Letter from OU | Blog 5

Dear ARHS Class of 2015,
Crazy to think you guys are seniors now, isn't it? I remember thinking the same thing last year and before I could even comprehend what was going on it was gone. Just like that. Even though I'm just a year older and a year wiser I would like to share my input on what I've learned after being in your position.
If there's one thing that got me through senior year it's to use the support of the people around you. Those guidance consolers telling you to get your applications in? Just submit them. Those teachers you're afraid to ask for their recommendation from? Just ask already. Those arguments with your parents on what they think is best? Just listen to them. And most importantly, those friends who have always been there for you? Stay close to them. These are the people who are here to help and support you. As smart as you are there is always more to learn and this year everything will be thrown at you. You might think you're ready, but you're not.
If I were to go back I wish someone would have told me that it's okay not to have it all figured out yet. There's no deadline on deciding a job, major, or college.... and even if there is it's never too late to change your mind. If you want to go to college go for it. If you decide you'd rather take a year off, then go for that too. Right now you have a whole world of possibilities right in front of you and there is no such thing as a right option.

Enjoy the ride Class of 2015
-Emily

Bystanders | Blog 4

Recently I have found myself to be a bystander in some bullying on our team. Since the team is filled with all different skill levels and age ranges, some people think that they have dominance or are superior to others. In some cases it is just common teasing but other times it can be actually offensive to the victim. When I see this happening I know it would be the morally correct decision to stand up to them but I'm guilty of passing the responsibility off to someone else. 
In this particular situation I feel like it's someone else's job because I'm in the same position as the other people being bullied. I have no authority over the bullies so I feel as if me standing up to them would make no difference. This is just one of the reasons many college students won't stand up to people doing wrong. 
Another reason people will act as bystanders when they know it's wrong is fear of being embarrassed. Other times people will just pass it off as acceptable while other times they'll pass it off to others like I am guilty of doing. In any situation there are always many options on what to do and hopefully as more people become aware of their by standing behavior people will start to stand up against it.

Priorities | Blog 3

Before coming to OU all of my priorities were focused on rowing. Since coming here and the level increasing I am still focused on it but now it's along with my school work. During high school I would just do the bare minimum to pass on by and I never took the classes too seriously. Now that I'm here the professors have a whole new level of expectations and I do my best to try to reach them. By putting school and studying as a priority in my life it has shown that yes it might take more time out of my day when I could be doing other (more exciting) things, but it also comes with a lot less stress. Instead of cramming in studying the night before or procrastinating on a paper, planning ahead and doing everything on time has been much more effective. Since making this switch I have now realized that this maybe should've been a priority a while before, but it's never too late to make a change.

Three of my goals for Fall of 2014 are...
1) make the travel varsity team for rowing
2) maintain all A's
3) branch outside of my comfort zone

In order to branch outside of my comfort I know that it will be a lot easier said than done. Coming to Oklahoma itself was branching out for me considering I've never been here before and didn't know a single person. I promised myself at the beginning of the semester that I would allow myself to try new things and I think I've been keeping that promise. So far at OU on top of meeting a ton of new people and taking a variety of classes I've also tried to expand my faith. I had never been religious and growing up I had been raised jewish but I decided that I wanted to go to church and see what it was all about. Instead of going to a traditional church I have started by going to FCA (fellowship Christian athletes) where they are accepting of everyone no matter where they are at within their faith. They might be baby steps for now but by the end of the semester I can hope to accomplish all 3.

Influences | Blog 2

Starting from a young age I have had a lot of influences in my life. I hadn't realized until making my life map how hard it was to pin-point just 5 major influences because I have had so many important people and events make an impact. My top five that I had listed for the class was being born on a farm in Massachusetts, going to a public school, starting rowing, being hospitalized and going through rehab, and signing with the University of Oklahoma. In those five events I have also had many people help me along the way. My parents and grandparents have been supportive of me no matter what's going on, along with my friends and teammates. My coaches have also influenced me because without them I wouldn't have known how to push myself and all that I am capable of. Since high school graduation these people have still stayed in my life and I still carry these experiences but they have also grown. Leaving the East Coast and moving here has influenced me in itself and joining the rowing team has given me a new team and set of coaches who are a big part of my life as well. Even if I haven't noticed yet, OU has had a big influence on me and is impacting me everyday.

Creation | Blog 1

My name is Emily Jean Coffman. I'm a coxswain for the University of Oklahoma rowing team. This position determines me as the leader for the group even if they might be older or more experienced than me. Although I might have reached Step 1 of leadership (position) I want to become more than that. I want my teammates to look up to me and follow me because they want to, not just because my position says they have to. By working through the five steps of leadership I hope to accomplish this.
Knowing my U-Zoo animal is also very helpful in this situation. Now that I know I'm a porpouse and care about the WHO in any situation, I can adapt my leadership to qualities to fit it. I think my animal is very fitting because I know from past experiences how much I take into account other people's feelings.