iCivics.

Today I was given the extraordinary opportunity to go hear Justice Sandra Day O'Conner speak on campus, and it was such a delight! She is a super spunky, down-to-earth woman and even though we were in a packed auditorium, she spoke in such a personal way it was almost as if she was having the conversation with just you.

Much of her talk was explaining the way the Supreme Court works, which was really interesting. And she is actually on campus because Baylor was chosen to help her with a business model for her new program called iCivics, and she was coming to view the model that has been created. It's a really cool program, and you should check it out!! Civics education has been decreasing over the past several years to make room for other things, and it really shouldn't! Everyone needs to understand how our government works, and what opportunities we as citizens have to be involved in the decisions that are made! The whole premise behind this movement is that on the site you can play games, but in the process learn things about the government! I went and looked at the site for myself, and the games are addicting!! AND to make it even better and more accessible, the website is free!!! It also has tools for teachers to do classroom activities with their students. The website is http://www.icivics.org/ and you should check it out!!

Sandra Day O'Conner is such an inspiring woman, and the fact that she is 83 years old and still continues to sit in for federal courts is amazing. She is intent on staying active and helping bring civics education back to its rightful place in society. Listening to her speak about her upbringing and the discrimination she faced as a woman in a man's work place was incredible. But she faced adversity, even having her first job be unpaid, just to continue doing a job she loved. And she ended up being the first woman to serve in the Supreme Court! 191 years of no women, and she broke through! Because of her courage and determination to succeed women all over the world began to enter the work force.

Getting to personally be in the same room with such an important figure of our generation was an amazing opportunity that I'm so thankful for. So go play with the website, spread the word, and get involved!!