Page 26 - 2018 September Voices

ON THE PATH

One Year with Pathways

James Wantz, DTM - D7 Pathways Coordinator

“You’re doing that wrong.” “Pathways allows you to do elective projects like:
“I am?” make a podcast, write a blog, or develop a social

“Yes, we’ve always done that project this way . . .” media presence.” She had me at podcast. I’d
Do you get tired of people telling you how always wanted to do a podcast. Well, not always.
to do something? Especially if they say, ‘This is Podcasting didn’t really take off until late 2004
how it’s always done’? Well, I do. That is what I (thanks Wikipedia). Podcasting intrigued me.

LOVE about Pathways. No one has ever done the Blogging intrigued me. Social media baffled
program. That means no one can tell me how it me—probably the ‘social’ part of that one since
is supposed to be done! I LOVE that. I’m an introvert.
One year into Pathways, and I am still loving I wanted to investigate all that the Chief

it (sorry McD’s). I have 3 Paths going: Presentation Ambassador was telling me, and in September
Mastery, Strategic Relationships, and Visionary of last year I did! I raced into my first path and
Communication. One just wasn’t enough. (It’s was the first person in District 7 to actually
my Pathways, and I want it now!) Since I’ve complete a full Level 1 in the new program. I

been walking these Paths for most all of last zipped into Level 2, then Level 3, and began to
year, I decided it was time to sit back and reflect. hit my stride in Level 4 because that was where
Coincidentally, I am doing that exact project in the podcast project was.
Level 5 of Presentation Mastery: Reflect on your Oh boy! I had fun! I researched microphones,

Path. (Wow, talk about coincidence.) It is almost software, webcams, and hosting platforms like
as if Toastmasters knew that I would want to YouTube. I’d never done anything with YouTube
reflect on what I did in the last year. How timely. (except watch cat videos) and it was a learning
I became infatuated with Pathways back experience—a good one, not like those learning

in May 2017 when the Chief Ambassador said, experiences where you come out the other side

For me, Pathways was and is enjoyable. I am learning while having fun—and the bulk of my learning is happening outside my club.

26 ONE COMMUNITY