Day Two Bonus Coverage
I MISSED SOMETHING FROM DAY 2!

At about 11 p.m. on Day Two, four of us girls and two boys went for a run. Yes, we had boys to make us feel safe. Hanna Malak (Menlo College- California) is a wrestler so he's got my back. But we decided to go for this run and little did I know that it would be the best exercise I have ever had. We ran from GW to the Washington Monument. If you have never seen this monument at night I urge you to do so. Running up to it I was in awe. It was lit up in a way that only your personal presence can convey. Our group of six runners made our way up to it and we lay across the marble benches catching our breath and looked up to this wall that seemed to reach up past the moon. Metaphorically, I thought to myself, this is like that wall that you come to as you approach college and the workforce. The obstacles look so high and intimidating of a challenge but when you work toward it and take your time chipping away and then look at the amount you have achieved… it is an astounding feeling. Just as the Washington monument stands at an astounding height with all its beauty beaming across D.C. As I left the monument running down Constitution Ave NW I looked back to get one last look. The sight was nothing less than remarkable.

Day 3 - So we went to the White House…No Big Deal
"I wake up, and tear drops, they fall down like rain!" Just kidding, I didn't cry this morning. I just like Rascal Flatts (These Days). I did wake up this morning and get my usually breakfast at Cravings.

The walk to Headquarters was very fast today because unlike the other days Jennifer said we were going to this big white house. Yes, I, Amber Rafko, touched the furniture that Lyndon B. Johnson probably sat in and rubbed his dog's belly. The security was really tight for some reason. Everyone is so sensitive since 01'. One of the security booths we passed through and showed our ID's to had an officer there from Woodhaven, Michigan! He said, "Monroe, huh?" I was responded, "Yes! Michigan baby!" and surprisingly, he smiled. Ha-ha. Yes some security will crack a smile. They were Secret Service Police though, not the real deal guys that probably figure out ten ways to break your neck the minute they see you walk in. But we walked past a multitude of pictures and paintings of past presidents. The designs on each doorway, chandelier, and staircase were so intricate. 

There was a door in this hallway you pass through to get from the green room to the red room and it was cracked. It looked like a secret passageway! So of course I grabbed the handle and began to open it like I was Nicholas Cage in the movie National Treasure. Suddenly I felt eyes on me like the sun in August and I was terrified and acted like I was closing it and NOT trying to sneak off and see Obama. Now that I think about the situation, there is a good chance that I found a really secretive, hidden, obscure...   closet. 

But in my head I like to think it would have been sweeter had I not been a wimp. Then to make it better after walking through the State Dining room or whatever and the huge marble hallway I proceeded to walk out of the front of THE White House. (Mind you, I am in high heels.) I am going one step by one step very slowly. Then with the swiftest step… I tripped. I was so graceful that only two or three old men managed to see me and laugh. Actually I think they thought I was hurt because I had that look on my face that little girls have when their ice cream scoop falls off the cone and smacks on the dirty cement below. Yeah, I am a baby, I will admit it. I was trying to pretend I was Michelle Obama and glide down the steps with poise and all I did was make someone 'poise' their pants laughing so hard! What a great experience! Ha-ha. I loved every minute. I would not want to be the President or in his family. 

Obama's girls cannot ever go out with friends, wear baggy sweats, go for a run alone, go on a late night run to T Bell, heck, I like my freedom! How ironic, the President's own daughters get zero freedom. (Maybe they do, I don't know them personally.) Shout out!! To my boyfriend, PFC Nicholas L. Tipper in the United States Marine Corps! Thank you for fighting for me. I miss you truck loads. So after I managed to get outside safely, I approached this big burly dude that was on security. He had a huge gun that I am sure had real ammunition loaded in it. I was sweating talking to him. He had legs the size of my waist. Not kidding. I asked him how he got the job and he said, "I applied". Ha-ha! Who knew? I could be working at the White House. I should just apply right? It couldn't be the fact that he is ripped like Rambo and Pauly D both.

After the White House visit the group walked back to Headquarters and we met with Dr. Richard J. Benjamin, the Chief Medical Officer for the American Red Cross. Dr. Benjamin is from Cape Town, South Africa and has a very cool accent. He studied at Cambridge University in England, at Stanford University in California and then worked as a medical director at Harvard University. Similar to the other speakers, he's got a big brain. Dr. Benjamin explained to us what happens before, during, and after people donate blood anatomically. We were allowed to ask him all the questions and myths surrounding what student-athletes are affected by and why they are the most targeted donors. We are targeted due to the healthy state that we tend to maintain our bodies in year round.

The second speaker was Gloria Huang, Social Media Specialist. She is highly intelligent when it comes to the online world. Anything and everything to do with advertising, finding things online, or just navigate the web she could do lightning fast. She showed us several ways that we could efficiently use today's technology and improve our donor turn out. 

Once we left the office and got into comfortable dinner clothes we walked to an interesting restaurant. The restaurant was discovered by another intern Jon Rogers (Bethel College- Indiana), and he promised that it would be good. The place was called Nooshi. The very trendy, stylish type of atmosphere offered Asian, Thai, Japanese, Vegetarian, and Chinese cuisine. The red, orange, and yellow lighting put you in a peaceful state. The other interns and I looked over the menu and ordered from tiny waitress. I was pretty nervous. You never know what you might get on your plate at restaurants from other place on the globe. I frantically had a day dreamed nightmare in my head of getting a fried kitten on my plate and then flashed to a mug shot of me, eyes wide. 

Fortunately, I received something much better! I ordered an appetizer of crabmeat wontons. To say the least, I believe they might serve these in Heaven. About five or six came on my plate, they were about the size of a golf ball, fried, and stuffed with crabmeat and a type of creamy sauce and were accompanied by wasabi mayonnaise. Again, Heaven in your mouth, I promised you. So go eat crabmeat wontons, pronto everyone! My meal was also delicious and I eat as much of my General Tao's Chicken as possible however I had a disability. Patrick Turner (Holy Names University- California) beat me in Roshambo (rock, paper, and scissors). I had to eat this red thing on my plate. Interestingly enough, the Thai man filling my water looked at it on my fork and gave me that look like, "Good luck sweetheart! Ha!" So for future reference I know that when someone does that it is probably a good idea to withdraw yourself from what you are doing. I laughed but proceeded to eat this pepper that came close to closing my airway and stripping my tongue of taste buds. My fellow interns got a great laugh while I was choking across the table and come to find out… I am not a great player of Roshambo. 

Walking to Ben and Jerry's later that day we were stopped by a Secret Service man. No, President Obama was not going to Ben and Jerry's but the President of the country of Georgia was attending a nearby restaurant. Suddenly a few men flashed across the sidewalk and like the wind they were off! I thought about how fast of a runner that man must be. I did not see a glimpse of him. Partially because I was so thrilled with the cool spiral earpiece the man facing me had on. Needless to say Ben and Jerry's was super good and then we returned to our residence at GW. 

I welcome Thursday with open arms as I fall asleep listening to my iPod.

Amber

Madonna University softball student-athlete Amber Rafko (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) is one of 13 student-athletes that have been selected to participate in the 2010-2011 Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program. The initiative is now in its fourth year, and will inspire, motivate and create a new and diverse generation of American Red Cross volunteers and leaders through exemplifying the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character program.

As part of its support of the Red Cross diversity initiatives, State Farm Insurance is sponsoring this partnership. The leadership program kicks off with two weeks of energetic training at the Red Cross National Headquarters located in Washington, D.C. from June 7 to June 18. The incoming class will participate in a rare and unique opportunity to acquire first-hand coaching, mentoring and professional leadership training presented by one of the nation's largest non-profit organizations' senior leaders. In addition, Dr. Rob Haworth, NAIA Vice President for Champions of Character, will hold character workshops during the two week leadership academy.

This once-in-a-lifetime experience allows NAIA student-athletes to be a part of a team made up of young adults from NAIA campuses throughout the country. The program is part of a larger Red Cross diversity strategy for moving the Red Cross from awareness to action, building Red Cross capacity to serve all Americans.

Student-athletes will learn from civic and business leaders how to uncover their leadership potential off the field. The participants will organize successful campus blood drives, actively participate on a leadership board, and take part in diversity and cultural competency training. For their efforts, students will receive scholarship support provided by the Red Cross and State Farm Insurance.

Rafko will keep MadonnaCrusaders.com readers updated on her experiences in our nation's capital with a blog from Red Cross headquarters.