Global Kids' Online Leadership Program

8-22-06 - Seattle, before meeting

Today I am feeling good. I had a good sleep last night. I felt like a king. I wish we can sleep more but that’s work for you. You can’t expect anything more than waking up early. My goals for today are to call my mom and wish her a happy birthday. Also just to get through today without sleeping in the meeting. Another personal goal is that I should write in my journal so I can be on point.

I also want Microsoft to think or know that our program is very good and people to take a look at our game so they can put it all over the Internet. I want them to see that it takes hard work to do what you have to do to make a game. We should tell them what goes on in our program and what we do in it. I should tell them what I did to make this game and show it to them and tell them what I am doing.

How will I know if I reached these goals? Some evidence is that if the people that I talk to say that this is very interesting. If they give me a card with their number then I know that they would want to learn more about the thing I am doing

8-22-06 - Seattle, notes during the meeting

I just spoke to a guy named Tim Perkins. He is a scientist for maple trees. He studies maple trees and is also part of the Odyssey of the Mind. When he was speaking I:
1. Paid attention
2. Asked questions
3. Smiled and talked about outside resources like news and things I saw.

It was very good to speak about our game in front of the room. Everyone paid attention. I think that lots of people will look at our game now. I realize that:
1. I had to discuss Ayiti the game to the people here.
2. It was very good to talk about it but I was afraid because there are a lot of people.
3. I explained everything well about the game.
4. I need to learn not to be shy because it shows that I am not that strong talking to people.

Barry asked me to listen and find one idea that could help the program. I choose Collaboration Community (Barry says I mean the world “partnerships”). I choose this because we could get people from all over the school and see if they can help us to do what ever we need to do. We could find people that know a lot about next year’s topic and make them write an essay to see what they know about the topic.

8-22-06 - Seattle, after the meeting

Today I achieved all of my goals because it feels really good inside. I feel so excited because a beautiful lady came and asked me a lot of questions, then she took me to the Microsoft store and bought me a cool X-Box 360 bag. The first goal I know I achieved was calling my mom and wishing her a happy birthday. She sounded very happy that I remembered. Another goal I know I achieved was to meet lots of people. I know this because I am special and because I got recognize by Allyson from Microsoft today in front of everyone. I was about to cry but I am a man and I held it back.

I got to play X-box 360 games even if Bill Gates did not make a special appearance.

8-23-06 - Seattle, before meeting

Today I guess that we are going to be doing group work. I hope everything goes well because we are the special group. I hope Allyson does not try to get me with a question off guard but I think Barry might tap me to make sure I am listening.

8-23-06 - Seattle, after meeting

Today was just like any day we went to Microsoft, but we were done early and got to go into town. We went to Pikes Market. That place is big. I bought my mom and me something but other than that I had a real good time in Seattle. I though I would at least see the basketball team but I did see the arena. That was kind of cool.

I am glad to go home tomorrow because I can go and see my family again. I am so happy but for now I am going to work out in the hotel and I am going to the pool.

I like everyone I met at Microsoft, even Allyson. She is very nice. I also like the lady who bought me the X-Box 360 bag. Awww, man, another plane ride tomorrow. I hope this one goes much faster than when we were coming.

8-24-06 - NYC, after the trip

I would like to thank the whole GK Staff for having my back when me and Barry and Jonah went to Seattle. I would really like to thank Barry for making me have a fun time, Jonah for talking to me to make sure I understood what the people (Microsoft staff) were talking about, and Shelly for all of her enthusiasm (even though she lost her clothes but got them back when she was leaving). I would also like to thank Carole for letting me do everything I am doing right now and Jill because when I am down she gets me back on my feet. Thank You.

When I was in the airport I saw the Knicks. I was eating and I looked up and I saw Jamal Crawford, Stephon Marbary and Nate Robison. I was too surprised to get an autograph.

I learned on this trip that I should budget everything so I do not go over. I also learned that it is better to meet lots of new people and see what they do and why they do it. I also learned that I had to know how not to be shy when I talk to people.