account —5—
How I Got the Job A recommendation letter, genuine interest, and exceptional preparations can result in hiring. It worked for me, and it can work for you to. I had no plans for the summer of 2014. It was nearing the end of the semester, and my options were slim. The previous summer I had worked electrical construction at the company where my dad works. I was quite sure I could ride his curtails for another summer, and spend another three months sorting parts, fetching wire, and driving forklifts. It was not a bad gig, but it was not exactly advancing me in my studies in professional writing. With this in mind, I asked my journalism professor about internship opportunities. He replied with the exciting news that he had received an email from Consumers Energy recruiting communication students to join a team of interns to complete a summer project. Excited about the opportunity, I emailed back and within a few days a phone interview was set up. By the end of the week, I was interviewing in person for a technical writing position.
How to Stand Out 1. Take Initiative 2. Follow Up 3. Study 4. Be Recommendable 1. Take Initiative In my phone interview, the project supervisor informed me that we would be laying out and publishing the manuals with Adobe InDesign, a program I had never heard of. I told the project supervisor I would prepare in every way possible, and expressed my excitement for the project. Over the next couple of days, I watched hours of tutorial videos on YouTube. To get hands on experience, I violated the “Art Majors Only” policy in the art building computer lab and used their program-equipped computers. Further, per the project supervisor’s suggestion, I set up a meeting with one of our campus newspaper designers and received some pointers from him. These preparations set me apart, because I went into the interview Friday able to show my commitment to the project. I made up for being underqualified by qualifying myself with preparations. 2. Follow Up
I got the job and enjoyed a summer of technical writing on the Consumers Energy Manual Enhancement team. I learned about a unique and marketable form of writing, and how a team functions to carry out a project for a large corporation.
My preparations did not stop after the interview. As my conversation with the Project Supervisor continued during the waiting period, I consistently asked for any additional ways to learn more.
—6—
Additionally, after both the phone interview and the in person interview I sent an Email response thanking both the Project Supervisor and the Project Manager for their time and consideration of my employment. 3. Study My knowledge of Consumers Energy going into the interview process was limited. To set myself up to interview well, I put together a folder. This folder contained a summary of concepts that I learned in InDesign as well as information about company history and operation. I studied this material in the days leading up to the interview and was therefore able to present myself better and ask more applicable questions. 4. Be Recommendable I work hard at school and seek to establish positive relationships with my professors. My journalism professor was more than willing to write a recommendation letter for me because he had seen me put in the work and produce quality writing over the entire semester. His recommendation letter spoke highly of me because he thought highly of me, and contributed to my hiring.
Wedding Planning ••••••• For those that need help www.weddingsarehard.com
—7—
South Central Michigan Works! Something about the Spring Arbor University (SAU) campus was different. Sure, the Christmas decorations in the plaza were new, but that wasn’t it. Perhaps it was the giant blue and white bus parked just outside the student center. That bus was South Central Michigan Works! (SCMW), who came to Spring Arbor University on December 4 to help students with the job search process. The bus was no surprise to me, because I had seen an advertisement on the electronic board outside the Office of Career Development. Chad Melton, Career Advisor for the Office of Career Development, said Career Development plans to partner with SCMW. “They are most prepared to help with fulltime opportunities after graduation,” said Melton.
“They are working to establish stronger connections for internships.” According to the SCMW website, SCMW functions to both provide skilled workers for businesses in the region and connect job seekers to local employers. It says they are the region’s most prominent resource for jobseekers. The bus was creatively printed with the SCMW logo and phone number, but the first thing I noticed was the satellite dish. It protruded from the top of the bus, with its gray receiver slanted up at a slight angle. I walked to the bus, resume in hand, and was greeted by Justin Gifford, SCMW Community Relations Officer. The bus interior was adorned with computers and office chairs. The place was an office on wheels, and seemed like something an FBI surveillance team would use for a stakeout.
—8—
After a brief wait in line, Sandy Vallance, SCMW Program Supervisor, asked about my career interests. She also took my freshly printed resume and briefly explained how SCMW worked. I worked my way down the bus and met SCMW Skill Manager, Sandy Saltz. Saltz found me an open computer at the back of the bus and said, “Oh look, you have a friend.” Confused, I looked at the desk and noticed a little lady bug making its ways across the flat surface. She asked me if bugs bothered me, and I said I would be fine.
Energy
Saltz said SCMW works in partnership with Pure Michigan Talent Connect, a program the SCMW Website defines as a “statewide internetbased labor exchange system.” As the lady bug crept across the desk, I signed up for an account on Pure Michigan Talent Connect, uploading a digital resume for employers to see. It is a testament to the programs connection making abilities that within 24 hours of signing up, I received a phone call from a potential employer. I got on the bus and less than a day later I was talking with a financial company about possible employment in my hometown. This goes to show that a little initiative can go a long way in finding a job, and SCMW provides the tools to cultivate that initiative.
—9—
Coming to the Extraordinary channel in May
Alumni and Internships: Expanding Community More than 30,000 Spring Arbor University (SAU) alumni now live and work around the globe. Many alumni are eager to pour back into SAU and that is where Steve Castle’s new job comes in to play. Castle is the Coordinator of Alumni Relations, collaborating with the Office of Career Development to connect students to alumni in professional organizations. Castle said when students graduate, their relationship with SAU changes but does not have to end.
Steve Castle Coordinator of Alumni Relations
“It is important to stay connected after you graduate, and there are still things we can do for you,” said Castle. “Also, there are things on the other side that you can do for Spring Arbor, now that you are in the working world.”
One way alumni can give back is through connecting with students of similar career interests and exploring internship opportunities. “I encourage students to connect with alumni professionals as early on as possible, even as a freshmen or sophomore, to learn about the profession, set yourself up for internships, and set yourself up for recommendations,” said Castle. Castle gave three main avenues that help bridge the gap between alumni and undergraduates: The Mentoring Alumni Program, LinkedIn, and Alumni Relations events. Mentoring Alumni Program The Mentoring Alumni Program is a networking tool that features an interactive map showing SAU alumni around the globe. It functions to allow students to connect with alumni in their specific field of study. Castle said there are currently 150 alumni in the
— 10 —
program and additional alumni are encouraged to join. Alumni who choose to submit their information and join the program are giving students permission to call and connect with them. “I am working to continue developing it,” said Castle. “It is here, but nobody knows about it. Part of it is training faculty and letting them know that it exists so that they can tell their students to check out the map, and that you can search it by different fields.”
Access MAP 1. Visit arbor.edu/map 2. Click on the map image • Keyword search is on the top right • Click icons for alumni contact info LinkedIn According to Castle, LinkedIn is a professional networking tool. It functions similarly to a resume, identifying your current occupation and information about yourself. The site extends beyond the resume in its ability to foster the building connections between student and professional. “Students can seek out jobs and at the same time, job recruiters can seek out students using their profiles,” said Castle. Castle said the SAU’s LinkedIn page currently consists of 11,500 people, 9700 of which are alumni of SAU or current students. All these people joined the page voluntarily, so there is nothing weird about reaching out to build a network.
“LinkedIn is a really useful tool for alumni connections and internships,” said Castle. The SAU page is searchable for keywords such as specific companies or job types. After conducting a search, students can read individual profiles to find someone with a working experience that matches their career goals. LinkedIn is also used by career development to make connections in new geographical areas, to assist students with specific employment locations in mind. Alumni Relations Events Castle said he also organizes Alumni Relations events. These events allow for physical interaction between students and alumni. “The events seek to bring generations together,” said Castle. “Sitting down with students helps rekindle the passion of what it’s like to be on the brink of graduation, and the stress involved in that.” One event Castle organized was senior alumni banquet that took place homecoming weekend. Steve said 160 people came to dinner, about half students and half alumni. “I love to see events, the Mentoring Alumni Program, and LinkedIn continually develop so it’s a normal experience to say, ‘hey, I am going to Chicago, and I know there are alumni who are excited to welcome me,’” said Castle.
— 11 —
Students Internship Update According to the Spring Arbor University Office of Academic Registration and Records, from Fall of 2013 to Spring 2014, 237 students participated in 253 practicums or internships for academic credit. Spring Arbor University Students have been busy. Of that 253, there were 27 majors represented and five different host countries.
Major Breakdown EDU 51
MKT 13
CMI 5
MIS 2
YMI 1
SWK 27
HES 12
IBS 5
ACT 2
APR 1
PSY 24
SED 11
BIO 4
FLM 1
REL 1
BUS 20
FIN 7
SPA 4
VID 1
COM 19 ECE 19
CRJ 7 CPS 7
SOC 4 POL 3
REC 1 DRA 1
Student Update Johnathon Hall is a junior Biology and Chemistry double major. During the summer of 2014, he worked as an Undergraduate Researcher at Michigan State University Plant Genomics. “I was mentored by a graduate student named Tyler Walter and each day I conducted scientific research about enzymes,” said Hall. “I also attended numerous seminars about scientific
research and graduate school.” Hall said he found out about the internship through professor recommendatios. He credited his hiring success to great recommendation letters from professors, help from the John Beck (formerly of the Office of Career Development) with his resume, and professor review of his application material before submission. “This experience is what made me realize how much I love scientific research,” said Hall. “By doing more hands-on work, I was able to learn far more than what is provided in the classroom. I gained confidence in my abilities as a researcher and realized that I thrive in a research-driven environment.” The internship provided Hall with an environment to cultivate his skills. He said he developed skills in critical thinking, understanding scientific literature, enzyme assays, mass spectronomy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectronomy, protein expression and purification, scientific presentation, scientific writing, and other laboratory skills. Hall advised other students to get internships because it is the best way to explore a field of interest. He gave additional insight into the importance of Research Assistance Undergraduate (REU) experience: “If you are interested in graduate school at all, apply for an REU during your sophomore year of college,” said Hall. “Also, involve yourself in research at SAU. If you don’t get into an REU program after your sophomore year, develop
— 12 —
your resume and apply again during your junior year.” -----------Sarah Beardslee is a senior CommunicationsProfessional Writing Major. She had a unique internship experience in the summer of 2014, when she said she owned a own clothing business for 10 weeks. “I was a professional clothier,” said Beardslee. “I worked in places like Southwest Florida, Boston, Massachusetts, and Okemos Michigan making calls and meeting with clients to measure them.” Beardslee said she honed social media and technology skills in her pursuit for clients. She found the internship using internmatch. com, a free online intern connection service. Beardslee said she applied and conducted the interview over Skype because she was doing a cross cultural experience in Guatemala at the time. Despite the difficulty of sales, Beardslee said the internship provided her an opportunity to practice marketing. She advised students not to limit their internship search to jobs that they are comfortable with.
Open the Door To life changing opportunities
Contact the Student Development Office Today!
“Getting an internship in a skill you aren’t comfortable with is the best way to make your time worth it and broaden your spectrum of skills in a field,” said Beardslee. Beardslee said she preferred the internship to traditional classes and felt better prepared for future employment after the experience. “Having a professional experience in a real business helps calm nerves about the daunting ‘real world,’” said Beardslee.
— 13 —
FEATURE: NATHAN MARTIN The Man Behind the Marathon In September of 2014, Spring Arbor University (SAU) graduate Nathan Martin qualified for the 2016 US Marathon Olympic Team Trials.
trash was almost full,” said Martin. “All of a sudden I see this rough hard thing, I grab it, and it was my wallet. I had thrown away my wallet.” Martin loses his wallet like the rest of us.
However, his opening story was not running related as he arrived 15 minutes late to his interview: “I was late coming here because I lost my wallet,” said Martin. “I was looking everywhere, my room, my car, and I was like ‘where in the world did I leave my wallet?” Martin continued, “I looked for twenty minutes and I couldn’t find it, so I decided to forget about it and head over for the interview. I’m walking out and I’m like ‘wait a minute, I had a doughnut today, a Halloween sprinkled doughnut, and I had a bag with that doughnut. I threw that bag away. Maybe I threw my wallet away too.’” “So, I start going through the trash and I am like ‘wow, there have been a lot of things thrown away since that doughnut bag.’ The
However, he does not quite run like the rest of us. Martin was crowned national champion in two events his senior year in Track and Field. He won both the ten thousand meter run and the marathon, making a name for himself in the NAIA. Martin’s running may seem superhuman, considering his training tops out at 100 miles per week (also see marathon mile splits). Martin also works like the rest of us. Martin said he is a full time substitute teacher for school districts such as Western, Northwest, Jackson, and Hanover Horton. He substitutes for grades kindergarten to eighth. “It’s rewarding,” said Martin. “I get to help out with different kids and see them learning. It’s also really challenging, because there are some kids that you just can’t deal with.” Martin said another struggle he has faced substitute teaching is name pronunciation. “I always mispronounce kid’s names,” confessed Martin. “I’ll say, ‘is there a Tyler here?’ and a kid will be like, ‘You mean Taylor?’” Martin said after spending a day in the
— 14 —
classroom, he runs. “After that I have a few hours to myself and I’m just like ‘I am going to veg out. Chill.’ So how does a man of such speed cultivate his skills, even in leisure? Martin was born in 1989, three years before Super Mario Cart’s debut for the Super Nintendo game system. When Martin was eight, Nintendo released Mario Cart 64. “I grew up playing Mario Cart 64,” said Martin. “It is what I was accustomed to.” At the age of 14, Martin greeted Mario Cart double dash with ready thumbs. It became the game that would frame his collegiate experience including friendships and athletics. Martin said his first pick for characters were Toad and Baby Bowser because of their special power-ups, which he used advantageously in racing.
“… I want to be faster than that!” – Nathan Martin In the sixth grade, Martin said he did horribly. “I probably wasn’t even in the top 30,” said Martin. “It made me mad. I was like, ‘No! I want to be faster than that!’” Then, in seventh grade, Martin finished in the top five. He said people started suggesting he try out cross country. At first, Martin was reluctant. “I was like, ‘I don’t know, maybe,’” said Martin. “Then, finally, I said ‘fine’ and joined the team my ninth grade year.” Martin developed his running skills alongside his carting skills. In 2008, both of his talents blossomed at the collegiate level. He said his favorite Double Dash track is Baby Park, a seven lap Mushroom Cup course. “Baby Park is basically a racetrack. It is really fun because it’s all about drifting,” said Martin. “I have played that course so much.”
Martin is no stranger to the concept of Mario Cart, as he has been racing with his legs since sixth grade. Martin’s elementary school organized a program called Mile and a Third, where the kids would run 1 1/3 miles for time.
One of Martin’s housemates and teammates was Bryan Burk, who is now the Head Women’s Track Coach at SAU. Burk said he and Martin got to know each other through running, and their friendship flourished through Mario Cart. During their time as housemates, their thumbs frequented the controllers of Burks GameCube system. According to Burk, Martin holds the system record for Baby Park with a time of one
— 15 —
minute, seven seconds, and 675 milliseconds. “Baby Park is a guaranteed win for Martin,” said Burk.
second marathon, his first taking place in 2013 when he was NAIA marathon national champion with a time of 2:19.18. In addition to gaining a chance for the Olympics, Martin walked away with $4,000 for his sixth place finish. “If I didn’t have to be responsible, I would spend the money on an X-box One and Magic cards,” said Martin. “But I am going to be smart about it. $2,000 is going straight into savings and the other $2,000 will be operating budget.” Martin said he has found racing post-collegiately to be comparable to certain races in college, but a step up overall.
Martin became accustomed to guaranteed wins throughout his college running career, dominating the Crossroads League. He said he prefers Track over Cross Country because it is easier to stay consistent and establish a pace, and he likened track to his post collegiate experiences in road racing. It took 10 years of double dash training for Martin to master Baby Park and achieve the system record. It took 12 to qualify for the Olympics in the marathon.
“The biggest difference is that in college, I knew that even if I had an off day it was likely that I would still place first. Now, I know that I can have the race of my life and not even compete with the leaders,” said Martin. “It’s a whole other level.” Running professionally is no guaranteed Baby Park win for Martin, but its rewards are just as sweet. Sweet like a doughnut, a Halloween sprinkled doughnut.
After graduating from SAU in 2013, Martin continued to train, with his mind set on the USATF Marathon Championships. Martin said he has been on a marathon focused training program for the past one and a half years, maxing out at nearly 100 miles per week.
The US Marathon Olympic Team Trials are scheduled for February 13, 2016 in Los Angeles California.
On October 6, 2014, Martin ran in the USATF Marathon Championships. He finished in sixth place with a time of 2:15.47 and qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials, sliding below the “B” qualifying standard of 2:18. It was Martin’s
— 16 —
Spring ArborUniversity Men’s Basketball
Coming to a court near you December 2014 — 17 —
NATIONAL SPORTS Ray Rice: Not so Nice Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice is facing league discipline and national scrutiny after the release of an elevator recording showing him assault his then Fiancé Janay Palmer.
degree aggravated assault. Maine said the day after the verdict, Rice and Palmer got married. The league took action on July 27, announcing a two game suspension for Rice. According to Maine, another video was released by TMZ on Sept. 8, 2014. It showed the inelevator altercation between Rice and now-wife Palmer, ending in Rice planting a forceful blow to Palmers head, sending her to the ground. Maine said after release of the in elevator footage, the Ravens cut Rice from the team and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Rice’s indefinite suspension from the league. Tom Pelissero, in a USA Today Sports article AP: Law enforcement official says NFL had Ray Rice video in April, said the Associated Press (AP) published a report that a law enforcement official had claimed to have sent the NFL the in-elevator video in April. Pellisero said the NFL still denies receiving the video.
D’Arcy Maine, in an ESPNW article A Timleline of the NFL’s and Ravens’ Reactions to Ray Rice Incident, said the incident took place on Feb. 15, 2014, with both parties being arrested and charged with simple assault. On Feb. 19, TMZ (a celebrity gossip show) aired a video of Rice dragging Palmer’s limp body from the elevator. Maine said on the 19th it was also revealed that Palmer was knocked unconscious by the blow. On March 27, Rice was charged with third-
Mary Darling, Associate Professor of Communications at Spring Arbor University, gave her perspective on the Rice story from a communications perspective. Darling said the variability in the responses to the two videos was a classic example of visual rhetoric. Visual rhetoric highlights the power of the image, or in this case, moving image. Darling said when something is seen, it can no longer be disputed and the chance to slant or sway the story is lost. She said this has caused
— 18 —
the NFL to scramble because they treated the situation lightly in March, and the violence has been revealed for the world to see. According to Darling, the NFL was acting as a gatekeeper throughout this situation, meaning they had the power to withhold or change the story. Darling also identified motives for the NFL to keep the story hidden, including money. Darling said cognitive dissonance played a role in this conflict. This dissonance was created by the opposing views of the public and the NFL. Darling said the public view was that Rice was a criminal who deserved punishment and the NFL’s view was that Rice was a star, revenue producing player who made a mistake. “(The NFL) had to mesh these two views, and they ended up going with the one that protected their star athlete,” said Darling. “This shows that people, and organizations, have a great tendency for self-deception.”
Go out. Go play.
Troubled Teens Fooball Assoc.
— 19 —
WILLIAMS FAMILY FARM A Family Farm Of the six full-time employees on Williams “People came by the busload, from all over the Family Farm, three are members of the Williams world, to see our milk parlor,” said Brent. family. Amidst the busyness of planting fields, The Williams farm is co-owned by the three harvesting fields, milking cows, and up keeping family members; John, Shane, and Brent the farm, Shane said they like to find ways to Williams.. John is the fourth generation of the give back to the community. Williams family to work on the farm, and his sons Shane and Brent are the fifth generation. “We sponsor different baseball and softball teams, donate to schools, serve on township boards, buy pigs for the 4-H kids in Jackson, and give tours of our farm to elementary school classes.”
Brent said the other three employees are Jeff O’Connell, the farms mechanic, Mark Cisneros, a farmhand, and Roberto Hernandez who works in lactation. “Technology is what makes it possible to operate with such small manpower,” said Brent. John said technology began to change the farm in the early 1940s when they transitioned from hand milking to suction machinery. Brent said this shift in technology put their farm on the map.
— 20 —
Winter is Here Replace old tires, drive without fear.
A message from the Michigan Road and Tavel Headquarters
Life of a Lactation Worker
— 22 —
Roberto Hernandez is one of six full time employees at Williams Family Farm (WFF). Hernandez said his duties include cleaning pens, preparing bedding, mixing feed, artificial insemination, feeding calves, and operating the lactation system in the milk parlor. He has worked at WFF for the past four years. “I love it,” said Hernandez. “There are good people here and Spring Arbor (township) is a quiet place to live.” “The milk parlor includes 21 milking stations,” said Hernandez. “We milk 90 cows per hour and it takes each cow three to five minutes to be milked.” The cows are milked three times per day producing an average of 74 pounds a day with the best cow at 120 pounds. Hernandez said the milk is held in a 50,000 pound capacity tank and the cows collectively produce an average of 20,000 pounds of milk daily. He said a cow’s body temperature is 110 degrees Fahrenheit and milk production can be affected by extremes in the weather. “When it is windy or hot the cows are disgruntled, they eat less, and produce less milk,” said Hernandez. “In the winter they produce more milk because they are eating more to fight the cold temperatures.”
Hernandez said there are 280 lactating cows on the farm, not including calves and 100 heifers. Of those 280, 60 are dry and are kept in a pen where they rest before birthing a calf. “There are probably about 500 heads of cattle total on the farm,” said Hernandez. According to Hernandez there are five pens on the farm, separating cows by age, size, and days of lactation. There is a “fresh pen” for cows recently birthed and another called “pen two” for veteran dairy cows. The pens of the lactating cows are cleaned three times a day while the cows are milked. On Fridays cows that are ready to breed are artificially inseminated. “We have a 42% breeding success rate,” said Hernandez. Hernandez said his favorite part of the job is working with the calves and seeing them grow into heifers and eventually milking cows. His interaction with the calves includes hand-feeding them twice daily for 60 days after they are born. He also wrangles escaped calves, as shown below.
Hernandez works two four-hour shifts seven days a week. The milking shifts are broken up throughout the day and night to give the cows a chance to rest in between lactations. The first shift is from 4:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Hernandez said he normally works the second shift from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and he comes back to work the third shift from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
— 23 —
Hernandez said his history with cows is extensive. He grew up in Mexico on his father’s 60-cow dairy and beef farm. He tried to go to college in Mexico but the two hour commute and the pressures of school prodded him into the workforce. In 1994, he moved to the United States to provide a better life for his four daughters and two sons. “Roberto is a champion for immigration,” said Shane Williams, co-owner of WFF. Hernandez first worked in Ypsilanti, Mich. at Gall Farms. Four years later, the farm closed and Hernandez said he was offered a construction job. “Construction just wasn’t for me,” said Hernandez. “My love is with cows.” After working construction, Hernandez began working at Southford Farm in Napoleon Mich. After 10 years of employment there he learned about WFF from the veterinarian, who serviced both farms. Hernandez finds ways to stay connected with his large family. Eight of his siblings live in Detroit, Mich., and he takes two-week vacations to visit his parents in Mexico. Hernandez said his father, now 81, still performs chores on his farm.
Cell tower On farm = $1,200 Per year
According to Hernandez it is important for everyone to find something that they love. “I have dairy farming in my blood and I think that is what it takes to find joy in it,” said Hernandez. “The cows could become extremely frustrating if I didn’t have the right mindset. I like cows just as my dad likes cows, and that is why it works out.”
— 24 —
Call Country Cellular and cash in today!
A Dairy Cow’s Diet
Ground corn is the other ingredient in the corn based ration. The farm grinds 60,000 bushels of corn per year and each cow consumes seven pounds per day. Brent said ground corn is rich in carbohydrates.
If you think your teenage boys eat a lot, try feeding 280 dairy cows. Brent Williams, co-owner of Williams Family Farm (WFF), said it costs $8.50 a day to feed a dairy cow, twice the cost of feeding a meat cow. Brent said each cow eats 80 pounds of dry matter per day. “What we are trying to accomplish with the diet is to provide the cows with starches, proteins, and carbohydrates to convert to milk,” said Brent. According to Brent, 80% of the cow’s diet is corn based. A large part of this ration is silage, a fermented corn product which includes entire ground up stalks. WFF produces its own corn with 1000 acres of owned land and 500 acres rented.
The non-corn 20% of the cow’s diet includes soybeans and alfalfa. Alfalfa is farmed by WFF and provides protein and fiber. Brent said the soybeans are the only commodity not produced on farm. He said they are purchased from an agribusiness called Bunge North America. The shell of the soybean is called the soy hull. “Soy hulls contain 97% fiber,” said Brent, “we give the cows three pounds per day.” Soybean meal is what remains inside the bean after the oil is extracted. “Soybean meal contains 48% protein and we give the cows four pounds per day,” said Brent.
Brent said from this land WFF produces 8000 tons of silage per year. “The silage is treated with preservatives and stored in an on-farm bunker silo,” said Brent. “Nutritionally the silage provides starch and carbohydrates.”
— 25 —
Breeding to Betterment
What About the Waste?
At Williams Family Farm there are no bulls, and all breeding is done through artificial insemination.
Williams Family Farm (WFF) has more than 280 cows that make a lot of milk and a lot of waste. WFF has taken steps to make sure the manure isn’t wasted.
Brent Williams, co-owner of the dairy farm, said they purchase semen from a variety of companies to mate the cows and produce genetically improved offspring.
“They say 300 dairy cows put out the waste of 12,000 people,” said Brent Williams, co-owner of WFF.
“Say a cow has bad legs,” said Brent. “We would choose semen that has been proven to improve legs on the next generation.” The cows are on a one year cycle where they are milked for 305 days and dry for 60 days. Brent said the dry period is a time to rest after eight months of pregnancy. “The cow’s milk production peaks in the first 90 days after giving birth,” said Brent. Cows produce a different kind of milk in the first four days after giving birth. This milk is called colostrum and it is brown, thick milk that contains extra nutrients for the calf. According to Brent, the farm purchased a pasteurizer for $20,000 in 2012 so they can pasteurize colostrum and feed it to the calves.
The waste is kept in an on-site 380,000 gallon sewage treatment facility. Brent said they take soil samples from their fields and strategically spread the manure in areas of need. “This allows us to completely avoid using commercial fertilizer,” said Brent. Waste is also beneficial because it makes great corn. “It is basically digested corn that we are taking and putting back on the fields, to grow more corn,” said Brent.
— 26 —
Beverage of Choice
One hundred percent of Williams Family Farm (WFF) milk is cartoned by Kroger and sold as liquid commodity, tying the farm’s livelihood to the success of milk. Brent Williams, Co-owner of WFF, highlighted the positives to milk. “Milk is absolutely the safest food product in the world,” said Brent. “They can detect a half a milliliter of penicillin in an Olympic sized swimming pool.” WFF produces grade A milk, a grade closely related to bacteria count. Brent said the milk is extremely high quality and completely free of rBST, an artificial growth hormone. According to the Food and Drug Administration website, rBST is approved for use in human food. Brent said Kroger pays a premium for rBST-free product.
MyPlate says that dairy is linked to improved bone health, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, and reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes. It recommends three cups of dairy daily for individuals over the age of nine. MyPlate states the key nutrients in dairy as calcium, vitamin D, and potassium. It says calcium and vitamin D are used for maintaining bone mass while potassium helps keep a healthy blood pressure. MyPlate also highlights the low-fat aspect of milk, but Brent pointed out that milk does not come out of cow as a low-fat product. Brent said he grew up on the farm and drank milk straight from the tanks, which is three times the consistency of store whole milk. “I was raised on it and I love it, but we don’t drink it now,” Brent said. “It’s so fattening that I wouldn’t be able to walk and my arteries would close.”
Shane Williams (co-owner of WFF) said, “It is a situation where the industry polices itself. The Federal Government allows the hormone, but nobody within the industry will accept it.” The price of milk is competitive with other beverages, including soda. “Milk may seem more expensive, but you have to remember that a gallon is more than two liters,” said Brent. The United States Department of Agriculture outlines the health benefits of dairy on the Choose My Plate Website (MyPlate). MyPlate functions to illustrate the main food groups and daily portions. It says dairy products include nutrients that are important for health and maintenance of the body.
— 27 —
From Cow to Kroger The Williams Family Farm does not pasteurize, package, or distribute any of its milk. So how does milk get from cow to carton? Shane Williams, co-owner of the farm, said they are in a co-op with the Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA). “The MMPA is basically a union,” said Shane. “They guarantee payment and carry liability on the milk.”
This girl
Makes Milk.
Join the fight to keep it that way. Visit cowsaremorethanmeat.com
James Dodson, Director of Sales and Manufactured Products at MMPA, said the MMPA controls half the milk in Michigan and serves 1300 individual dairy farms. “We serve the individual farms by marketing their milk and setting prices based on national and regional standards,” said Dodson. Dodson said MMPA milk is either sent to Kroger or one of two cheese factories. Brent Williams, co-owner of the Williams farm, said all their milk is sent to Kroger’s Michigan Dairy processing center in Livonia, MI. Armand Lawrence, General Manager of Michigan Dairy, said Michigan Dairy pays MMPA rather than individual farms. He said the MMPA also determines the percentage requirements for the different kinds of milk (2%, whole, skim). Any fat removed from the milk at Michigan Dairy is used to make cottage cheese or sour cream. “Our processing center functions to pasteurize the milk and make sure it maintains proper temperature,” said Lawrence.
— 28 —
Camp Kawata •Get wet •Meet friends •Have a blast
Come out and play!
BUISNESS REVIEW Fall Festival Begins at Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farm Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farm is a seasonal destination, offering weekend entertainment for all ages. Their fall festival began on Sept. 21 and will continue through Halloween (Oct. 31). Steve Meckley, 2nd generation owner, said weekend activities include live entertainment, hayrides, pony rides, a pumpkin patch, hot dog roasts, and corn-hole tournaments. Each Saturday also features a unique dinner menu of farm-to-fork foods. The Festival takes place from 12 to 5 on Saturdays and Sundays.
including apples, cherries, peaches, pumpkins, raspberries, corn, and soybeans. Meckley said Apples are the primarily produced fruit and the peach and cherry trees are not in production yet. The farm produces 20,000 bushels of apples annually that are either bagged, pressed into cider, or aged into vinegar. According to Meckley, apples are harvested from late July to early October. After the apples come off the tree, they begin their journey on the grading line. Apples that make it through the check are Grade A, which are bagged to be sold. Apples with blemishes are considered Grade B apples and are used in cider production.
“Live entertainment is free, and parking is free,” said Meckley. “You really can come out here and “We use all of the fruit,” said Meckley. “Even have a nice afternoon on a small budget.” the windfalls are put to use for vinegar The farm was established in 1956 by his parents, production.” Ray and Louise Meckley. The property was reduced to 75 acres when Steve’s brother (one of five siblings) sold the rest. Steve purchased the farm from his parents in 2011. The farm produces a variety of products
Meckley said all apples are sold exclusively at the farm. This follows the tradition Steve’s parents set in place, preferring the farm to stay retail and offer activities instead of going the wholesale route.
— 30 —
According to Meckley, apples removed from the line for cider production are pressed with a rack and cloth cider mill. The cider they produce is not pasteurized and does not contain preservatives. “The rack and cloth mill is not as efficient as new continuous presses or bag presses, but the finished product is, in my opinion, superior,” said Meckley. “This is because it captures a greater essence of the apple that other presses miss because they are operating so fast.” Meckley said vinegar has become an interesting side business for the farm. They started aging vinegar in 2004, when they put vinegar in old
Halfpenny said, “Hard cider is already 15 percent of their overall business, and is expected to grow significantly, reaching 20 percent by the end of the season as they add distribution.” Meckley said the decision to add an alcohol product was difficult because of their stance as a conservative Christian farm, and they toiled with the decision for years. While they decided to go the hard cider route, the farm did adhere to a stricter conservative tradition in regards to Halloween. Meckley said he has had dozens of offers to “haunt” his farm, from haunted corn mazes to haunted orchard hayrides. They have chosen not to promote anything haunted because that is not their identity as Christians. “Halloween is one of those holidays I am cautious about,” said Meckley. “It can be fun to dress up, but on the spiritual side of things it can be a dangerous line.”
oak whiskey barrels to age. Currently, the farm is in negotiations with William’s and Sonoma, a high end specialty foods store, to distribute their vinegar. The farm offers hard cider for purchase, a product they started selling in 2011 after getting their small winemakers license. He said the farm now has seven ciders on tap and distribution throughout the lower state of Michigan. Michigan Beer Guide magazine recently recognized Meckley’s in their September/ October 2014 edition. Rex Halfpenny wrote an article titled Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farm, in which he explores the business of hard cider.
The farm will host a Halloween costume party on October 31st. The party will feature a local musical duet, Simon and Rose, who play everything from Bob Seger to current hits. According to Meckley, the farm is a Christian farm that has a significant impact on the community. He said 1500 to 2000 people come per weekend in the fall, tens of thousands over the entire season. “I am not shy about my faith and I am not shy when challenged,” said Meckley. “If I cannot stand up and say unequivocally that I owe all of our success to God, then pack me up and ship me off.”
— 31 —
CHURCH REVIEW Church Search Assistant: Radiant Church Located just under six miles from Spring Arbor University, Radiant Church provides an additional option for students looking for a church community.
Radiant Church is a non-denominational church that is part of Resurrection Life Church International (RLCI), a church planting organization with the goal of evangelism. RLCI consists of 70 churches with the main hub in Grandville, MI at Resurrection Life Church.
Pastor Michael Popenhagen said Radiant Church’s worship ministry is the focus, According to the Radiant website, before emphasizing the importance of quality and heartfelt worship. Popenhagen leads the worship launching the Jackson location Popenhagen spent 12 years as the Creative Arts Pastor for team and gives the message each service. the Radiant Church Richland location. He is choosing to take on the worship load Popenhagen said after feeling God’s call to temporarily because he is passionate about the city of Jackson, he began to look into it and wants to make sure that it is done in a heartfelt way. purchasing the Spring Arbor Road location. Upon inquiring, he discovered that the building was in the final stages of being sold to a Baptist “We are here to reach people with the love and life giving message of Jesus,” said Popenhagen. church.
— 32 —
“I was confused because I felt God’s calling to pursue this location,” said Popenhagen. “Out of all the places we visited, Jackson felt right.” The sale with the Baptist church fell through. A few days later, he received a call with news that they were accepting his offer. Radiant Church opened its doors for the first Sunday service on March 2, 2014. Radiant Church has since grown to an average of 150–160 regular attendees. They added a children’s program and are in the process of launching Bible studies and small groups. There are specific groups for men, women, married couples, and artists. Popenhagen said the artistic group is an adequate representation of the free market system for small groups. “If a bunch of musicians want to get together and start a small group; that is great. Commonality is a good thing,” said Popenhagen. Popenhagen said the church still has much room for advancement in its programs. He said after launch, it usually takes a Church about 18 months to fully get the ball rolling. Six months in, Radiant Church is still in the growing stage of the cycle and has yet to reach full maturity. They have yet to develop a youth program, and this might be one area where a university student could assist. This fall, Radiant Church will have Sunday services at both 9:30 A.M. and 11:30 A.M. For more information about Radiant Church and Pastor Mike Popenhagen, visit radiantjxn.com.
— 33 —
HISTORY Tunnels Under Spring Arbor University Campus? Under the Spring Arbor University (SAU) campus there are a series of tunnels. Today, they are largely believed to function only in heating, gas, and water supply, but history tells another story. Becky Cunningham, Spring Arbor town historian since 1977, said that it is logical that a series of tunnels functioned to move slaves as part of the Underground Railroad. Slaves were likely kept in an underground chamber under Smith Gym.
determining that the concrete underneath the court had deteriorated, they tore up the floor boards to fix the problem. Bortel said they removed the faulty concrete under the floorboards and found a room underneath with an old boiler in it. Cunningham said it was not farfetched to imagine slaves stopping in Spring Arbor because slaves often found haven in Michigan on their way to freedom in Canada.
David Bortel, the director of Maintenance in 1968, confirmed that there was a room under Smith Gym.
To understand the rest of the Underground Railroad history, Cunningham said it would be necessary to address the beginnings of the campus.
He said in 1968 there were complaints of sponginess on the basketball court. After
Cunningham said the original founders of the campus on White Pigeon Road (M-60) were
Girls Dorm
Chapel and Classrooms — 34 —
Freewill Baptists, a religious entity with an antislavery platform and speculated involvement in the Underground Railroad. In 1844, the Freewill Baptists built two buildings on the north side of M-60. Cunningham said one was a girl’s dorm, in which was located a kitchen. The other was a chapel with classrooms on the upper floor. The school was called Michigan Central College (MCC). Later in 1844 the President of MCC, Edmund B. Fairfield traveled to New York to raise $700. That money was used to buy another half-acre on the south side of M-60, next to Teft road (now Marino’s Pizza). There, a building was constructed that served as a boy’s dorm for MCC.
above and a glass window under the basement stairs from which one could observe the activities of the basement. Evidence of exits in the cemented basement walls suggested the possibility of tunnels to the north (across M-60).” Unfortunately, in 1971 the Teft dorm was demolished. This was before Cunningham had commenced her historical studies, so no one knew to investigate the basement for the presence of tunnels. “There is nothing to prove the Underground Railroad information,” said Cunningham. “The only evidence we have is from Hillsdale records and personal accounts.” One such personal account came from David Shearer, who lived in the Teft dorm in the 1940s. In 2003, Cunningham said she interviewed David Shearer at the funeral of his father, Harold Shearer. Shearer was an adventurous boy, said Cunningham. At the age of 13, he ventured into the tunnels of Spring Arbor.
Cunningham said Shearer described entering the tunnels near the south end of Smith Gym. There, he entered a boiler room and opened a door into the tunnels. He described walking through a five foot high chamber with a cement ceiling. Shearer continued north, near M-60, In 1873, the Teft dorm was sold to Moses Lester where he was stopped by a bricked off wall. Hart who turned it into a grocery and farm supply store. Hart’s son, Edward Payson Hart, Current SAU Maintenance Supervisor Tom founded what is now Spring Arbor University in Zeller gave a more recent history of the tunnels 1873. that service campus. Zeller said the tunnels originally functioned to facilitate Ormston, Cunningham said (about the Teft dorm), Muffet, Sayre-Decan, Smith Music Building “Residents recalled knowing of a cemented (SMC), and the Business office. basement that had a trap door in the closet
— 35 —
“That was back when that square of buildings were the entirety of Spring Arbor University’s campus,” said Zeller. Zeller said most of the tunnel piping is inactive but some still functions to deliver water, gas, and power to Ormston, Muffet, Business Office, Sayre-Decan, SMC, and Whiteman Gibbs Science Center. The tunnels run under the sidewalks and the grates in the sidewalk are access points. The tunnels dimensions are approximately four feet wide by three feet high. While these dimensions are slightly different than those described by Shearer, Zeller said, “Under Whiteman Gibbs, there are places where it is possible to stand up.” Zeller said he was aware of student’s fantasies concerning the tunnels. “It is nothing as dramatic as the medieval caverns students might picture,” Zeller said. “It’s just a crawl space where pipe is run, and most of the reason maintenance ever goes down there is for periodic inspections.” Students still find intrigue in the tunnels. “It was exhilarating, dangerous, and a taste of the wild side of life,” said the anonymous student who ventured into the tunnels with seven others.
“There were names on there that I never would have expected,” said the student. “I take a lot of pride in my legacy on this campus, and to maintain that legacy I felt it necessary to get my name on that wall.” Zeller said he suspects students to be interested in learning the tunnel access points. “Students are always looking for things to do,” said Zeller. “They should be aware that every access point is locked up.”
Year 1844 1873 1940’s 1968 1971 1977 2003
The student said it was cold and dark in the depths of the tunnels and crawling was required for a majority of the one hour journey. He said there was one part where standing was possible and in that area there was a wall that is covered with names.
— 36 —
Event - Freewill Baptists build two buildings on campus - Michigan Central College formed - Teft Dorm built - Teft dorm sold and turned into a store - Spring Arbor University founded -David Shearer explores the tunnels - Smith Gym torn up and room underneath found - Teft building demolished - Becky Cunningham becomes town historian and begins research - Cunningham interviews Shearer
W
he
e h t n
re u t fu
li s l fee
b a e k
. . . r lu
(324) 322-7677
C
C
Call Career Caretakers
for a personal talent assesment session
LOCAL NEWS Miles of Memories It took ten months, three weeks, and three days for a Spring Arbor Township couple to drive every road in Jackson County. John Ball, 53, and Sarah Ball, 52, drove their last road on March 2, 2014. Joseph Michalsky, Director of Engineering for the Jackson County Department of Transportation, said there are approximately 1300 roads in Jackson County. He said there are a total of 1,863 miles of roads; 544 miles of major roads, 253 miles of gravel, and 280 miles of highway. Their hobby began April 8, 2013 on John’s 53rd birthday when visiting Pinetree Centre Antiques in downtown Brooklyn. Sarah said she was the one who enjoyed antique shops, but they did it on John’s birthday anyway.
Fast Facts Miles of road in Jackson County - 1,863 Day’s to drive them all - 328 Miles per day - 5.67 “I think they are more of junk shops,” said John. The couple did not share antiquing in common, but John said they both enjoyed car rides. So when he found a free map of Jackson County that day at the shop, John said he cooked up a plan to drive all the roads. John’s brain functioned systematically, so he tried to drive the streets in an efficient way, said Sarah. John said this became difficult and they ended up having to go back and drive the
— 38 —
random roads they had missed. Drives were spontaneous and they either went on weekends or in the evening. Trips took half an hour to five hours and usually it was just the two of them and John always drove. They would take the map with them and highlight roads as they went. “We called it making yellow,” said Sarah. “We yellowed all the roads and highways in Jackson County.” The motivation was not to find the hidden treasures of Jackson County, said John. Sarah added that there aren’t really any hidden treasures in Jackson. “I did like looking at the old farmhouses,” said Sarah, “but really the hobby functioned as marriage counseling for us.” “It was more about what it wasn’t than what it was,” said John. “The purpose was just to spend time together.” Being alone in a car together gave them the freedom to talk without the pressure of time. John said it was fun to go at their own pace on back roads and look at deer, turkeys, raccoons, and skunks. Sometimes they would drive on a road in the opposite direction to get back to another. “It is funny how much different a road can look from the opposite way,” said Sarah.
in the smoke from a burning pile of trash next to them,” said John. Sarah said the Southwest region of the county showed signs of poverty. The Waterloo area, on the other hand, looked to be wealthier. They enjoyed the Natural Beauty Roads in the Waterloo Area. According to the Michigan DNR website, natural beauty roads are recognized for their beauty and preserved for the use of the public. “If you ever want a place to take a lady friend, the Waterloo area is beautiful,” said Sarah. Their hobby was unique, because it didn’t require much money or specific destinations. Once in a while, Sarah said they would get a meal together or buy fountain drinks from McDonalds. “It was about the simplicity, fun, caring, touching, and listening while driving around making yellow,” said John. The Ball’s enjoyed the hobby so much that they want to continue. John said they had considered driving the counties surrounding Jackson, but the travel time would ruin the spontaneity of the drives. Instead, he said their next idea is to purchase a paddle boat and paddle every lake in Jackson County.
Through their travels they noticed the discrepancy in wealth to be dramatic throughout the county. “One image that has been burned into my head from our drives is of kids in a front yard playing
— 39 —
EDITORIAL
— 40 —
Why I Run I have run 12,443 miles in the past six years and gone through 19 pairs of running shoes. Assuming I average seven minutes and 30 seconds per mile, I have totaled about 1,555 hours of running, which equals about 65 days. The question that so frequently begs to be answered is, “why do you run?” Many people do not understand why I dawn three layers, step into the negative ten degree air, and run for an hour. If I say, “I am doing an easy eight miles today,” they do not understand how “easy” and “eight miles” could be uttered in the same sentence. I do not understand how these people function without physical activity, running in particular. Though running is exerting at the time, it has a particular quality of refreshment that keeps me coming back for more. When I run, the stresses of the day shake off my back as I lengthen my stride, and frustrations cease to afflict. My sentiments are backed up in the scientific world, where the concept of “runners high” is being explored. Jesse Pittsley, PhD and President of the American Society for Exercise Physiologists said in a WedMD article titled “Runner’s High: Is It for Real?”,
movie theater and. If you want to really see it, you have to get out of your car and run up a mountain. Anybody settling for scenic drives or paved hikes are only experiencing the tip of the iceberg. In my experience, the backwoods trails and rugged routes provide the most rewarding scenery.
National parks and extravagant monuments are not necessary for adventurous runs. Rather, there are opportunities in town, just out the door. Did you know that there is a lake one and “Psychologically, runners may experience a half miles away from campus? Did you know euphoria, a feeling of being invincible, a reduced there is a historical Indian Burial Grounds site state of discomfort or pain, and even a loss in three miles from campus? Did you know there sense of time while running.” used to be an Elk Farm in Spring Arbor? I ran, I saw, and I conquered; and you should too. I do not understand why some people think running is lame. Is it the short shorts? Get Also, the team aspect of running is intricately over it. The adventure involved in running is woven into my athletic motivation. One of another reason I run. Nature is not a drive-in the many functions of team is preparation for
— 41 —
the work environment. The coach is the boss, the teammates are the coworkers. The coach has a vision for the team, which frequently collides with the personal visions of the athletes. Reconciling these differences is one of the most important lessons to be learned from being on a team. Additioanlly, a team provides an outlet to learn about relationships. Whether I like my teammates or not, I am stuck with them. I spend two and a half hours with them every day at practice and take cross country road trips by their side. Being on a team forces different people to come together and work in harmony. If an athletic goal is to be accomplished, teammates have to learn to see past personal differences and learn to interact with each other. The same goes for the workplace. Coworkers are not chosen from a lineup, and there will be people from many different perspectives.
Running is not always rainbows and chocolate covered peanuts. There are poor races, defeat, and the ever threating plague of injury. I have determined, after two years of frequenting the training room, that running is worth the struggles. I have learned how to cope with disappointment, jealousy, and failure. Injuries are no longer crippling, they are an opportunity for hope. My world no longer crashes due to letdown and I feel more prepared than ever to emerge from the injuries of life. So, have I wasted 65 days of my last six years? I have learned discipline, developed work ethic, traveled across the country, explored beautiful countryside, established a healthy lifestyle, learned the value of team, worked toward goals, and persevered through difficulty. What did you do instead?
— 42 —