Learning confidence:
“Stand up straight.”
“Put your chin in the air.”
“Think before you speak.”
“Don’t forget to brush your
teeth.”
Most average kids think
these statements merely are the cries from nagging parents. Thinking these are
age old rules of propriety that have become extinct in the present day.
Properness isn’t important in the realm of actual automobiles and mp3 players.
The ICAN Young Women’s
conference, organized by the ICAN foundation focuses on training young women to
succeed in the world beyond iChat and Napster.
After the welcoming, a
previously unexpected group took the stage. Not very often can young women
experience baton-twirling by a 2001 Miss Nebraska and her twin sister.
As it turns out, Tami and
Tina Foehlinger, UNL graduates and former UNL twirlers, not only demonstrated a
routine, they also spoke about the untimely car accident that killed their
brother and how this shaped their lives.
Tina emphasized helping the
impoverished by speaking about her 2001 “Volunteerism in the Community” Miss
Nebraska award, using the acronym “S.H.I.N.E.”
Having learned the
importance generosity with time and income, the participants listened as Holly
Murphy-Barstow, President of Barstow and Company, LLC, advised on budgeting and
money matters. In her presentation “No Money, I still have checks left!”
Barstow emphasized the importance of staying out of debt. While this may seem
as obvious as brushing teeth, many college students fall into this big swirling
terror of debt.
Her expression and anecdotes
lead senior Mo Kiteley to say, “I learned a lot from the lady who spoke about
money. She was cool.”
Finally, a favorite of most
participants, Judo Judy Williams, fourth degree black belt and President of
Nebraska Judo, Inc, demonstrated self-defense and judo-style protection.
Senior Meghan Stephan said,
“I really liked Judo Judy. She was really funny, and she taught us
self-defense. She threw boys around a lot.”
Between these main sessions,
participants were invited to attend one of the nine “Breakout Sessions,” where
women leaders spoke things ranging from unusual career choices to Feng Shui.
While students did miss a
day of school, many teachers encouraged their students to attend. Ms. Kathi
Tocco, religion teacher even offered extra credit for attendance. She said,
“Don’t for get to put ms. tocco’s quote in here.”
Advisory board members
senior Mo Kitelely and junior Karen Andreason also encouraged participation,
advertising for the fifteen dollar day of baton-twirlers and judo. Andreason
was pleased at the number of participants. They got two seniors and 11 juniors
to attend.
This conference encouraged
modern age self confidence but didn’t disregard the cries of nagging parents
everywhere: stand up straight, think before speaking and common cleanliness.
As Stephan said, “I learned
that girls should be confident in everything they do.”