The 4th Annual College Tour Experience was, in my opinion, awesome. We met new people, seem and did new things, built new relationships, and gained interest in many HBCU schools. Give us some feedback. Please send all pictures to BlakeOdum@gmail.com
Tell us about your experience. Tell us what you thouhgt! -Blake E. Odum, CEO
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![]() Please Comment, I think that everyone should read this. I am preparing a workshop and inspirational message behind this. I was deeply moved after I read it, now I pass it along to you. Enjoy! The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary; I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees... I don't feel threatened.. I don't feel discriminated against.. That's what they are, Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to. In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?' In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc.. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about.. And we said okay.. Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.' Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing yet? Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully, Ben S ![]() Today marks a fresh, new school year for millions of students all around the country. I hope that this year is filled with exciting adventures and opportunities for all who embark on this educational journey with a greater outlook on the outcome. How serious are you about your student(s)' education? How serious are you about your education? As the demand for education increases, we too, must increase our own demand to educate ourselves. Grab this thing by the horns and don't fall off of the ride lol. And IF you do fall off, GET BACK ON IMMEDIATELY. We must remember that failure is not meant for fatality, it is meant to teach us, to mode us, ...to strenghten us. Let us be patient with our elementary school students and remember that the young people are our future leaders. We must train them, mode them, and guide them. We CANNOT use our authority to break their spirits and crush their dreams. Yes, dreams and wishes are attainable and they DO come true. It is our job to allow them to believe that. It is our job to equip them with everything that they may need in order to make their dreams happen. It takes a village to raise a child. We must not forget that. To our middle school students, let us grow to learn who we truly are. Our biggest agenda is not to fit in with the rest of the crowd, but to stand out amongst the great ones. You must educate yourselves and remember that you are the student for a reason. Once we get aquainted with ourselves, we will realize that we are highly intelligent beings with the capacity to learn beyond measurable standards. Then we will be ready for high school. To our High School students; the time is now to really get your hands dirty. We have no time to waste. Freshman; Everything that you do now, will affect you for the remainder of your high school life. Why not just get it right the first time. Take all precautionary measures RIGHT NOW, to build a strong foundation for the years to follow. If you can maintain a 3.5GPA or higher for this one year, it is highly likely that you will graduate with honors. Sophomores; you have not made it yet! Build upon whatever you did last year. If you did good last year, do better this year! If you didn't do your best last year, then do better this year. Now is the time to fix it. Don't wait. you can't afford it. Juniors; whatever the past may be, the ball is in your court. College Prep is at the forefront (It really began in 9th grade). Your focus should be, senior year...? how do I get there from here...? what do I have to do to get into college...? what college do you want to go to...? how can you get scholarship money...? college tours...? (click here for more information about 4th Annual Atlanta Area College Tour lol) ...what do you want to do in life...? your goals...? apply to colleges and universities...? etc. Seniors; Congratulations to you... there is light at the end of the tunnel, however, you are not at the end of the tunnel. The only cure for Senioritis is to watch your peers receive their caps and gowns and your name isn't called because you don't have enough credits. I hope that scared you because that is a saulty feeling. Get everything taken care of, don't miss a beat, get all of your assignments turned in and HAVE FUN ...but not too much fun. Take a moment and enjoy being a leader, senior year will go by in a blink of an eye. To all my college students, whatever your degree may be, whatever your year may be, Dr. Melvin Peters said it best; "This is not a damned race! Take your time....but get finished! College is about more than a degree." Plain and simple! God Bless and Good Luck, Blake E. Odum, CEO First I would like to say that I am very pleased with the content of this trip. All Praise is due to God.
Please post your experiences from the college tour here. We need feedback and constructive dialogue. How can we help you? What are your thoughts? Where do we go from here? Let's use this as a tool to talk amongst each other so that we can keep more beneficial and exciting events like this coming your way. -Blake E. Odum, CEO In my great quest to find our lost children and to help them find themselves, I've been captivated by the song of our dear brother John Legend entitled, "Shine".
I realize that it is up to those of us who have been privileged enough to receive education, to educate our children lest they dwell in ignorance. Our duty, especially those of us who are members organizations for the betterment of mankind, is to deposit seeds of power in hope that they will one day blossom into great Oak Trees of wisdom baring fruit that will render peace and righteousness to deliver our children out of their ignorance. The educated man who fails to educate the children, isn't educated at all--he is a victim of his own ignorance, thus making him an ignorant man. Our dear brother John Legend speaks in profound reference to our children when he said; "They wait to plead their case, unknown cast aside I love to see their face, can we spare the light? Are we afraid to see them, prisoners of history These beautiful minds, trapped inside, bring them back to life." Let not organized education and degrees of certification rob us of the true function of education itself. "The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. But education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to society. The most dangerous criminal may be the man gifted with reason, but with no morals. We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education." -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. May Peace be upon you and may your heart be touched, -Blake E. Odum, CEO The Motivational Foundation ![]() I am very aware that I may receive backlash for this post and I am also aware that this may not be the most popular post. However, I will keep it short for those of you who can't/don't read. And I will speak my mind. Initially, the "Black Greek" was introduced to the collegiate environment for the edification of the African American students. These fraternities and sororities were built on principles like education, and community service, love for all mankind, etc. This is a very commendable thing (in spite of those black sororities and fraternities who would administer the "paper bag test" for admittance). Out of black fraternities and sororities, a pride was born; boys and girls were turned into men and women. Many successful people were birthed out of organizations like this, which is extremely commendable to me. Today, I question whether or not some of the founders of these organizations could recognize the particular organization in which they started, if they were to come back from the grave today. What was meant to be a stepping stone to the collegiate atmosphere, has now become a stumbling block to many college students. In many aspects joining a sorority or fraternity has almost become a popularity contest. The process in which many of these students face is despicable. My father, who is a member of a Greek lettered organization, explained to me the purpose of "the wood". It was very similar to grade school paddling for misbehavior. Somewhere along the line, people got out of hand with their processes and inhumane hazing was birthed. What constitutes an individual to put their hands on another, in order for them to gain membership into an organization? We minimize the power and intellect of these organizations into the mere mentality of a modern day slave exchange. I mustn't fail to mention our lost brothers and sisters who died in the process of trying to "pledge" a Black Greek organization. In reality, many of these brothers and sisters don't even know what they are pledging for. It has been said that Black Greeks get a "bad rep". This is true, however, no one can give you a "rep" except those who rep-resentation your organization. Don't get me wrong, there are good things and people who still emerge from these organizations, but the dynamic of life is different which produces different morals of the people. Many of my dear friends and associates are Greek which is why I constantly question my reasoning and my morals pertaining to a decision of such great magnitude. I challenge all Black Greeks to step it up a level and make a true impact on your college campuses. How are you making your founders proud? And I challenge those who are considering the Greek life to examine yourself and put your morals at the forefront of your decision. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26) I have more, but I want to hear from you. Go and comment; Peace be upon you, Blake E. Odum |
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