Final Reflection

So, it's been a little over a month since the epic CreateAthon@USC.  I've been wanting to write this post since the second I left the dreary halls of the Coliseum that day, but I knew that fatigue was undoubtedly affecting both my judgment and ability to form intelligent sentences.

Since then I've been waiting for the pride and excitement that immediately comes out as soon as anyone brings it up to subside, and it honestly hasn't.  By now I am more than caught up on sleep, out of constant communication with my nonprofit and focusing on other aspects of my semester, but the feeling still hasn't gone away.

To be honest, I didn't know what I was getting into with CreateAthon@USC.  I took this Creative Leadership class because I needed a journalism elective, and I consider myself to be somewhat of a leader and kind of creative.  I didn't know what CreateAthon was, and I certainly didn't know what sort of effect it would have on me.

At the kickoff, I realized a change in the dynamic of my classmates with whom I'd spent the past months planning the event.  Suddenly, we weren't strangers who had taken a class together--we were a team.  Everyone was going out of his or her way to help someone else.  It finally clicked that we were all in it together.

When working with the creative teams, I know I speak on behalf of everyone when I say we were blown away.  These incredible people, students and mentors, truly were the best of the best.  People say you're only as strong as your weakest link, but luckily for us, we didn't have any of those.  You all were the heart and soul of what we did that night.  I want to sincerely thank you for every single one of the 24 hours you committed to this cause.  You didn't have to do it, which makes it all the more incredible that you did.

As far as the faculty and professional mentors, you challenged us to think unconventionally and refused to settle for mediocrity in all aspects of the creative process that night.  We were lucky to work alongside some of the most talented and kindhearted individuals in the business that night. Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

Professor Mallia, I can't express in words how much you impacted each and every one of us this semester.  I know we agree that while this may have been the single most frustrating class of our college careers, we gained knowledge and experience that would have never been possible in a classroom setting.  Thank you for teaching us how to lead by leading us--by letting us fail, but by never letting us go through any of it alone.  It wouldn't have been possible without you.

Next year, CreateAthon@USC will continue, and I am confident that it will only get bigger and better as the years go on.  So this is my final thank you on behalf of the first ever CreateAthon@USC--to the creatives, the mentors, the sponsors, Professor Mallia and Professor Farrand, and above all, to the incredibly talented, devoted team leaders.  The first CreateAthon@USC could've been anything, and you all made it amazing.  I will be forever in awe of what we did that night.

Sincerely,

Kellie McKinney