Blessed to give, not to have: UK DanceBlue Reflection

For The Kids (FTK).  Just three words- three small words- but the meaning behind those three words goes so much deeper.  In 2014, approximately 10,450 children under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer.  This is a number that is much larger than it should be.  No child should have to go through this type of physical and emotional pain, but on February 22-23, 2014, 836 students at the University of Kentucky stood for 24 hours to fight against childhood cancer.  836 students participated in Dance Blue a 24 hour, no sitting dance marathon.  $1,436,606.24 (that’s 1.4 MILLION dollars!!) was raised toward UK’s Child Hematology/Oncology Clinic to help ease the pain of the childhood cancer patients across the bluegrass. 

            For the first time since 2007, the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) participated in a university wide, Dance Blue Marathon.  In August, a group of students decided that the CAFE should give back and participate in UK Dance Blue.  From September to January, students in the CAFE fundraised, sent donor letters, and emails to help raise money for Dance Blue.  The support that we got from our families, our friends and staff/faculty in the CAFE was endless.  Together, we had eight students on the CAFE Dance Blue team and with the help of many people we raise $2,900 towards the University of Kentucky Dance Blue Marathon.  For our first time having a team in a few years, I am so proud of what we accomplished.  I am also thankful for the kind words, Facebook "likes," support, money raised, smiles and high fives we got along the way from so many.  What I am especially proud of is our attitude towards the marathon.

            Around 12 hours into the marathon, I started to get a little discouraged.  Would I be able to make it to the end?  What if I could not finish?   But it was also around the 12-13 hour mark that I really started to realize who I and the other 835 students were dancing for.  The kids that we danced for have a disease that is constantly damaging their body.  These children do not get to “sit” down after the 24 hours is up.  The kids and their families will forever deal with the aftermath of cancer; even if they survive, cancer will always live with them.  This truly is a sad reality.  It break my heart to hear the number of children who have cancer and to see the strength in the children that were at Dance Blue. When I signed up to participate in Dance Blue, I knew the reason why I was dancing, but it was not until I was really struggling that I really understood who I was dancing for.  

            Around the time that I had this realization, my attitude towards the whole dance changed.  During the 11 minute line dance, which was done at the top of every hour, I was more energetic. I found myself giving words of encouragement to the dancers around me. And most importantly, I found myself not giving up.  If I found myself getting tired, I constantly reminded myself that I am completely capable of standing for 24 hours for someone who cannot and I was surrounded by 835 other dancers that were completely capable and willing to for 24 hours to help those around us.

I am proud of what we accomplished in 24 hours.  I am proud of the amount of people who did not give up.  I am proud of the amount of money that was raised.  I am proud of all of the people who came to support this event.  I am proud of all the leaders on the Dance Blue committees. But what I am most proud of is being a part of a University that wants to make a difference in our state and in our country. As humans, we are called to help those around us who are not capable of helping themselves.  We are designed to be loving, selfless, beings.  FTK are three words that kept us all going.  When our muscles ached, FTK.  When we felt tired, FTK.  When we did not think we could last the full 24 hours, FTK. I was blessed with the ability to stand for 24 hours for someone else and I was blessed to give, not to have. FTK.

Kelsey is a junior majoring in Community & Leadership Development.  She is from Pendleton County, Kentucky and is active in Sigma Alpha, UK Ag Ambassadors, UK Ag Student Council and other things across campus.  She was also a past Kentucky 4-H Officer.

Question: What do you get when you cross agriculture and United States Presidents?

Answer: Our country's history!
 It’s President’s Day.  Did you know that a great number of our Presidents have an agriculture background? George Washington, the first President of the United States of America, had a large tobacco plantation.  Right here in Lexington we house the estate and farmland of the greatest man to never become President, Henry Clay. Thomas Jefferson owned the famed Monticello plantation. Who can forget about the peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia, Jimmy Carter! And while an education from the UK College of Agriculture cannot guarantee you’ll become President, it can definitely set the stage for a bright a future. 

Agriculture has moved in leaps and bounds from the traditional “plows, sows, and cows.” Before writing agriculture off, I would suggest you take a second look at the College of Ag at UK! UK Ag houses not only the traditional Ag majors- animal science, horticulture, equine science, etc.- but a variety of non-traditional agriculture majors as well. We have the School of Human and Environmental Sciences which is home to Human Nutrition, Dietetics, Family Science, and  Merchandising, Apparel, and Textiles.  I bet you never expected to find Merchandising, Apparel, and Textiles in the College of Ag; but that is what’s so great about us- our variety! Our College of Ag graduates go on to become buyers for major retail chains (Merchandising, Apparel, and Textiles majors), family counselors, heads of non-profits, prominent Ag economists, lawyers, doctors, pharmacists and so much more! 

We are still waiting for a graduate to become President, so you might even set your sights on that! Speaking of, Community Communications and Leadership Development (CLD for short) would be a great starting point for presidential aspirations. This is my major, so I’m a little partial, but we study what makes communities work and how to not only lead yourself, but others! Leadership is a crucial skill in our ever growing and changing workforce, and I feel confident that the leadership training I have received as part of my undergraduate degree will help me in all aspects of my life- not just my career path. 

While I don’t want to be president, I do want to make an impact. On campus I’ve been involved in various student groups and some of my favorite activities have centered around leadership. I participate in the Turner Leadership Academy, a leadership development program in which you actually graduate with a certificate in Leadership- pretty cool and it is open to all College of Ag majors! I also have attended UK Leadership Summit and served as a peer facilitator for Summit. Summit brings all of the student leaders across campus together at a retreat and we discuss how we can make a positive impact in the UK community. 

Community service also has a big place in my heart and I love that it goes hand in hand with my major. In my personal leadership development class at UK, taught by a student favorite, Grace Gorrell, we were required to do a community service project as a group. This not only taught us teamwork, but the true value of servant leadership and serving others. I spend time off campus volunteering at  my church with the homeless community, as well as with Alzheimer's and dementia families. I look forward to integrating my love of leadership and community service into all of my future endeavors. After I graduate, while I do not plan on moving into the White House, I will be working on a campaign. Politics and the College of Ag? Like I said, we are full of variety! 

So whether you know that you want to major in Ag from the start, or you think the College of Ag is just not for you- come check us out anyway! Chances are we have more opportunities than you had ever thought about! 

To check out all of our majors, visit the UK College of Agriculture page!

  

Tatum is a senior at the University of Kentucky, majoring in Community Communications & Leadership Development.  She is from Murray, Kentucky in Calloway County.  She is involved across campus with Alpha Phi, UK College Republicans, COA Agriculture Ambassadors and plans to work on a political campaign upon graduation.