Self-Image
At the beginning of the year, this lesson was a bit of a challenge for me. I did not have a very good self-image. I was very critical of myself (I still am to a certain degree) and it was hard for me to accept my imperfections. It is easy to pretend that the hurt that I held was not there, but it was. When working through this lesson as a class, I was asked to be honest with myself. I reflected on the way that I viewed myself, and how that affected the way others viewed me. I realized that I was being too critical of myself. I realized that imperfections are okay. In fact, they are arguably beautiful. After all, if I was perfect then there would be no room for growth. I also learned the importance of accepting myself for who I am, and striving to be better. I had to face myself and ask if I cannot respect myself, then why should anyone else? I believe that since the day the question was posed, my self-image has improved. With that being said, I still have to work on my self-image daily. Instead of focusing on the negative, I try to focus on the positive. On the growth and progress rather than the setbacks and obstacles. Vulnerability is not always easy, but it is necessary. It is necessary to be honest with oneself and others. I am not perfect, but I try my best, and I think that should count for something.
Taking the Initiative to Lead
Taking the initiative to lead is recognizing a need and doing one's best to meet it. In the Emerging Leaders Academy there are many opportunities for leadership. Upon reflection, I found that if I feel comfortable with those I am working with, qualified to lead, familiar with the mission, and passionate about the mission, I will willing step up to the plate. However, if these are not met, I am more hesitant to lead. This is something that I believe is important to acknowledge within myself. With that being said, I know that leadership is about so much more than comfort and personal desires. Leadership is not conditional or circumstantial. To be a true leader requires sacrifice and dying to self. It requires putting others' needs before my own. I am willing to do this. If there is a need for a leader, I will put my preferences to the side and do what is best for the good of others. I also realize, however, that I am not always the most qualified person to lead. If I am unfamiliar with a mission, and someone else is more qualified and passionate, then I am okay with stepping back and following. I believe that this skill is important for all leaders. To acknowledge when someone is more qualified and to be humble enough to help in the background.
Connecting with Others
This skill is one that I believe every leader should have. If I do not know my teammates or those that I am serving, how will I be able to properly meet their needs? By connecting with others, putting myself out there, and truly taking the time to get to know them, I will be able to serve them in a significant way. I will know what they need and how they need it to be done. Communication and listening skills are major factors in connecting with others. I have been working on these skills during the year through being intentional in conversations that I have with others. Before, I found that I would listen to others so that I could respond properly. Now, when I am speaking with others, I try to listen to understand. I am not perfect, I will be the first to admit this, but I do believe that I have improved in the ways I connect with others during my ELA class.
Team Building Skills
A team is a group of people that come together to achieve a common purpose or goal. Team members are often diverse, and are not always familiar with one another going in. Without having a relationship with the other members on one's team, it is difficult to have trust. I experienced this firsthand. When I went to my first ELA class in the Fall semester, I was unfamiliar with most of the students in my class. There were a few students that I knew, but there were even more that I did not. While I am a very open person, there were times when I did not feel comfortable sharing with the other students in my class. This is because I did not know them and I was not familiar with them. Dr. Jonas helped us get to know one another through different team building exercises. He showed us the importance of getting to know the members of one's team and how to grow as a team. Before this year, I did not realize how essential it is to trust the other people on one's team. Now I do. By having team building skills I know my team members' strengths and weaknesses. My relationship with my teammates allows me to push them to be better people. To grow as leaders. I believe that knowing the members on one's team personally is essential for success.
Personal Growth & Reflection
I am proud of what I have accomplished this year. Thanks to the Emerging Leaders Academy and Dr. Jonas, I have grown both personally and professionally. I am able to look at myself honestly and acknowledge where I am at. I have also been able to recognize my flaws and imperfections without beating myself up about them. By acknowledging these things, I can be proactive and change for the better. I do not view growth as something that I can achieve without ever having to work on it again. To me, self-reflection and striving for growth need to happen daily if I am to achieve my full potential. I am grateful to Dr. Jonas for helping me through this year and allowing me to look at myself differently.