Tell Your Story, Win an iPod Touch!

[Maika Bauerle]

How are you using Strengths to enhance the effort you make every day?

I want to hear your ideas! Over the next few days, I will be asking this same question to educational leaders attending the Building a Strengths-Based Campus Conference in Omaha, Nebraska. Send us your story in 250 words or less. The winning story will be featured on our site and, the writer will win an iPod Touch!

Please email all entries to: [e-mail] by August 1, 2010.

[Jay Killough]

i've got a couple of stories about strengths. :)

[Maika Bauerle]

Dear Jay,
Bring it.
Love,
Maika

[Miles E. Huff]

I remember when I discovered "Input" was my top theme. I was slightly confused, as I am not a packrat and there is little clutter in my room or office. It wasn't until my senior year in undergrad that I was fully able to grasp the way in which the theme is played in my life. Dr. Debby White was speaking to my Lee University senior class, and was discussing Input. I made the comment that I didn't see it in my own life.

Upon saying this, another student next to me spoke up, and simply asked "Miles, what sort of car do I drive?" I, of course, answered. Following this, several students asked questions regarding personal information about themselves. I answered each correctly. It was only then that I realized I am a collector of information, but particularly about people. Since then I have seen myself use this in a variety of ways, particularly since I am pursuing counseling as a profession.

[Fursey Gotuaco]

BIRTH OF A SUPERHERO

I view the discovery of one's 5 themes as the moment we discover that we are actually superheros. Our getting those 5 new words is the moment when Clark Kent discovers he is Superman. It is the potential to move from 'sidekick' to 'superhero'.... Thus, it was for me...

You see...my wife Jennifer used to call me 'OPTION BOY'.... When asked for ideas for, "Where should we eat?", "What shall we do today?", "What should we give somebody for a present?", I would offer several choices. Then after she had made her choice I would offer even more options - much to her chagrin...

But then we discovered Strengths. I learned that I had the theme of Arranger. It was from this source of talent that I found the personal strengths to continously offer ways to use resources or achieve a goal. My 5 themes allowed me to see the potential and evolve from sidekick to superhero... I am no longer 'OPTION BOY'...I am now, .... 'ARRANGER MAN'. Superhero at large and ready to reschedule at a moments notice...."Who was that masked man.. with a calendar?"

[Jay Killough]

From Emily former TTU student-
I have to say that I was a little skeptical about the reliability of this test... let's just say that I was wrong! [Since I'm a communicator, of course I had to e-mail you and let you know what I discovered!] After I received your e-mail today, I was telling my friend about the test and right before I could tell him what my top five were he said "Let me guess, talking is yours!" Is it that obvious to everyone? :) Then I started reading the "Applying Communication Strengths in Academics" section and there were several statements that could not have described me any better. "Converse about the subject matter until you fully understand it" Unfortunately, I'm just now discovering this in Grad school, but studying in groups is the ONLY WAY I can successfully learn. I do it everyday! -- "Entertain your study groups w/anecdotes" I do that ALL the time, my study friends rely on me to come up with crazy ways to help them remember something. -- "Cheer up people w/accounts of your own and other's humerous escapades" I WILLINGLY tell embarrasing stories about myself to make people laugh, ON A DAILY BASIS!! "Try out for the speech team" I had never been in any speech competition until my freshman year and my speech teacher signed me up for one, consequently I was the 2001 Texas Tech University "Speak Out" winner... And the communicator in me will want to share this with everyone, so watch out for an influx of test takers! -