Barbara Dooleys speech

Barbara Dooleys speech was about overcoming obstacles. The thesis of her speech was that attitude is the only way to solve obstacles and also the only thing you can control in life. She then told many anecdotes that supported her claim on attitude. She explained how coming to UGA in the midst of the big football drought, the school spirit was very low, especially lower than Auburns. She then decided to fix this she would start a tradition of painting the town on homecoming and this tradition still exists today. She also suffered 11 broken ribs and a punctured spleen in an awful car accident during her first few years at UGA. She made it her goal to get well and make it to the annual Georgia Florida game. She ended up still being incredibly weak and sick but she came anyways and had a ball sitting in a trailer outside of the game watching it with her closest friends. She also spoke of a miscarriage she had and the positive attitude she contagiously spread to her family and community that was expecting another baby when she dealt with it so well. She also fought breast cancer and during her chemotherapy, she would have "chemo parties" with her family and friends to keep her spirits high after treatment. She feared losing her hair but when the time came she had a "head shaving party" and had a blast. On her last day of chemo she walked into the lab with all the patience enduring chemo and announced she was done and throwing a champagne and marijuana party. I hope to implement Barbaras positive attitude through out the rest of my trip. She spoke of having no control over so many obstacles and the only co try give way to deal with them is with a positive attitude. She also spoke about how a woman's attitude is like the thermostat for the home as she sets the mood. Barbara was both inspirational and hilarious and I really enjoyed her speech.