July 23, 2011
2011 Nominating Committee Members
6060 FFA Drive
Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
Dear Selection Committee Members,
If I were to be remembered for anything, it would be my passion, my character, and my heart. I value each of these qualities, and they are brought to life through my everyday actions. I live to serve others and I look forward to utilizing my passion, character and heart to serve the over half a million FFA members across this country.
I believe the most relevant experience that demonstrates why I qualify for this outstanding responsibility is my year of service as a North Carolina FFA State Officer. If you were to ask someone who worked with me during my year of service they would describe me as a dynamic, dedicated, and passionate individual who did the job well and had a tremendous amount of fun doing it. I was always proud of work I presented. I gave everything I was doing all that I could give no matter the circumstances given, what was going on in my personal life, or obligations I had to fulfill outside of FFA. I was confident in my ability yet receptive to constructive criticism in order to grow and meet my full potential. State office is a major responsibility, and I treated it as such; however, it was more than a job to me. I believe that is evident to those who know me now as well as those who knew me during my year of service. Every opportunity I had as a state officer was an opportunity to leave an impact: an impact on my state association, members of my state officer team, and the 16,500 FFA members across North Carolina. I was a state officer, but more importantly I was a listening ear, a warm hug, and a relentless smile. I was a friend, and I valued FFA members as people -- with or without the jacket.
While being a state officer is the most compatible experience, there are other experiences I feel have developed me into a qualified candidate. After my year of service as a state officer, I had the opportunity to explore my leadership in other arenas. This enabled me to grow and develop not only as a leader, but as a person. I am currently a member of the Caldwell Fellows Program, a community driven by service, not self-interest. This scholarship program’s selection process is based upon “academic excellence, critical thinking and creativity; extraordinary promise for leadership; exceptional character; and the desire and commitment to engage in the Fellows rigorous program of leadership development.” I have been blessed with many opportunities thus far, including volunteering for New Sense Studios, an art intervention program for at risk students in the Raleigh community. I participated in a leadership seminar that focused on the meaning of servant leadership and developing my own style of leadership. I traveled with the Caldwell Fellows to a rural village in Mexico to teach first graders English. Having traveled to China before the trip, it fueled my desire to travel even more. This experience allowed me to live out my passion for serving people. There is so much to learn about others. People are people regardless of language, location, or background.
Another relevant experience that has given me perspective is serving as the North Carolina FFA Alumni Association intern. Many people are unaware of how the Alumni Association actually works, and this opportunity has given me incredible insight. In my role I help create various resources that showcase what the Alumni is, what it does, and why one should join. Going into the experience, I had an idea of what the job entailed; however, I had no idea how much this opportunity would strengthen my pride and love for our organization. I came in contact with so many who were impacted by the jacket, whether they wore it or not. When former members pulled out their old jackets, the look on their face said it all. They outgrew the jacket, but they never outgrew the experience. The importance of the Alumni then became real to me. I want my children and my children’s children to be able to pull out their FFA jackets and have the same look on their face. I want to do my part in providing opportunities for members across this nation - whether I’m wearing the jacket or not.
My desire to serve as a national FFA officer is overwhelming. This is my dream.
I remember sitting in the first session of National FFA Convention my freshman year of high school. I wanted to be a national officer right then and it has been an unwavering dream ever since. While the dream has remained the same, my reasons have changed drastically from that first convention. When I’m around members, a spark goes off. I love people. It’s as simple and wonderful as that. I relish the opportunity of getting to know others - really getting to know them - and I value what makes them unique. People bring out the very best part of me: my zest for life, and the happiness that comes with it. I make other people feel warm and special, not because it’s something I should do, but because they are. I want to make FFA members across this country happy. I want them to understand how important they are and that no dream is too big to dream. I desire to encourage, inspire, and empower. And while I understand there’s a lot more to being a national officer than being with members, everything a national officer does is for them.
The FFA is not who I am, but it has helped me find out who that is. I have realized my passions: people and agriculture. I am enthusiastic about others, helping them develop into the best version of themselves, and helping them see what I see. I believe that anyone can achieve their wildest dreams. I have. I have FFA to thank for it.
Our lives evolve as we influence others. When I retired from state office, a member approached me onstage. He looked me in the eye and told me I changed his life. I had been a person of influence for him. That’s what it’s really all about. Let me be that person for FFA members across the nation. I honestly believe I have the skill needed to be a national officer. More importantly, I have the heart and the character to be one.
Sincerely,
Caroline Elizabeth Yopp
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