Over the years, I have accepted the teasing from friends about the desire for my home to be neat and tidy, including the fact that each morning I actually Make My Bed. These instances are times when I want to utter the phrase, “First of all…” in order to present all the research completed about …
Author: Julie Powell, Ed.D.
With over 30 years in higher education, I have a passion for seeing people, not only succeed at life, but to flourish in their God-given space personally, professionally, and spiritually.
Team Chemistry
The field of psychology, especially when studying human performance and Team Chemistry in sports, blows my mind! No, really--the research, the neuroscience, the social implications—all of the areas in which understanding behavior can be applied is fascinating. Exposure to the discipline, for me at least, tends to lean towards applications in the world of sports, …
Taking Turns
If you have ever worked in a room full of toddlers, raise your hand. I’m confident you have experience with the reality that at this particular age, children don’t quite grasp the concept of Taking Turns. Just last Sunday, Joy had to navigate two children desiring to play with the same “backpack,” asking them to …
Why Not Me?
One summer in college I landed an interesting job with an amazing group of people in the housing office on the naval base in Millington. Perhaps it’s because this position was my first job outside of childcare or retail, some of the experience remains in my memory banks. Perhaps it’s because this was the first …
Praying Promises
I recognize that my quirky brain may function differently than most people; however, my hope is that someone else can relate to the experience of reading an article or listening to a church message and the appearance of a phrase creates a brain worm that never seems to find its way out! And the word …
Salty People
Are there any phrases spoken in your family that only a relative would understand? Perhaps, a word usage that pinpoints to a specific geographical area? Your ears possibly perk up a little because they are so unique, or it takes a few seconds to process? While volunteering in Calgary with West Jackson Baptist Church, my …
Saying Grace
When the announcement was made that the summer series at West Jackson was entitled God is Great, God is Good, my mind immediately recited the entire prayer from my childhood. There was no pause, the words flowed easily, which proves the importance of teaching children to Say Grace and other prayers early in life. Struggling …
Benefits Package
Typically, when I hear the phrase Benefits Package, my mind wanders first towards the employment world, and the advice I usually give to students to be mindful that while they are engaging in the job-seeking process, it is wise to consider not only a base salary, but to be deliberate about gaining knowledge regarding the …
Weeds of Ingratitude
There is a lengthy crack that runs through a large portion of my driveway. It’s not pleasing to the eye, but it stays because many attempts I’ve seen at repairing other pebbled surfaces really don’t seem to improve the aesthetics. During cold seasons, the crack rarely draws my attention, but in the warm months when …
Be A Spoon
One of the amusing challenges in working with Emerging Adults is navigating how to sprinkle a dose of reality into their lives without destroying a professional dream. In one classroom assignment, students are expected to create a personal budget for a first-year employee with a bachelor’s degree for their aspiring career field. It’s fairly simple …
