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Health & Fitness

A Day at the Capitol

A day at the Minnesota Capitol and the power of one voice.

I recently took a group of students from the Minnesota School of Business-Plymouth to the State Capitol Feb. 14. The trip was part of the Minnesota Career College Association’s Hill Day. If you have never been to the Capitol, I highly recommend it. You can’t help but learn more about the history of Minnesota, government at the state level and the issues of the day.

It was the second time I have been at the Minnesota Capitol, with the first time coming at last year’s MCCA event. It’s really fun for me to imagine everything that has happened, seen and unseen, there over the years.

We brought a total of nine people (six students) to add to the group of over 190 attendees, which made for quite the impressive group picture on the Capitol steps. The message of the day (in short) was student access and student choice in higher education.

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I couldn’t have been prouder of our students. I know standing before people of such standing can be nerve-racking and a bit intimidating (it was for me the first time I did it, that’s for sure). They did an excellent job of telling their story of why they made the educational decisions that they did.

Admittedly, I had put politicians on all levels on a pedestal. I think many of those in the general public do. What we have to remember is that these people are regular citizens that care very deeply about their communities, state and nation. They listen intently to OUR voices to attempt to create (or prevent) change for the greater good.

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Never underestimate the power of a single vote, conversation, phone call or email. I think that’s the most important lesson our students took away from Feb. 14, 2012.

Song of the Moment:
Hold On by Alabama Shakes (attached to blog post)

I heard this song for the first time a couple weeks ago. Great vocals by lead singer Brittany Howard (yes, that IS a Brittany behind the microphone).

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