Delisi Araceli

This month I graduated from UTSA and one of the hardest parts about this was no longer being a part of PRSSA. PRSSA has been an amazing organization to be a part of and has not only taught me about public relations, but it helped me in more ways than one. If I were to list all of them this blog would be too long.

In true Delisi fashion I could not simply leave an organization because my life was changing. So I decided to join the parent organization of PRSSA. I am now a national PRSA member, local PRSA member and a member of the PRSA New Professionals section!

It feels good to continue learning about public relations, networking with other professionals and start a new chapter in my life.  And if I know myself as well as I do … I know I’ll be just as active of a member.

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This Saturday my sisters and mom hosted my bridal shower. It wasn’t anything big, just some relatives and two family friends at my sister Dominique’s house. We had great food, played some fun bridal games and I’m thankful to have received some wonderful presents.

I’ve definitely learned during this entire wedding process that weddings bring out the best and the worst in people. Having such a large family and wanting a destination wedding and a small backyard reception isn’t something everyone is a fan of. I wish people would be happy for me and understand it’s my wedding and not theirs, but it turns out that’s not how it works, no matter how hard I try.

But this weekend made me feel better about my decision. I don’t need a lot of presents, I don’t need an elaborate party and I’m completely happy with the bridal shower this weekend. It was everything I wanted my shower to be! And regardless of how many people hurt my feelings along the way, as sad and as painful as that is, I am thankful for those who have supported me throughout this entire wedding.

In less than 3 weeks the big day will finally be here … and now it’s starting to feel real to me.

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Last night was the end of our 10 weeks working hard to raise money for the LLS Woman of the Year campaign for Cassandra Lazenby. It was a lot of work, it took a lot of time, we made a lot of great friends, raised money and I couldn’t be more proud to join this amazing group of individuals.

However, last night was a record breaking night that made the room give a standing ovation SEVERAL times. This campaign raised $1,237,102 in just 10 weeks! It was a national record! Tina Kahlig won Woman of the Year by raising $156,000!

But it was Daniel Edelman a 16 year old leukemia survivor who not only inspired me, but brought tears to my eyes. He too broke a national record by raising over $400,000! A 16 year old boy did this. Can you believe it?! Yes he had an amazing campaign team and support system, but how amazing is it to hear something like this?!

This is exactly why I love helping charity. Being in a room with people who care, meeting others who have the same giving heart, making friends and learning how to continue to help others is a feeling unlike any other.

Thank you Cassandra for letting me be a part of this.

Click here for video of the event.  And here too. 

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This month I had the pleasure of writing an article for Progressions. “The Toe Tapper, the Pen Clicker and the Gum Smacker – Office Meeting Etiquette for Everyone” is available here.

This semester I didn’t want to be a PRSSA President who only told members about benefits. Great leaders are those who lead by example. I’m happy to have accomplished that with my Progressions article.

Feel free to share the article on Twitter and Facebook like the 27 other people who have already done so. And no I’m not counting. Haha!

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Yesterday I graduated with my second degree. After 4 more years of school, I now have my Bachelors Degree in Communication Studies from UTSA. And of course that moment wouldn’t be complete without having a mini heart attack. Because of an asterisk. Yep an asterisk.

While sitting in the Alamodome, I picked up the graduation program and looked through it, found my name and then freaked out. There was an asterisk next to my name, stating I would fulfill the requirements to graduate in August. Um, August? Why August? Why not right now? What is going on here? Who do I need to yell at? SOMEONE GET ME A DOCTOR I’M HAVING A HEART ATTACK!

Most people during their graduation ceremony probably weren’t doing what I was. My mind was going 300 miles an hour thinking of every possible reason this could happen. Is it because I missed the diploma application deadline to send me my diploma right after graduation? I’m busy, it slipped my mind and even if I receive my diploma in December it won’t kill me. Was that the reason for the asterisk?

And now … now I finally have confirmation. I have graduated. I did fulfill all the requirements. And apparently the asterisk is my fault, because I checked the wrong box on my graduation application. A simple slip of hand kept me up last night and gave me 5 more gray hairs (maybe more). Checking the wrong box on a paper made yesterday not so perfect. But at the end of the day I’m done. I’m finally done. No more school, I’m ready to take on a job in an industry I know I’m meant to be a part of. Bring on the next chapter of my life.

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Eating gluten free and/or eating healthy doesn’t have to be difficult. Below is the recipe for a healthy pesto chicken salad recipe that I found on Pinterest. Feel free to watch my Vine video below, so you can see just how easy it is to make this meal!

Pesto Chicken Salad – Vine video

Ingredients: cooked chicken, pesto, mayo, greek yogurt, celery

Directions: Cook chicken and season with salt and pepper only. In a mixing bowl add 1/2 cup of pesto, 1/4 cup of mayo, 1/2 cup of greek yogurt and 1 cup of celery. Once you add 3 cups of the diced cooked chicken to the mixing bowl, refrigerate for an hour.

And that’s all folks!

You can also add to the recipe as well. Next time I want to try adding diced almonds and maybe some roma tomatoes.

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This week the NRA/IRA sent me an e-mail about a bill that would be voted on in the State Senate. Since the bill mattered to me and dealt with rights I have and want to keep, I decided to write my State Senator. And guess what?! He wrote me back and said he voted for the bill!

I know you may not believe it, but I believe that writing politicians is important. No one does it anymore and I don’t understand why. People feel like their vote doesn’t count and complaining on Facebook about policy will change America. It doesn’t.  If you elect someone into office, or maybe you didn’t, why would you NOT voice your opinion to them if they are supposed to be the voice of the people?

I hope I am an example to others and they will follow suit. Maybe the next time you feel strongly about something you too will write your state senator, or congress, or the President. I’m going to sleep better tonight knowing maybe, just maybe, my voice helped protect my rights as an American. And mark my words: one day I will run for office.

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This past week Marshall told me something that really resonated with me. When I mentioned graduation in two weeks and my PRSSA Presidency coming to an end this week he said “I’ll finally get Delisi back.”

Is it true? Did I really go away in order to accomplish everything I set out to do? And then it started to hit me. He’s right.

I’ve given up my personal life and time for school, PRSSA, Guadalupe Home, LLS and planning a wedding. I honestly haven’t spent time with my friends in … well I don’t remember. Maybe 2 months ago? My matron of honor moved into a new house and I haven’t even had a chance to see it yet. I used to have time to go to the gym every day after school and I don’t remember the last time that happened. What about a weekend where I don’t do anything? Maybe last summer?

Last week we went to Oklahoma for a funeral and I was happy to meet his family, but I also stressed about being away. The entire drive to and from I was on an iPad typing away, taking notes and on my phone. Even when I’m forced to take some personal time the responsibilites don’t go away.

My strength and my weakness is that I always have to be doing something. I feel like ever since I moved to New York that upbeat, fast paced, hard working energy entered my body and never left. I don’t like to regret anything in life. Yes, I’ve started to realize that I’m doing too much. But I also know that it’s all for a reason. In less than 2 weeks I will turn 29 and graduate from UTSA. And all the days after that will be a chain reaction leading up to my wedding and a new job.

Maybe I have gone away for a little while. But my family and friends know it’s all for a reason. Success isn’t magic it comes from hard work. And I’m fine with a little bit of sacrifice if it means I have a better future.

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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In exactly one month I will turn 29. It’s crazy to think about to be quite honest. I don’t feel 29. And I love that people think I’m between 22 and 24 … until they talk to me and realize I’m much older.

But the craziness continues when 2 days later I finally graduate from UTSA. And then 3 weeks after that I get married. Followed by an active search for a career in television.

As the days get closer and all these big events in my life creep up on me it really makes me evaluate my life. And I know I’m not the only one. I’ve had a lot of family members lately tell me they are proud of me and the woman I have become.

When I think about my past sometimes I smile, sometimes I cringe and sometimes I simply exhale deeply and think. I don’t regret any of the decisions I made. Living in LA and NY changed my life and shaped me as a person. Moving back to Texas was once something I was ashamed of, but now I realize it was where I needed to be. Becoming Miss Latina World 08-09 was an opportunity for me in various ways. Going back to school was never something I thought I’d do, but I did and I’m happy I forced myself to do it.

Age is just a number. Life experiences don’t happen on a timeline. I’m thankful for that.

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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This past weekend I attended the PRSSA National Assembly in Albuquerque, NM. It was certainly an amazing trip, I learned a lot about PRSSA and how to better our Chapter, I made some great friends and loved every minute.

If you’re curious what other PRSSA delegates and non-delegates learned at the PRSSA National Assembly here’s the article in Progressions listing a few comments. I’m happy to be listed and also shown in the picture.

http://progressions.prssa.org/index.php/2013/04/10/the-prssa-2013-national-assembly-taught-me/

Oh and don’t worry I will DEFINITELY be writing about this event when I have more spare time.

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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