Hello blog readers! For those of you who don't know me, my name is Whitney Compton. I am originally from Indianapolis but will be a senior at the University of Dayton majoring in public relations with a minor in marketing. I have had the privilege to intern with NFHS this summer in their marketing department and am thrilled to be this year's National Student Leadership Conference official blogger! I hope you enjoy my observations, reflections, and documentation of this extraordinary event!

I got the hook up...holler if ya hear me!

Awaiting the student delegates' arrival, the NFHS and Hilton staff set up the gift buffet and T-Mobile Lounge. Upon entering registration, delegates receive NFHS messenger bags waiting to be stuffed with an assortment of goodies, such as NFHS and Nike shirts, pens, stress balls, Oasis mouthwash, Dove shampoo and conditioner, and Schick razors. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg...enter T-Mobile Lounge.

The T-Mobile Lounge is stacked with entertainment for the delegates to engage in during downtime. Tables adorn the lounge with a variety of games. Two 52-in. plasma TVs hang the walls with black sofa couches and chairs to sink into. A T-Mobile cell phone bar is set up in the middle, with 10 cell phones ready to call anywhere in the US...for FREE! Elliot is a strong promoter of usage, call anyone he says...it's free! As if cell phones are not enough, four Dell laptops with wireless internet are lined up along the back wall for use. Delicious lemonade and a popcorn machine are ready to be devoured...bring on the delegates!

HEY! Where are you from?

The student and adult delegates arrival could not be more enthusiastic. They are all so eager to meet one another. As the flow the of the crowd increases around 3 p.m. everyone is rapidly trying to find out where each other is from, what they're all about. Not to be bias, but the two Indiana girls, Abby and Meghan, are the social butterflies. It is quite possible they may have met every person this afternoon, that's 28 states, over 200 people! Every time I turned around the two were buzzing around talking to everyone from Maine to Washington.

Students were immediately drawn to Jenga. It was intense, on-the-edge-of-your-seat-while-holding- your-breath competition. With all these athletes and leaders in one room, could you expect anything less?

The Dell laptops were put to immediate use, checking e-mails, ESPN, and, of course, the Facebook. Add me!

Although tables were adorned with games like Monopoly, Connect Four, and Sequence, Hawaiin delegates were obsessed with playing Toilet! Ew, right? Just kidding, the game is actually a lot like spoons, where you get four of a kind. A huge group of delegates and facilitators joined in to learn the game. As 5 o'clock approached, the energy waned and we all knew what was on everyone's mind...

FOOD!

Dinner was served family style. Crispy chicken fingers, tater tots, homemade cookies and brownies were scarfed down by my fellow diners and me. I sat with delegates from New Mexico, Texas, and Idaho, while facilitator Garrett, an aspiring pilot, talked us through our flying anxieties. By the end of the meal, we were not only full, but confident about airlines!

"Sprinkle it with hard work and good love..."

After dinner, everyone traveled up to Victory Ballroom. Facilitators kept the energy up by starting the wave down the rows of audience.

Each state had a selected delegate announced to carry their state (or country) flag up to the blue-lit stage. Students proudly paraded their flag as their supporting delegates cheered them on.

After Elliot played a mean joke on everyone(alleging to Neyo, Rihanna, and Chris Brown waiting backstage to perform...somewhere else), he introduced Harvey Alston, our keynote speaker of the evening.

First and foremost, Harvey was a phenomenal speaker. He combined humor with inspiration so wonderfully, all the while connecting it back to the students and their teenage interests. He explained that the key to life is found in the word HAPPY. H for Heart, A for Attitude, P for People, P for Pride, Y for You. We all must love who we are, be positive, understand people for their differences, have pride in ourselves, our work, and our communities, and, lastly, do it!

STATE FUN FACTS

The first state meetings were held tonight. States were divided up into conference rooms to meet and discuss character and leadership abilities. Tonight was a night of introductions.

I sat in with New York, North Dakota, Washington, Wyoming, and Maine. They were each asked to draw their state and what is in it. Think metropolitan New York made us all fall asleep to Wyoming? Think again..here is a fun fact from each state:

North Dakota--in the city of Rugby there is the geographical center of North America.
Washington--birthed Starbucks.
Wyoming--established the 48 gallon oil standard (due to leakage from one city to another!)
Maine--if in Indiana you see deer, in Maine you see moose
New York--has everything you can dream of.

The meeting closed with delegates discussing their spheres of influence, that is, how their attitudes and actions affect their surroundings and communities. Meeting adjourned.

Until tomorrow...

While I am stuck in the corner, ferociously typing away, the T-Mobile lounge is popping! Card games abound, everyone is still laughing and having fun. Hopefully, they will all be able to sleep tonight and rest up another full day!