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🧠🫶 Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Spotlight:
This week, we’re highlighting control!
There are things in life that are within our control and those that are outside our control. I call this the circle of control. Inside the circle are things that I and every individual has the power over. Outside the circle are things that are none of my business.
Things I can control:
How I treat others
My use of energy
My words
How I treat myself
How I spend my free time
Things I cannot control:
Things from the past
The thoughts of others
The actions of others
The words of others
The feelings of others
No matter how much we want it, others are outside of our circle of control, and we are not responsible for them. The best way to “change” others is to set a positive example, and the best way to do that is to focus on ourselves.
If you were bad about focusing on things that we cannot control in the past, that's all right; you are meant to make mistakes and learn and grow from them. 💚
Adulting is hard.
That's why University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agents in Cobb, Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale counties have devised a virtual youth development series called Adulting 101 for 4-H youth in their areas.
The idea was born in April 2020 when Cobb County 4-H agent Brittani Lee held a virtual brainstorming session with 4-H student officers in the county to gather ideas for programming over the coming year.
"One of my officers was a junior in high school and she asked if we could do some life skills classes on how to be an adult," said Lee, who shared the idea with 4-H agents Brittany Teets in Rockdale County, Pam Bloch in Gwinnett County, and 4-H educator Charlene Scott in Newton County.
Deven Millerick is a former Newton County 4-H member and Newton County AmeriCorps Service Member. This summer, she will take on the role of Summer Camp Counselor for the Shawnee Tribe at Rock Eagle 4-H Center.
Millerick is one of fifty-four counselors who will lead youth and adults in camp-related activities while cheering on her tribe to win the tribal shield.
Newton County 4-H is very proud of Deven!
Newton 4-H alum, Lavender Harris, received the Georgia Master 4-H Club Scholarship. This is Harris's fourth Master 4-H award!
Georgia 4-H alumni apply for this scholarship by creating a resume Leadership, Citizenship, Communications and the Arts, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, and Family and Consumer Sciences. An interview is then conducted and winners become Master 4-H'ers and are awarded a scholarship for college.
Harris attends the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. She is pursuing a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife.
Newton County 4-H is very proud of Lavendar!
Imagine your surprise if you logged into what you thought was a routine Zoom session and were greeted by none other than your childhood idol? This is exactly what happened to Newton County Senior 4-H member CJ Harris.
Harris was one of four youth from across the nation selected by National 4-H Council to help kick off the 2020 4-H STEM Challenge by participating in a Mars Base Camp Trivia Game. Harris and his teammate logged in and were greeted by a special guest host Bill Nye, “The Science Guy.
Harris said he remembered watching Nye’s videos as a supplement to his home school curriculum. Harris said he loved the positivity and fun Nye brings to science education.
The Mars Base Camp Trivia Game consisted of two teams facing off and answering trivia questions related to the red planet. Harris’ team started with the lead, but the other team quickly caught up, which resulted in a tie.
Nye took the surprise one step further by awarding each 4-H’er $2,000 to support their 4-H club’s STEM program.
When reflecting on the interaction, CJ summed up the experience with one of his favorite lines, “How cool was that?”
The Mars Base Camp Trivia Game can be viewed on the National 4-H Facebook page.
“Newton County 4-H is very proud of CJ and all of his accomplishments,” UGA Extension - Newton County’s Charlene Scott said. “CJ is a Master 4-H’er, currently serving as a Georgia 4-H State Representative, as well as staying active in the local Newton County 4-H Program.”
For more information about Newton County 4-H, contact Scott at cscott@uga.edu or visit the Newton County 4-H website at tinyurl.com/newtoncounty4h.