The evening started with a meet and greet game where we had to find similarities among us. I was really nervous and went to the bar first to get a glass of wine. Turns out the 'cash bar' actually meant, cash. Not card, not charge it to the room, cash. So immediately, there were several of us that had something in common, we were thirsty and had no cash. After playing the game for a few minutes, myself and another girl named Angela (who won a prize in the meet and greet game) limped down to the atm. I say limped because well, I wear heels about twice a year, and she didn't seem to be fairing much better. After much complaining, short stepping and praying, we got our cash and our wine.
There were 82 women attending the dinner and they ranged in occupation from a clerk to the VP of operations. The seating was assigned, which I was happy for since I only knew a few people in the room. The seating seemed to mix the very new and the very experienced and there was much laughing and learning at the table. Some of the older women commented how they are starting to notice a line at the women's room, and this is the one time they don't really mind.
The VP of operations got up to say a few words, and she really struck a cord with me. She told a story of a job she had in NYC for the bridges and roads department. She said she wanted to talk to the guys working and see what they were doing, the man she said it to smiled and told her to wear boots and they would take care of the rest. The next day the smiling man took her to the Brooklyn Bridge, the guys were working at the top, and she had to walk up the cable to the top of the bridge to the work site. She said she knew if she didn't do this, she might as well just quit this job. So even though she was terrified, she walked to the top of the bridge. Folks in case you think you read that wrong, our VP of operations has walked to the top of the Brooklyn Bridge! The lesson was it's okay to be terrified, but overcoming it can help you grow in more ways than you can imagine. I thought it was a pretty awesome story.
In short, I learned that the ladies of CSX are not hot house flowers. They are tough, strong women and I was honored to be among those invited to be a part of the girl dinner.
YUM CROW
Proof that I was actually wearing a dress and heels.
