Girls’ Career Institute 2023 is in the books! This was an exciting and challenging year for everyone involved.
Our Director, Mary Kay and her staff did an amazing job overcoming several challenges. The Delegates were so eager to pick up the pace and jump right in to do whatever was necessary to move forward! Taking a 75-year-old program from paper to computer was a huge task but it happened. There were a few growing pains (and a few tears) but in the end it all worked out.
First challenge, we started with over 50 Alternates, but by the beginning of GCI every single alternate attended!
The Delegates arrived not knowing what to expect, and after all of these years I am still amazed by how fast friendships are formed. The dorms get decorated, we find our way to the dining hall and before we know it, our first session is underway!
Our next challenge happens when a presenter does not show up. They forgot the date, they got lost, they had an emergency, etc. What does the Director do? She invites everyone to an impromptu sing-along! What do the girls sing? The wheels on the bus go round and round! We were laughing until our sides hurt!
Next challenge, everyone walked the 10 to 15 minutes to Hickman Hall for our workshops. We receive word of heavy smoke rolling in from Canada so I went to check it out. It is bad and no one will be able to walk back to our dorm. I come up with the only plan I can think of and Johanna (a new housemother) and I start driving the loop from Hickman to the dorm. We each take as many girls as we can in our cars and start driving. I lost count after 15 trips but we keep going. We have over 160 delegates plus housemothers and staff to transport. The girls are taking selfies, I start photo bombing them, Johanna and I are waiving to each other and we turn a tough situation into something fun.
And the challenges keep coming! We can’t go back to Hickman for Spirit Night so we gather and huddle in the dorm’s common space and the show goes on!
Finally, parents will be arriving tomorrow. Sadly, all closing ceremonies are canceled due to the lingering smoke. That does not stop this 2023 class of Delegates. They hug, they exchange phone numbers and they know that whatever life throws at them in the future, they are ready. They have handled some very tough situations with grace and humor.
Carpe Diem, Ladies!
Clara C.