Day 1--Opening Thoughts

1. I look up to many people in my life who I view as successful and as role models. First, I look up to my dad as a leader. He grew up in Buffalo and was adopted as a baby. He is now a dentist and is very successful. He owns 2 practices, one of which he purchased recently. He takes initiative to push himself further and also manages to provide for his family. He also encourages myself and my sisters to do well in school by leading by example. Another person that I look up to is my mom. Similarly to my dad, she shows how hard work pays off daily. She encourages me to try my best in school, and accepts me for who I am. I am comfortable talking with her about almost anything. I want to be the kind of mother she is, except a little less strict. I think that she is a leader because in her field (nursing) she helps other people obtain medical service that they would not be able to attain if it were not for her. She visits elderly people who are unable to leave their homes to seek medical care. The third person that I look up to as a leader is Emma Watson. I look up to her, though she is close to my age, because she is famous, but is also intelligent. Usually, the news portrays celebrities as ditzy or stupid, but Emma Watson maintained straight A's throughout the filming of Harry Potter, and also achieved A's in her A (Advanced Placement) classes. She is attending Brown University this year. I look up to her because she is setting a new standard for celebrities.
2. The qualities which I admire most in those whom I have chosen as my role models or leaders are the following: intelligence, modesty, selflessness, and perseverance. I feel that it is important to be as smart as you can be, or to try your hardest at all times. You should always keep your future in mind. I hate people who are boastful of their intelligence, their looks, etc. One should be polite to others and not flaunt that which is extraordinary to all others who may or may not possess this quality. Though Emma Watson is talented as an actress, she has chosen to attend college rather than become a full time actress, in attempts to be "normal." Lastly, one must be selfless, and always think of others' needs before their own, and must be able to persevere in bad situations and adversity.
3. Leadership is not necessarily the act of physically leading a group of people. Leaders are everywhere. A leader is someone who inspires, leads by example, helps, and perseveres. Someone who never speaks can be a leader by example. If they are extremely kind to others, or are intelligent, the may inspire others to follow in their footsteps. A leader offers advice to others. They do not run the show, so to speak; rather, they offer advice and then, allow and accept criticism and other opinions from the other people. Everyone is a leader in some respect.
4. From this course I hope to become a better leader. Though I am taking this course because it looks good on a college application, I do hope to gain some confidence as a leader, and I hope to be able to better advice people and help them.
5.
a) I feel that I played a small role in the initiative today, merely because the connections via bandanas resulted in a small circle comprised of three people, almost completely separated from the other larger group. I did propose several options, and I took initiative in separating our small circle from the larger entanglement. At one point, I instructed several people on how to untangle themselves from our circle.
b) I learned from this challenge that I am easily shut down. I lack perseverance in presenting my ideas. When I propose an option, if someone says "I don't think that will work" or "...probably not" I typically stop giving advice, rather than explaining why it would work. Many times, the people who initially shut me down end up unknowingly taking my advice. I will work on this issue by practicing using my voice during future initiatives.
c) As a group, I felt that we worked pretty well together; however, I did notice that once we were "untangled," we felt that our job was done. At the point where two or three separate circles were untangled, but one extremely tangled group remained, the hallway was silent except for the tangled group. People did not want to become re-tangled by offering insight. I suppose that in order to iron out these ideas, one may need to speak up who IS involved in the issue, and ask the opinions of the "outsiders," much like you(Mrs. Basko) did when you asked if we, on the outside, saw anything that, perhaps, those who were tangled could not necessarily see.