Team Development!!

To me, for a team to be good and work well together every member has to be motivated and work towards the same goal. I have been on a lot of teams in my life and when just one person doesn't want the same things as the rest of the team it can really bring the entire team down. But when everyone wants that final goal just as much as the person standing next to them, that's when amazing things can happen.

For a team to get better they have to want to get better. I don't care how many hours you practice when you don't want to improve their is not much hope. That's when I feel coaches or leaders get the most frustrated when they see that just a small number of people are wanting to do better and wanting to win or reach a goal. Because then its like they are wasting their time.

Sometimes for a team to become successful you have to make a major change. In High school I was on the cheer squad and soccer team. For cheer we were awesome my freshman year then when the seniors graduated we crumbled. My sophomore year was awful there was no motivation and it seemed like everyone never wanted to be there. After that year a lot of girls quit and only half of us stayed. We also got a new coach. You would think these things might make the next year harder but it had an opposite effect. My junior and senior years were the best out of all my cheerleading years! Yes, we had to make a Major change but it was worth it because we got sooo much better! In soccer we got a new coach right before my senior year. Our old coach seemed like he was never motivated and in turn that made us never want to be there, but after we got a new coach everything changed and we did better my senior year then we ever had before. So sometimes as a leader and a participant you have to understand to be better as a team major changes might have to be made and you need to be accepting of them and go into it with a good attitude.

Self-Discipline

Of course there are some areas in my life where I lack Self-Discipline. No one is perfect all the time. I like to call myself a pretty disciplined person in most cases but here's a few that I could work on.

1. Cleanliness- I could really work on keeping things, especially my dorm room and car cleaner and more organized

2.Math- That's one class where its really hard for me to study for! I just don't like math so I have to really really make myself study and do homework.

3.Parking-Lets just say Ive gotton my fair share of parking tickets at the dorms from parking in priority!

I know these things could all be easily fixed with just a little bit more accountability for myself and more self discipline. I am accountable for myself in many other ways like working out and eating healthy. I try to do that a lot because I know how important it is to stay healthy. Also I am accountable for my faith. I pray and go to church because that's also important for life. Lastly my relationships. All kinds of relationships are important so i try to put a lot of time and energy into those.

My brothers both have a great deal of discipline so I look up to them for that. One is in law school and one plays college football so those both require discipline and accountability.

The University of Oklahoma Mission Statement: The mission statement of the University of Oklahoma is to provide the best possible educational experience for our students through excellence in teaching, research and creative activity, and service to the state and society.

This statement I fell expresses what the University of Oklahoma is all about! I am getting a great education because of great teachers. All of my professors are so knowledgeable and make me want to learn more all the time. The incredible research going on at this university all the time brings some amazing people to this university with the want to learn and teach others while doing it. The creative activity part I feel like is the things we do outside of the classroom, it is more about the student life at OU which obviously is the best! Greek life, Athletics, Resident life they are all at the top of the lists of the best in the country and that all just enhances the educational experience we get here at OU.

I feel like I am Living the OU mission statement the best I can be. I am trying to be really involved and take on every opportunity I have. I am trying to get the best education possible while learning more about life then just from the classroom.

Who's Who?

In class on Thursday we met so many wonderful people that work within the university. They were all so full of information about there job and what they do. I learned about everything from housing to studying abroad. After speaking with everyone I have decided that I will be studying abroad at some point in my college career and also that there are many more housing options then I ever knew about! Everyone also had some many great things to say about being a leader and getting the most out of college. I would tell other freshman to get involved in the university and really use all the wonderful resources we have available to us!

My Future at OU!

While at OU I would like to always been involved im my sorority Kappa Alpha Theta! With that comes so many things. I want to do scandals in the spring and I would also like to be involved in more committees. Next year I really really hope I get to live in. No matter what I will be doing in my future at OU I know Theta will be a major part in it.

Besides sorority stuff I would like to be on more CAC committees. Dance marathon is really fun so far and I know there are many more I could try and get involved with.

One thing I want to look into is OU Running Club. Some girls I know have gotten involved in that and they say it is a really fun time.

Since my major is nutrition I will hopefully be going up to the Health Science Center for a lot of my classes when I am an upperclassmen which will be so exciting and a nice change from everyday school.

I know OU has so much to offer and I can't wait to learn more and see what all I can get involved in

ATTITUDE!!

For me attitude is one of the most important aspects in a persons life. You can seriously determine your entire day based upon your attitude. If you want to have a good day then you decide by your attitude. One of my pet peeves is when someone is a total negative nelley. Why would you want to be in a bad mood all the time. Yes outside factors can influence your attitude but you determine how you react to it. If you look on the bright side and have a good outlook everything will seem so much better!

for group projects attitude is key. When one person in the group has a bad attitude it brings everyone down. there is a girl in my pledge class who is always so positive. She makes everyone around her happy because of her awesome attitude and everyone loves her for it! I think of her when I want to look at someone who will be positive and make any situation seem conquerable!

Problem VS. Challenge!

When I was younger I always freaked out about the smallest things. I saw EVERYTHING and I really mean everything as a huge problem. Whether it was a project I didn't know how to do or a practice conflict I always made it a huge ordeal and would freak out until it was over. As I have gotten older I have learned that this is not a fun way to live life. I have learned to not sweat the small stuff as often and see things for what they really are.

I think that you have to experience a real problem firsthand to truly appreciate the difference between a problem and challenge. For some people this could come at a very young age and for others it won't be until they are much older. But no matter what age you are when you figure it out you will always look back on things you used to see as a big problem and wonder why in the world you were so crazy about it. I feel like a true sign of growing up is when you can differentiate between the 2 and deal with each in different ways!

Leader-in-the-Field Interview!!

Dr. Allen Knehans

I choose to interview Dr. Knehans because I am very interested in nutrition and hope to someday be a clinical nutrionist. Dr. Knehans teaches the Intro Nutrion course at the University of Oklahoma so I thought he would be the perfect person for me to interview. Here is just a little bit of what I learned about after our interview.

Dr. Knehans teaches Intro Nutrtion here on the norman campus and two classes at the OU Health Science Center in Oklahoma City. Those classes are a Graduate Level Obesity course and a Graduate Level Vitamins and Minerals course. Out of all of his classes though, his favorite to teach is the Intro Nutrition course. Dr. Knehans believes the biggest health problem facing our nation today is the obesity epidemic. Obesity is the second most preventable death in our country after smokeing but is on the rise and could very soon take the number one spot. Dr. Knehans is also very passionate about childhood obesity and the effect it is having on our country. To read more about childhood obesity visit this website http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childhood-obesity/DS00698. Just for fun I wanted to ask him about his favorite foods. His favorite healthy food is blueberries. His favorite not so healthy food is a chocolate malt specifically from Steak and Shake. Dr. Knehans believes that leadership means being motivating, inspirational, organized, and leading by example.

Dear Great Seniors of NNHS! Yay it's your senior year and you are about to start making a lot of major decisions that will effect that rest of your life! I'm gonna give you some advice that I wish I would have had someone tell me when I was a senior.

First off don't wish away your senior year. I know graduation and going to college is such and exciting thing but don't forget to enjoy these last little bits of childhood! Now your most likely already in the process of applying for schools, which is great. Apply to all of them you think you might be interested in. Don't not apply just because you think you will never get in because you just might! Also dont think that OU is just like going to high school. It is faaaarrr from it! Living and going to school at OU is so far from normal day Norman life its crazy! I haven't even slept at home once since I moved in for rush. If you do end up getting to come to the best school ever don't think your going to the 13th grade because your not at all!

For all you lucky kids who are going to come to OU congrats! Now a few pointers for you all. Live in the dorms it is so much fun and you will wish you would have if you dont. Also when you make your schedule keep in mind how much later you will be staying out and such. just because you were at school at 8:30 in high school does not mean you will want to be in college! Go through rush if you can! It is seriously one of the best things I have ever done and I have already made new friends that I will have forever! On that note keep in touch with your friends from high school while making new friends its great to have a combo! When you get here you will wonder why you never made your older friends take you to the caf and cate because they are awesome!! Learn to love studying now because you will be doing a lot of it once you get to OU Most importantly do what you want to do regarding college. It is your life so you need to go to the school take the classes get involved in the activities that YOU want to do. Your basically starting your life over so start the way you want to!!

Congrats again and enjoy your senior year can't wait to see you lucky ones here next year!!!!

Love Maggie Krattiger

I learned a lot about bystander behavior last class!! Things that i see and even do everyday can be seen as bystander behavior. It is something that you do sometimes without even noticing.

I try and not to be a bystander when I see a situation where I can help! I always try and do the small things to help others. If I see someone who needs help carrying something or help opening a door I will always try and do that for them because I know at some point I will be that person that needs help and I would like someone to do that for me!

however when a situation is of larger importance it is sometimes harder to step in, especially if someones feelings are involved. I never want people mad at me so I know there are times when I could have stepped in but I didn't want to hurt any ones feeling. Example, I have a friend from High School who is going through a hard time with body image and issues that relate to that. I know I could offer guidance and help because I have been through some of that same stuff myself. but I do not want to hurt her feelings or make it worse by bringing anything up so I just haven't yet even though I think I could help.

College students don't always step up in situations because they are scared embarrassed or just don't know what to do. We have a lot of times as college students where we have to make decisions to be bystanders or leaders and step in. After learning more about it and being more aware of situations that involve being a bystander I will try my best to always step in when necessary!

My priorities haven't really changed all that much from high school to college its just now that I'm in college I have more!

No matter what I always try and put relationships at a high priority. Relationships with God, family and friends have always been and will always been very important to me!

In high school I was a cheerleader, played soccer and was in STUCO. All those things kept me really busy and they were priorities for me.

In college I am in a sorority so all my sorority events and things are priorities to me now.

School has always been very important to me. In college I am having to put aside a lot more time to work on school because obviously its a lot more work then in high school. So learning to balance my time and leave a lot more time for studying has been a difficult adjustment.

exercise and staying healthy has also always been a priority for me! I try and go do some sort of workout before class everyday because I know how important it is for me to stay healthy!!

Whenever someone asks the question who has been the biggest influence in my life I always give the same answer. Some people say it's cliche but honestly the bigggest influence in my life is my mom!

She has always been supportive of everything I have ever wanted to do. Without her I know I wouldn't have accomplished near as much as I have. She made sure whatever I wanted to try I was able to. When I was little she would drive me all over the place for dance rehersal, cheer and soccer practices, church chior and more. And I have 2 brothers that she did this for to! I still dont know how she got everything accomplished! But more then just being a taxi service she is like my best friend. I can always go to my mom for help or advice and she will always give it to me straight even if it might not be what i want to hear exactly. Shes so kind to everyone she meets and always always willing to help out anyone! If I can be half as good of a mom whenever I have kids as she has been then I know ill be great!

Another person who has influenced me in the past few years is my brothers girlfriend Lane. She is so great I love her so much. She is seriously like my big sister and always willing to give advice or help me do anything when i need it. Last summer when a lot was going on she was always with us helping out and just being there for support. She is already like a part of the family and I can't wait for my brother to propose!! (I keep dropping hints that he needs to soon! haha) but shes anothers person besides my mom who I look up to and strive to be like.

Since I have started college I have met so many wonderful people who have already influenced me! All the wonderful girls at the Theta house for example, there are so many older thetas that I pretty much want to be just like because they are so nice and beautiful and funny and just all around awesome people!! I love being able to have so many people to look up to and I really feel like each and every one of them will end up making an impact in my life

All About Me!

Hi! My name is Maggie krattiger. I am a freshman at the University of Oklahoma and am writing this blog for my awesome leadership class!

A little bit about myself.. I was born and raised right here in Norman, Oklahoma. I have grown up around the university and couldn't imagine myself ever going anywhere else. Even though I am at college about 15 minutes from my house I feel like it's a world away.

I am a new member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. Theta for short! I am having the best time being involved in something so amazing. I have already made friends that I know I will have forever and am just having so much fun being invloved in everything Theta has to offer. I also just love going and hanging out at the house because there is always something to do!

In Highschool I was on the cheer squad and soccer team. I have been cheering and playing soccer pretty much my entire life. Now-a-days though I really enjoy running! I love running around the pretty campus because I discover something new almost everytime I go out. I like to do others things beside just exercise obviously! I love shopping, hanging out with my family and friends, volunteering, watching football!, reading good books, shopping again and eating! haha On the eating note my favorite food is sushi and my favorite snack is trail mix! Im really loving all the great places to get sushi around campus.

I have 2 older borthers Jake and Robbie. Jake just turned 24 and is in his 2nd year of law school at OU. Robbie is 22 and plays football at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. My mom is a third grade teacher at the elementary school my brothers and I all attended here in Norman, Eisenhower Elementary. I also have a great dane named Daisy who is HUGE but I love her very much!

July 22nd of 2008 my dad John Krattiger passed away. He had heart problems and one afternoon in June went into cardiac Shock. He got an artificial heart on June 12th but never actually woke up from that surgery. He was in the hospital for about six weeks when he got an infection that he couldn't get through. My dad was the most amazing dad a person could have! He was so supportive of everything my brothers and I did and was always the loudest one cheering at our games. I feel truly lucky to have had such a great dad for 18 years of my life. This experience obviously has had a huge impact on my life but if anything it has made me believe more the ever that everything happens for a reason even when your not quite sure what exactly that reason is yet!