Survival Kit 101

     When I started FFA, I soon discovered that no matter what, there are a few things that you cannot live without. But as a high school freshman, for the life of me I could never remember to pack my lint roller and enough pens and pencils to survive the week long trip. Come on y'all, let's be honest, we all forget these things. Matter of fact, my mom (and honorary advisor and taxi driver) got a desperate call from my actual advisor on the way to Greenhand test and Dairy Cattle Judging  to bring them pencils because the entire bus forgot them.
    But as we all know, it isn't just the pen that are often needed. A couple of my favorite forgot or essential items are:
    - Nail Polish (clear)
    - Bandages
    - Neosporin
    - Head Ache Medications
    - Lint Roller
    - Fingernail File
    - Chaptstick/ Lipgloss
    - Bobbypins
    - Ponytail Holder
    - Breath Mints
   Now obviously there are a few that some could do without and there are some that could be added to that list. But notice, the majority of those things on that list are things that you need them when you need them, not when you get back to the hotel room. And honestly people, your FFA jacket's pockets are like dark black holes. There have been many a time where I have put on my jacket after a long dry spell and have found money, my favorite lipgloss, even my favorite pair of earings. Often times, I lost all desire to find something essential at the thought of digging through the crumpled notecards from my extemporaneous speech a few weeks ago, reminder postit notes, and folded up leadership tip papers given at one conference or another. We ALL have this problem, don't lie.
   So I created the Survival Kit.
   I simply just took all the the above and placed it in a sandwich size plastic baggie. By using travel sizes, I was able to keep the bag flat enough that it would conviently fit right inside of my left inside jacket pocket. It is relatively cheap and very much so nice to have. I have attached pictures showing exactly what I put in and how I organized it. Now some materials may vary for individual use, but what you need, you only have so much pocket space.

   Note: When it comes to your kit additions, it is up to you what you choose. I like the Sally Hansen clear finger nail polish because it is fast drying and I don't have to worry about it being tacky and getting all over my skirt. I also like the little  mints that come in the handy little rolls, they aren't as bulky and they are quiet to be able to open when the situation requires stealth. And as far as your writing utensils, I bought a pack of like 100 pens for a dollar and those suit me just fine, but I love my mechanical pencil. That way I don't have to worry about having a sharp pencil or having my lead break. Disclaimer, if you decide to use a mechanical pencil, make sure that I has enough lead or even add a package of lead to your kit. And when it comes to your lint roller, never place the roller in the bag with a fresh layer, the stickiness will make it next to impossible to remove from the bag with any sort of ease.
     Remember, it is completely up to you what you put in. I strongly suggest the chapstick, headache meds, lint roller, pencil, and breath mints and if you are a lady, definitely the nail polish.

    As you can see, I just arranged my items in the bag. I know that the bag isn't tall enough that my finger nail file and lint roller will be able to be zipped in, and if you like, you can get a quart storage freezer bag, they are taller and have a little better seal while still being compact enough to fit in your pocket. Now remember, bulky pockets are a huge no no. Don't stack and fill your bag too full or you will have awkward lumps and will have to dig through to find what you need, making the whole kit moot. The compactness also helps when you are competing in a speaking competition or doing interviews because you can just pull it all out of your pocket as a whole and then place it right back in without having to gather all sorts of small little objects.
   Hopefully this kit can help you out just as it did for me and a couple of my FFAmily members. If this is one thing that you do off this blog, this would be the thing that I suggest whole heartedly.
 
And as usual,
Peace, Love, and FFA!
McKenzie