Appreciating the experience

This week saw the end of my time in Kansas, where I was based at Kansas State University in the Flint Hills of Kansas for nearly three months. It has been a great opportunity and an important part of my learning experience here in the US. I have enjoyed access to world class educational facilities, passionate and learned professors, and a host of learning resources including K-State's online and physical library database.

One of the best things about this opportunity was being able to step back and assess our beef cattle production business program at home, along with my performance in it. Four months is a long period to take off work and so it was a top priority for me to gain as much from this opportunity as possible. I was able to take the time to look at the way we run our business as a whole, at the way I work as a team member, and also the performance of my section of the business. I'm not sure who originally coined the terms 'working on the business', rather than 'working in the business', but this opportunity has certainly forced me to actively engage in the former.

It hasn't only been what I have gained from a professional perspective which has made this trip so worthwhile. As with any experience in which you're forced outside your comfort zone, this trip has provided a platform for self appraisal. There have been challenges and times when I have doubted myself. There have been times when I have felt shy and wanted desperately to climb into a hole in the ground. There have been many nights when I've cried myself to sleep because I've been so homesick. There are times that made me take a look at myself and who I really want to be. But through those challenges, nothing has come to me more clearly then what it is I want.

And what I want first and foremost, is to be a good person; someone who is thoughtful and kind to others. Who is considerate of and helps those who are less fortunate. A supportive and loyal friend. I want to work hard in our business and enjoy our lifestyle back home, and appreciate what it is we have. To be a strong but kind friend to the animals in my life. And perhaps most importantly, I want to be a generous, fun and loving granddaughter, sister, daughter, sister in law and girlfriend. Because that's what really counts. 

                   With Alex in Oklahoma at the start of our US trip. A better man there is not.