What up FOTO,
My name is Cade Lafferty, and many of you probably remember me as the tallest FOTO member in history (prolly). For those of you who don't know me, I graduated last Spring and was involved with FOTO for all 4 years of college. I was on the board my Sophomore, Junior, and Senior year as an MR chair, AFO chair, and an Alt Funds Chair, and I was a Dancer last year, which was super sweet. I also had the privilege (and curse) of carrying the 234 torch during my Junior year and for most of my Senior year until Bryson and I decided enough was enough. I'll be brief to spare your meeting time and BDR's beautiful voice.
For those of you at your first FOTO meeting, welcome. You're making a terrific choice by being here. FOTO shaped my college experience - it gave me some of my best friends and allowed me to be a part of something special every year. For any new members in the room, I promise you that it's worth it to stick around. The people in the front of this room are ballers and will be your homie if you dedicate yourself to this org. With FOTO, you'll always have a group of people to rely on and things to keep you busy. Whether that is fundraisers, family visits, or flag football games, you'll stay busy and actually have stuff to talk about with your family when home for breaks. For example, when asked the question:
"How is school?"
This answer:
"I'm involved in one of the most successful organizations that raises money for pediatric cancer in the largest student run philanthropy in the world," sounds a little better than:
"Oh it's good. Classes are hard."
The more you give FOTO and all it entails, the more you'll get out of it. I'm really trying to not sound cliché, and I am lucky to be one of the first of these Alum's of the Week because you'll get to hear one every week talk about the same thing! College can be confusing at first, especially at a school as big as PSU, but surrounding yourself with genuine people and dedicating your time to something like FOTO will help you to figure out why you're there. My biggest piece of advice is to just go all in with it. I know there's going to be some events this week - go to them, get your roommate to go, get your entire freshmen dorm floor to go like I did. Make FOTO your thing, and get other people involved too.
Alright, I'll end it there. Just know that FOTO is cool, and I wish I was still there.
Good luck this year bros. Raise a ton of money and have a ton of fun in the process. Also you best be mentally preparing for flag football. Expecting big things. Lastly, please no injuries in preseason this year, Ric. That is all.
Much love,
Cade
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