9 Reasons Why Week Two of UWP World Tour Was Better Than Fine Wine

     Would you care for a sip of fine wine? I have some just for YOU. Fine wines represent the highest quality of wines and one sip can elevate the way that you feel. But what if I told you that I can offer you something better than wine? 

Once you lay your eyes on this program, you will be SPRUNG! Don't believe me? Go to www.upwithpeople.org. This website may be everything you have been looking for! I wanted to marry this program 9 years ago but the wedding didn't take place until this year. It's safe to say that I am madly in LOVE and believe that this experience was worth the commitment. 

     If you are seeking to travel, perform, and impact, you are seconds away from a global education program that will allow you to do those three things and more! Up with People is a global education program founded on the principle of using music as a means of communicating and inspiring people. Through host family living, world tours, and cultural education, you will gain the information needed in order to make decisions and impact the world as a global citizen. 

     So what is a typical week like as a cast member of Up with People? I quickly discovered that there is not a typical week and every day presents a unique opportunity to learn more about you and the world around you. Although week 2 presented me with moments of discomfort and sprinkles of exhilaration, I can definitely say that I'm a stronger person because of my diverse range of experiences. Here are my Top 9 experiences that may cause you to apply to become a cast member! 

     1.   Get Closer to Your Dream Job. I knew that I would have the opportunity    to perform around the world but I had no idea that I could take advantage of internships. On Tuesday, January 26^th, Up with People staff members introduced us to over 20 different internship and assistantship opportunities that we could take advantage of over the next 5 weeks. This was a great surprise since I will be pursuing my MBA in the next 5 months and exploring new career opportunities. Now I can get hands-on experience in my area of interest before I start my MBA program. Thanks Up with People! If you are aiming to gain valuable experience that will make you a hot commodity in the work place, you should think about exploring Up with People. 

     2.    The Sweetest Word You Will Ever Hear. What word draws people in to what you have to say? Your name! That’s right. If you say a person’s name multiple times during a conversation, you make the other person feel valued. We learned the power of names during our Up with People education session and were challenged to say the cast member name associated with each picture that was scattered around the room. Sounds easy, right? Well imagine if you had to remember over 100 names? YIKES! We worked as a team and were able to remember over 95% of the names. Go team! I also snapped  pictures of my roommate and I that were used in the name game.

     3.   Dancing with the Stars. So what did I do during my second week of Up with People staging? Dance. Dance. Dance. This would be the perfect time to check my BMI. Well I don’t know if my eating habits are as superb as my cardio regimen. But I do know that preparing for your first 2 - hour show in less than 3 weeks is INTENSE. Review for the dances that we learned during the first week of staging took place on Wednesday. January 27^th. So I had reviews for 2 dances. My body and mind were not ready for it. But I must say that this is great tour training! If you can excel in this fast – paced environment, you can do ANYTHING. What motivates me to keep dancing? The opportunity to unite the world through music and dance is what keeps me in my dancing shoes.  

     4.   Up with People Legacy Dinner. Distinguished Alumni visited Cast A 2016 to breathe life into UWP’s vibrant history. The goal was to show appreciation for the legacy that we inherited and to inspire us all to continue this amazing journey. Did it work? Yes! There were chills running down my spine when my admissions counselor, Nicole Magloire, took the stage.

     Nicole Magloire was the last speaker of the night. When she approached the crowd at the Legacy Dinner, she started with these words:

“Some people bring out the best in us. Some people bring out the worst in us. Some people bring out the most in us."                     

What a powerful beginning that was only a teaser that lead up to the well told stories that captivated everyone in the room. As Nicole stared into the eyes of the participants who were hanging on to her every word, we were all breathing with inspiration thinking about how we would get to witness what Nicole was sharing with us.

Here is a fun fact. Jesse Owens was an early supporter and former member of UWP’s Board of Directors. Did I just type Jesse Owens? Yes! Jesse Owens made history as an African-American Olympic Gold Medalist.

     5.    Speed Dating with Colorado’s Most Influential Leaders. Before our Friday festivities commenced, we had the opportunity to welcome over 20 community leaders to the Sherman Center for 1 hour of speed dating. 

    Prior to the leadership event, I read all biographies to find out more about the leaders and to identify what questions I had for them. Before leaving the house on Friday, I informed my host mom that I would love to meet Stephanie C. because her career path reflected the opportunities that I would like to take advantage of. Well my host mom informed me that Stephanie C. was at her house for Super bowl Sunday 2 years ago. Wow! Small world! 

     I immediately connected with Stephanie and was inspired by her journey and career advice. Everyone that I had the chance to connect with had valuable information to share. Good thing I was taking copious notes! Rico Nunn, Superintendent of the Aurora School System, talked about the importance of being flexible and open in your career. You never know where life will take you! Marketing & Sponsorship Director for Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Dave Dixon, captivated everyone with his business insights. His MBA education shined bright as he spoke about growth strategies and positioning the shopping center to attract his ideal client. What an honor to connect with business leaders who are affiliated with Up with People! Follow-up is key so I will be sending emails soon. 

   

     6.   Party Like a Rockstar. As we were getting on our bus heading back to Louisville, Denver after our Friday staging preparation, I received a special phone call from my host mom. “Change of plans. We are going out to celebrate a special 22nd birthday.” Woohoo! We went to Boulder, Colorado and enjoyed a variety of foods at The Mediterranean tapas restaurant. 

7. Host Family Dinners.Early Mornings. Late Nights. When my alarm clock rings at 4:20 AM, I am tempted to hit the snooze button while I cuddle up for 30 more minutes thinking about the delicious meal I had the night before. The food is really scrumptious! I have been taking notes so that I can return to Chicago as a Master Chef. Yes, I have high hopes! Anything is possible. My roomie, Marie Englebert, receives the award for master baker because of her Belgium specialty cake. It was DELICIOUS!! 

    8. Tea Time! Since Tea is the most popular beverage in the world (except for water), my host family took my cast mate and I to the Celestial Seasoning Tea Tour. There is only one tea factory in the world and it resides in Colorado! Muy interesante! My Tea I.Q just went up 5 notches! The tour guide started the tour with a 8-12 minute video before taking us on a tour of the factory. There are three steps to the tea production process: Milling, Mixing, and Packing. The tour guide walked us through each part of the process while I opened my ears wider. I didn't know there was so much to learn about Tea!

     9. Share Your World with the World.  It was fun dispelling pageantry myths and introducing my cast mates to the power of pageantry. It was also great to have the opportunity to share with the world what happens when you are a pageant titleholder. Check out my video and vote for me to become your next Ms. Corporate America Ambassador.

LIKE the Ms. Corporate America Page below and LIKE the Charlene Rhinehart for Ms. Corporate America VIDEO that was posted on January 26^th. Voting ends on February 1^st. 

Ms. Corporate America Organization Facebook Page

Find this post on the Ms. Corporate America page and Like the Post under the video. Thank you in advance!

     

     Are you ready to stretch beyond your comfort zone and unite others through music and dance? Let's talk! You can apply online at www.upwithpeople.org. 

    Keep Creating Endless Opportunities, 

   Charlene Rhinehart 

   Ms. Corporate America 2015 

   www.mscorporateamerica.com 

   www.charlenerhinehart.com

   www.thecareergoddess.com 

7 Unforgettable Moments During my First 7 Days of the UWP World Tour!

“The journey of a 1000 miles begins with one single step.” 
Lao-Tzu 

I was terrified. Who leaves their job and decides to travel around the world to do what they love?  What type of person would go against societal norms and follow their dreams?

A journey of a lifetime begins with the courage to say YES. It’s the courage to not let the best years of your life pass you by because of the fears that consume you. 

Life moves when you are willing to take unfamiliar steps not knowing what the outcome will be. Why do you need to know every thing that will happen next? Everything you could ever want is on the other side of fear.

So I decided to JUMP. On January 15^th, I printed my one - way ticket to Denver, Colorado so that I could join the Up with People Cast on a world performing arts tour. When I said “See you later Chicago”, I was officially saying good bye to the fears that incapacitated me. When my plane landed in Denver, I was saying “Hello!” to a life that I could fall in love with over and over again.

But who knew that the first 7 days as an Up with People cast member would be so exciting?! I can’t believe I almost allowed fear to keep me away from this once in a lifetime opportunity.

If you have a dream, do what it takes to make it reality. One single step can lead to a lifetime of happiness. My first 7 days have been filled with unforgettable moments that have opened me up to another side of living. Are you ready to live your dreams? Here is a glimpse of 7 rewards that I received for taking a step to join Up with People. 

  

    1.  Walking in the Martin Luther King Day Marade. Monday, January 18, 2016 was NOT an ordinary Monday. It was a day of many FIRSTS. It was my first day as a cast member in Denver. It was my first day watching cast members perform pieces of the Up with People musical show “The Journey”. It was my first time walking in a parade to celebrate the courage and commitment of a man who brought hope and healing to America.

Martin Luther King’s I have a dream speech was recited by a group of UWP staff members before heading out of the Sherman Center to march in the parade. MLK’s dream reminded me of why I joined Up with People. I want to inspire others through music and dance and break down cultural barriers that prevent all of us from uniting and loving each other unconditionally. The theme for this year’s Marade is “Remember, Celebrate, Act – A Day On, Not A Day Off: The Promise of Democracy.” Our March led us to the Colorado State Capitol House! What powerful way to start the week!

     2.   I wasn’t expecting a beautiful dress and photo shoot. On Wednesday, January 20^th, we were required to bring our costume options for our performance world tour. Unfortunately, my suitcase did not contain any of the colors that were required for my show. What’s a woman to do??? This is where I express my gratitude. My host mom saved the day by finding me a dress in her closet that was the perfect color and fit! Thanks to my host mom, my photo shoot was a success!

    3.   Nothing like Friday night Smores. The fire was going and the smores were roasting! Friday night chocolate is just what I needed after a full week of dancing, singing, and training for the first Up with People show that will take place on February 13^th! Guess what? This was my first time sitting around the fire making smores!

  

    4.   Dance All The Way To Your Dreams. Literally. Up with People gives you the opportunity to use dance as a way to connect with people of different cultures and inspire people to believe in their dreams. It takes work to have that type of IMPACT. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend special dance workshops with the possibility of performing those dances in an upcoming show. Eeeek! In order to prepare for the life of a dancer, my cast mates and I worked it out with push-ups and squats on Saturday morning! Let’s go!

    5.    Food with My Host Family.  I feel like the luckiest woman in the world. I have been paired with an incredible young lady from Belgium who is now my UWP sister for the next 3 weeks while in Denver. We have such an incredible host family who loves to cook and share stories at the dinner table every night.

Through daily meal preparation and dinner conversations, I've learned about traditions, cultural similarities and differences, and relationships. I open my ears even wider to get a glimpse into people's lives and understand what drives them. I LOVE banana walnut waffles and salmon, rice and broccoli dinners, but I appreciate the conversations that ends with hugs even more.

     6.    I can’t believe I went Hiking. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Great rewards come to those who are willing to go beyond their comfort zone. I accumulated over 6000 steps due to my host family hiking adventure in Boulder, Colorado! I’m so proud of myself because I would not classify myself as an outdoor person but I enjoyed every minute of it. Even the moments when I was scared to move forward because I thought I would slip in the mud were moments of exhilaration.  Those are the moments that showed me what I was truly made of. It also showed me that it’s ok to ask for help. I wouldn’t have made it back to the car if it wasn’t for my host family and UWP sister Maria. I was exhausted. But the support and motivation I received kept me moving forward.

  

     7.    Football Sundays are quite tasty! My second full day of Denver ended when I witnessed a victory from the Denver Broncos with my fellow UWP cast mates. Go Broncos! We went to another host family house in Louisville and was greeted with chili and ice cream! Wait. There’s more! Another football get together took place on Sunday, January 24^th at my host family place. Guess what? Broncos win again! Guess why I’m excited? My host family cooked chili, prepared tortilla chips with mango peach salsa, and served chocolate brownies with ice cream. Scrumptious! I think I’m falling in love with Football Sundays.

If my first 7 days in Denver were filled with these many festivities, I am looking forward to the surprises that await my cast in the next 4 months. Great things happen when you have the courage to say YES to your dreams. All it takes is a single step. 

Are you seeking to travel the world and make a difference? Apply to become a part of the Up with People cast by going to www.upwithpeople.org. 

Contact me for a strategy session! 

Keep Creating Endless Opportunities, 

Charlene Rhinehart

Ms. Corporate America 2015 

www.charlenerhinehart.com 

www.thecareergoddess.com