The Cool Cats

This is my learning team, so I have a lot to say about each person. It's like bootcamp. You are thrown together and have to figure out how to survive. I spent a lot of time with these people, and I can truly say they are my friends. We had team assignments due daily and each of us had a definite role to play. I love them all!

We chose Cool Cats for a few reasons. First, we were Team C in the beginning and cool cats is a nice alliterative play on words. Second, cats are sly, strong, sleek. Oh, and Robert says female cats are sexy! Thanks for that!

L to R:

Cindy: Cindy is an IT director for a hospital in Pennsylvania. She has a few kids and has been married for nearly 30 years (hope I remember that right). She did a lot of our behind the scenes work. Public speaking is not her favorite task, but we tried to encourage her. On the last day Cindy told the class I was the silent leader of the group, which truly flattered me. I didn't see our group as having a definitive leader, but maybe she has a point. Nevertheless, she told me she learned a lot from me. I have to say that I learned a lot from her! Cindy's focus is D.M./IST

Lisa: Lisa is an educational specialist in Virginia and works with behaviorally disordered children. I must say we became pretty close. She was the "passion" of the group and always had ideas to try to implement. Lisa is one of the most beautiful 40 - something women I have met. She has been recently engaged to a younger man. Saying goodbye to her was particularly difficult. Lisa is working on her Ed.D.

Jose: Jose is a naval aviator who is currently instructing new naval pilots. He has been in the service since the age of 18 and has 5 years until he retires. Jose is definitely the "philospher" of the group and is extremely intelligent and soft-spoken. He always asks questions and makes sure our group projects are meeting the goals of the assignment. He is sitting in the center for a metaphorical reason because in my mind, and I am sure the minds of the rest of the group, Jose is the one who kept us focused. Jose is working on a D.B.A.

Me: I guess if I had to say what my role was I would say that I was the agenda keeper and translator. I would sketch out in pictures what people were saying so we were all on the same page. I would try to mediate and negotiate if needed as Lisa's passion and Jose's pragmatism sometimes were at odds. I learned a lot from these four people and am blessed to have them in my life.

Robert: Robert and Lisa work in the same school district. He is a former math teach now administrator. He still teaches math at the community college level, I believe. Robert is a great public speaker and was able to step in when needed. He also did a lot of translating when messages became muddled. At night he would go play piano on the 3rd floor of the hotel as stress relief. He was to one who described the "Cool Cats". He is working on his Ed.D.

Last note on the group: We spent a lot of time working in Cindy's room 1007. Team motto: What is said in 1007, stays in 1007! I will miss these wonderful people but definitely plan on keeping in touch with them!