On June 10, I attended the White House Social (#WHSocial) featuring President Barack Obama’s first-ever Tumblr Q&A session on education, college affordability, and student loan debt reduction. I had a front row seat in the State Dining Room. Being able to see President Obama, one of my #FierceLiving heros, in action was a HUGE life moment for me. Click here to read about my favorite #WHSocial moments. Watch my Vine video too.
After the event, I was able to snap a selfie with the President, say hello, and shake his hand. What a lucky woman I am!
Check out photos from my #WHSocial adventures below.
Today I have been reflecting on the words of the late South African President Nelson Mandela (see above) and President Barack Obama (see below).
“You can choose a future where more Americans have the chance to gain the skills they need to compete, no matter how old they are or how much money they have. Education was the gateway to opportunity for me. It was the gateway for Michelle. And now more than ever, it is the gateway to a middle-class life.”
Their wise words remind me how grateful I am to my parents and my ancestors for blessing me with the opportunity to receive as much education as I desired. The education I received as a student at Kenmoor Elementary School, Kenmoor Junior High School, Elizabeth Seton High School, Morgan State University, Howard University School of Law, and Georgetown University Law Center became my gateway for pursuing a diverse career path as a lawyer, investment banker, knowledge manager, business consultant, artist, author, nonprofit senior program officer, yoga teacher, Reiki practitioner, and digital communications professional. My education was a gateway to #FierceLiving … being too bold for boundaries.
Photo Credit: WhiteHouse.gov
I was truly blessed to receive financial support from my parents for my primary, high school, college, and law school education. I used a student loan to pay for my graduate law degree at Georgetown and spent several years paying off the debt. Those were lean years for me. Nowadays students are faced with enormous debt. College affordability is a huge challenge. These two factors create barriers for people to obtain a higher education.
Education, college affordability, and reducing student loan debt are three areas I am passionate about supporting online and offline. My passion is rooted in who I am as a daughter of two educators and an aunt to a niece in college with student loan debt and nephews in elementary school who will most likely face student loan debt. They are the reasons I applied to participate in the White House (#WHSocial) Tumblr Social on June 10 where President Obama will engage with Tumblr followers in his first-ever Tumblr Question and Answer session on education, college affordability, and reducing student loan debt. Tumblr CEO David Karp will moderate the session.
Guess what happened this afternoon?
The White House selected me to participate as social media leader in the #WHSocial. So be sure to follow me on my Tumblr blog and as @anandaleeke on Instagram and Twitter next Tuesday starting at 3:30 p.m.
I’m a fifth-year student of Architecture at Pratt Institute. I’m graduating this month. I live in Brooklyn, New York and was raised just outside of Philadelphia in South Jersey. To stay updated on my social media adventures, follow me on Instagram and Twitter.
2) Why did you apply to participate in the #WHSocial?
I have always been a supporter of the President and have held an interest and passion for politics my whole life. As an architect and musician, I found the Arrival Ceremony to be a fascinating confluence of diplomacy, architecture, and theater.
3) Share the key moments you experienced while participating in the #WHSocial.
My key moments included:
Arriving early and seeing the preparations for the state arrival was particularly interesting to see. Every piece of the ceremony is so choreographed and rehearsed to perfection, it was fascinating to see what it took to put it together.
It was also a great thrill to go in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and meet with administration officials. I was struck by how those individuals we met with made real the administration’s commitment to transparency.
4) What social media tools did you use to support your participation in the #WHSocial?
I primarily used Instagram and Twitter, and shared some on Facebook to let family and friends in on the fun! I was impressed at how connected the #WHSocial group became after finding each other over Twitter through using the hashtag.
5) Did you learn any lessons while participating in the #WHSocial?
I learned, retrospectively, the importance of editing! I was too excited when I arrived at the White House and had a bit of a case of “overshare,” to the point that my phone battery couldn’t stand the cold and died before the ceremony concluded. I realized that even with live, in-the-moment broadcasting people are most interested in a concise, conclusive photograph or tweet rather than an overload of images with little meaning on their own.
6) What does digital citizenship mean to you?
Digital citizenship carries the duties of citizenship into an increasingly globalized world. It is a process of learning, keeping one’s self informed, but also sharing perspectives and ideas.
7) How are you planning to stay engaged as a digital citizen?
I plan to keep expanding the breadth of information I consume with the hopes being able to share more informed perspectives.
8) Share several ways Americans can use their digital presence and online network to engage civically on a local, state, and/or national level.
Especially in the U.S., our governments and leaders are increasingly present on social networks and are eager to engage with their constituents online. Americans can take advantage of this, and use these tools seriously to generate exciting and intelligent dialogue.
Today I am sharing a Digital Citizenship (#DigCitizen) Project profile featuring Danyell Taylor, a social media leader, I met while attending the White House Social (#WHSocial) for the French Arrival Ceremony for French President Francois Hollande in February.
I am a Communications Specialist at the Council of the Great City Schools, a nonprofit organization that focuses on education legislation. I’m from Plano, Texas, and currently live in Washington, DC. To stay updated on my social media adventures, follow me on Twitter: @IDreamInChanel.
2) Why did you apply to participate in the #WHSocial?
I love all things Parisian and volunteer with Alliance Francaise. I saw the #WHSocial as an opportunity to expand my cultural knowledge and social media influence.
3) Share the key moments you experienced while participating in the #WHSocial.
My key moments included:
Seeing school-age children vying to get a look at President Barack Obama.
Watching the 21-gun salute.
Being close enough to hear and see President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
Attending the #WHSocial Meetup Happy Hour at the Old Ebbitt Grill and discussing our stroll down digital memory lane.
4) What social media tools did you use to support your participation in the #WHSocial?
Instagram and Twitter
5) Did you learn any lessons while participating in the #WHSocial?
Anything is possible. I can expand my digital knowledge both personally and professionally.
6) What does digital citizenship mean to you?
Digital citizenship is learning and using online tools to explain and comprehend American and global culture, norms, and politics.
7) How are you planning to stay engaged as a digital citizen?
I plan to stay engaged through mainstream newspapers and their digital presence.
8) Share several ways Americans can use their digital presence and online network to engage civically on a local, state, and/or national level.
Share your concerns, questions, revelations, and insights with your network.
Grow in your knowledge and don’t except the status quo in life, religion or politics.
Be curious about the world outside of your block, city, state, and country of origin.
I am a returned Peace Corps volunteer (Kenya 2005-2007). I work as the Purchasing Agent and Property Custodian at the Smithsonian’s Office of Facilities Management in Washington, D.C. You can find me on Intstagram and Twitter as @eriksonyoung.
2) Why did you apply to participate in the #WHSocial?
My #WHSocial application stated: It’s good for me to observe the diplomacy protocol at State Arrival Ceremony in process. It’s good relationship between French and U.S.
3) Share the key moments you experienced while participating in the #WHSocial.
My key moments included:
Witness the real process of protocol handled by Office of Chief Protocol.
Learning the real purpose to develop a good relationship between U.S. and France through the public diplomacy.
4) What social media tools did you use to support your participation in the #WHSocial?
Mainly, I used both Twitter and Instagram during #WHSocial for the French Arrival Ceremony. I also used my personal Facebook to share my family and friends.
5) After the #WHSocial, did you write or participate in any follow-up interviews for a blog, magazine, newspaper, radio station, or television station?
I used Instagram and Twitter to share my follow-up comments and photos.
6) Did you learn any lessons while participating in the #WHSocial?
Using social media and hashtag to share everyone to see the real public diplomacy. Let them to see some photos, tweets and others through their eyes.
7) What does digital citizenship mean to you?
I think digital citizenship is a powerful tool that we can use social media under the Bill of Rights such as Freedom of Speech and Media where we can share our comments and opinions freely without any fears. You can express your opinions and comments to White House officials by reach out via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media. They do read and listen to you.
8) How are you planning to stay engaged as a digital citizen?
I will continue to use Instagram and Twitter to share my experiences with everyone.
9) Share several ways Americans can use their digital presence and online network to engage civically on a local, state, and/or national level.
Twitter is a powerful social media tool that you can use to get in touch with elected officials on any level in local, state, and national governments.
Share your opinions as your duty as digital citizen in order to improve the best service to our country and U.S. citizens.
2) Why did you apply to participate in the #SOTUSocial?
I wanted to help share the President’s message and show how real, every day, ordinary people can be involved and help make a difference.
3) Share the key moments you experienced while participating in the #SOTUSocial.
Meeting Press Secretary Jay Carney and simply walking into the White House.
4) What social media tools did you use to support your participation in the #SOTUSocial?
I used Twitter, Facebook, and also posted on Google +, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
5) After the #SOTUSocial, did you write or participate in any follow-up interviews for a blog, magazine, newspaper, radio station, or television station?
I wrote a blog post about my experience. Click here to read it.
6) Did you learn any lessons while participating in the #SOTUSocial?
My best lesson was to bring your own WiFi which I did.
7) What does digital citizenship mean to you?
Digital citizenship means to engage with people and access information about issues that matter to you by connecting with them online
8) How are you planning to stay engaged as a digital citizen?
I’m a digital communications manager and all over the web. I love managing, leading, innovating, and engaging communities of people through digital communications.
9) Share several ways Americans can use their digital presence and online network to engage civically on a local, state, and/or national level.
Anyone can make a difference and get involved! Opportunities are boundless in the digital world.
Ananda Leeke 