IT'S OVERRR

My Summit experience this year has been anything but expected.

From my previous knowledge of Summit groups, most of them seemed to work predominantly in the community, with limited interaction with the student body of Drury’s campus. As the Panthers for Planned Parenthood, we did just the opposite. All of our events were interactive with the student population, from last semester’s Kinky Crafting session to this semester’s Vagina Monologues and Take Back the Night at MSU.

As an individual, what I have learned the most is the challenge of cooperation, especially considering that we all live together, constantly in each other’s hair. With this, I think I’ve developed a certain tolerance that I didn’t necessarily have before; usually I just let myself fly off the handle at the first sign of distress. And while I may have given way to this a few times, I have definitely kept this in check far more than I expected. Needless to say, this allowed me to listen and cooperate more effectively with the Panthers. As far as my future at Drury goes, and in my future beyond college, I’d wager these cooperative skills will be beneficial to my career in architecture, as most projects are tackled in teams. If I hadn’t the chance to participate in Summit, I’d say my cooperative skills in the team activities would be lacking compared to those of other architects.

By far our Summit group affected the Drury community. Before Panthers for Planned Parenthood, there was no activism of the sort on campus. Even other area campuses, such as MSU, had VOX. Speaking of, the budding Voices of Planned Parenthood coming next semester is the true indication of our impact in the community.

After a year in Summit, I’ve come to realize the importance of effective communication within the house. What nearly tore us apart was our inability to talk it out, and work around each other’s schedules to find the time to plan events, etc. As for the incoming Summit groups, prepare your communication skills. Set aside an adequate amount of time to dedicate to your fellow Summit members.

And that’s all folks!

LJ

You haven't seen the last of us...

1. This past year's Summit Experience was a whirlwind of obstacles and resolutions.
2. I have gained experience with event planning and working as a group. These are important skills for anything that may present itself in the future. I've also got quite a bit of problem-solving skills under my belt now.
3. The greatest thing I learned from living in Summit is how to communicate effectively and efficiently.
4. I feel as though our Summit group has made a significant impact on the Drury community. Our plan was always to focus on the Drury community and we have succeeded at our goal of bringing a Planned Parenthood presence to Drury's campus. This presence will be carried over into future years on the shoulders of VOX, the new Planned Parenthood advocacy group that is currently in the works.
5. As a member of the Summit community, I have had the opportunity to spread awareness of a cause to the Drury community. From this I have realized how little things can make a huge impact. If I hadn't had the opportunity to play a role as a Planned Parenthood advocate at Drury, I wouldn't be as supportive as I am now.
6. I would have implemented a system of communication from the very beginning. It doesn't seem like it would be difficult to inform all eight people in the house of upcoming events and goings on, but it proved to be quite the issue.
7. I would advise future Summit groups to set aside some time on a regular basis to discuss your project. It's very easy for your leadership project to take a backseat to your other activities and classwork, but it will creep up on you. Communicate and stay up to date.

Round-Up

1. In just a sentence describe your Summit Experience this past year?
"Pretty cool."

2. What aspects of Summit do you feel will be beneficial to you as you continue your Drury experience?
The activism and friends/contacts gained through the experience and progression through the year.

3. What was the greatest thing you learned from living in Summit Park?
Planned Parenthood is an incredibly helpful and important organization that should be the last thing ever considered for budget cuts.

4. What impact do you feel you have made on the community along with your agency and why?
"A positive one." Awareness has been raised and continues to be on the up-and-up here at Drury, where Planned Parenthood has historically never had much of a real foothold.

5. If you would have not had the chance to live in Summit, how would have this changed your experience at Drury?
I would've been much less involved/active in the Drury community.

6. Looking back at the Summit Experience over the past year what would you have changed and why?
Nothing at all!

7. What is some advice you would give to future Summit groups?
Follow your heart.

FINAL POST

As Summit in one sentence:

Volunteering is hard work but the cause is worth the effort.

As I continue on at Drury I will continue to use the time management and teamwork skills that I have cultivated over the past year in summit. It was hard organizing the schedules of 8 people and balancing that with my tough workload for my other classes, but together we managed. I feel that working as a group will help in the future to see that not everything will be under my control.

The greatest thing I learned was things won’t always go as planned. I need to be more flexible and confident in my peers because they are very capable. When plans change I need to adapt and accept the new direction quickly in order to be more effective and to make a positive impact.

I feel that I, along with my housemates, have contributed to Drury’s awareness that sexual responsibility is important and there is no reason to be embarrassed. We made Planned Parenthood’s voice and presence clear here on Drury’s campus while those in the agency fought to keep their doors open. Our impact may seem small but it is definitely a step in the right direction.

If I did not live in Summit there is no way I would have been as involved in volunteering. I might not have ever gotten involved with Planned Parenthood. It would have been a real shame because I love the women’s rights that they advocate especially in healthcare. Also I would not know the people I live with as well.

Looking back, there are several things I would have changed. Mostly though I would change the way we communicated and the amount of organization. Though we tried to include everyone we struggled to fit 8 different schedules into one master plan.

For future Summit groups I would suggest that they know what they are getting into. Summit is a huge time commitment and working with friends can be stressful at times. They should advertise events early and frequently. Get involved not only with the organization but also on campus and show people why your work is important.

Auf Wiedersehen!

1. In just a sentence describe your Summit Experience this past year?
This past year has been a really interesting, learning experience.

2. What aspects of Summit do you feel will be beneficial to you as you continue your Drury experience?
Time management, and definitely the friends and people I met.

3. What was the greatest thing you learned from living in Summit Park?
Other people cannot always be depended on, this holds true in both personal and professional settings.

4. What impact do you feel you have made on the community along with your agency and why?
I definitely feel I am a unique person and have brought a light-hearted sense of recognition to Planned Parenthood, and always made it my goal to make Summit a fun experience for everyone.

5. If you would have not had the chance to live in Summit, how would have this changed your experience at Drury?
I wouldn't have gotten as familiar with the organization (Planned Parenthood), I wouldn't have had a dishwasher OR a washer/dryer in my apartment on campus.

6. Looking back at the Summit Experience over the past year what would you have changed and why?
I don't believe in these "look back and change" questions because I believe they aim to make one focus on his/her failures. I made every decision on a case-by-case basis and I am proud and stand behind every one of them.

7. What is some advice you would give to future Summit groups?
HAVE FUN with your organization, advertise to the student body, and never forget you're there to build/maintain a great relationship with a wonderful organization. AND enjoy the dishwasher and laundry facilities! Bake lots of brownies late at night with your wonderful roommates. Enjoy free dinner one Friday per month!

Viel Spass!

Austin

Wrap up!

This is the last blog blogged by blogger Elyse ever in the Panthers for Planned Parenthood blogsite. Enjoy.

1. In just a sentence describe your Summit Experience this past year?

My Summit experience this past year has been a trying, rewarding, and stressful event.

2. What aspects of Summit do you feel will be beneficial to you as you continue your Drury experience?

I feel that Summit will benefit me by giving me the gumption to be more outspoken, active, and more of an overall leader. This experience has made me more capable of standing up for what I believe in and not letting others make me feel guilty or wrong for doing so.

3. What was the greatest thing you learned from living in Summit Park?

The greatest thing I learned form living in Summit Park is the value of neighbors. I really enjoyed having neighbors and getting to know them. The Summit Park community is a pretty tight knit one, and it is comforting to know the people you live next to. The value of a community and neighborhood setting is widely unknown to Americans.

4. What impact do you feel you have made on the community along with your agency and why?

I feel the impact we have made on the community is giving people of all ages access to a safe sexual life. We have reduced the stigma of all kinds of birth controls, given sexual assault victims a voice, and spoken with many members of the Springfield community about sex education.

5. If you would have not had the chance to live in Summit, how would have this changed your experience at Drury?

This would have given me more free time, but it also would have taken away the chance to speak out and talk with community members. I have met some fantastic people through Planned Parenthood events and other events we have attended.

6. Looking back at the Summit Experience over the past year what would you have changed and why?

I would have had more on campus events the spring semester, as well as tried to get a table at events like Earth Day. This type of publicity allows for Drury students and faculty to see that Planned Parenthood is an active agency on campus.

7. What is some advice you would give to future Summit groups?

I would say communication is key. Get ahead during the beginning of the semester planning events and planning dates you most likely can attend. The later the semester gets, the more difficult it becomes to balance everything on your plate. Plan and budget your time very very wisely.

Don't forget to practice safe sexual health!

Peace, love, and Elyse

Bye Bye Panthers for PP, Hello Drury VOX!

1. In just a sentence describe your Summit Experience this past year?

- This year I have learned more about teamwork and event preparation by working with Planned Parenthood.

2. What aspects of Summit do you feel will be beneficial to you as you continue your Drury experience?

- I feel I have gained a better sense of team organization. Summit will definitely help me be a better leader in the future as well as follower. I have learned to listen and how to let others bare some of my responsibilities. I have also learned a lot about handing different life situations like stress, money management, and overall professional presentation.

3. What was the greatest thing you learned from living in Summit Park?

- The greatest thing Summit has taught me is in the realm of event planning. Since our group was new on campus it was a great exercise within my major of public relations and advertising. Our events weren’t attended by large crowds and it sometimes left us pessimistic. However there is a Voices of Choice chapter starting on Drury’s Campus in the next years which means that there is a place of Planned Parenthood on Drury’s campus, and people heard our cause.

4. What impact do you feel you have made on the community along with your agency and why?

- I feel like our Summit apartment has opened up the Drury community’s eyes to Planned Parenthood. Crystal always talked about how Drury was sex shy and no one wanted to take condoms even though they need them. We were able to find creative ways to get people to take condoms without feeling embarrassed be it through trick or treating, or reindeer ornaments, or kinky crafts. It was also a rough year for planned parenthood, so it was important that Drury had our summit house rallying supporters for the future.

5. If you would have not had the chance to live in Summit, how would have this changed your experience at Drury?

- I think that if I were not admitted into summit I wouldn’t have learned how to balance my life as completely. It has been a struggle to be able to put volunteering at the same importance level as my education. I also feel that Summit has taught me how competitive student organizations around campus are. It is impossible to plan events that don’t clash with something else on campus. I now have a huge admiration for organization heads for working as well as they do together despite being in different organizations.

6. Looking back at the Summit Experience over the past year what would you have changed and why?

- I think I would have changed how my house functioned as a group. Since we had 8 people it was impossible to plan events that everyone could go to. That being said, as an event planner, it was also impossible to plan enough events to get everyones hours in. I think it was overambitious for us to try and plan mostly our own events instead of filling in where Planned Parenthood could use a couple volunteers. We learned more in second semester to ask Crystal where she needed a couple volunteers to help instead of assuming we could plan all of them on our own. Also, since we were more focused on bringing Planned Parenthood’s presence to Drury’s campus we didn’t take the time to team up with MSU’s Vox Chapter as much, and so now the Drury Vox chapter will be meeting them the same time we are.

7. What is some advice you would give to future Summit groups?

- I would tell future summit groups to plan their events faaaaar in advanced. Also, public relations is extremely important. If you want students to care about your specific cause, make sure you market yourself well and get a broad audience.