Mariah Fox, 1st VP

Before the end of my junior year of high school, my FFA advisor approached me and asked me if I wanted to attend the Washington Leadership Conference. I couldn’t believe it! I jumped at the idea of going to a place with over 200 other passionate FFA members from across the United States!

As time passed, the day of my departure got closer and closer and I became more and more excited! However, there was something I had forgot about in lieu of my excitement. Three days before we left, my advisor texted me, “Don’t forget to check the airline website for packing information!” As soon as I read this text, I immediately felt worried! I had to fly in an airplane across the country to Washington D.C. and I have never, ever flown before! What am I going to do? I was scared and unsure of how I was supposed to handle this new situation.

This challenge is something small that I took in a huge way. Sometimes as individuals we worry too much about meaningless activities. We spend time stressing about miniscule problems that really aren’t that big of a deal. Though I stressed out in several different ways, I made it to Washington in one piece. My advice to you, FFA members, is to worry less about the little items and focus on the big, important aspects of life. In the end, there will always be stress in our lives. It is how we overcome the stress and be successful in what we are doing. Just always remember, flying is not as stressful as you think!