In the summer of my junior year of high school, I attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards conference held at Westminster college. To this date, the time I spent at this conference was the most explementary time I have ever had. When I arrived at the conference, I honestly had no idea what to expect and really only went for the scholarship opportunities available. On the car ride to Westminster, I had the sickest feeling of nausea in my stomach, dreading to arrive. I assumed it would just be another lecture filled week of boredom. However, I soon learned, I could not have been more wrong. From the moment I stepped out of the car, I was showered with kindness and a real feeling of peace. At RYLA, as it’s often abbreviated, there was not a
It was just us: thirty young men, and our two city counselors. I vividly remember the theme of the discussion: "What is your biggest goal and biggest fear in life?" What I heard that night from people I still barely knew astonished me. The hopes and fears that I heard from my fellow city members truly inspired me to work hard in life and do whatever I can to face my fears. When it was finally my turn to share with the group, I told everyone that my biggest goal was to do well in high school and college, find my dream job, have a family, and be happy. That goal may sound very ordinary, but that is truly my dream for the future. Next, I told everyone that my biggest fear was to lose motivation in life. I explained how I work so hard in high school because I have the motivation of my goal that I mentioned previously. If I lost this motivation, I do not know where I would
My experience as the service chair encouraged me to try out for another position for the upcoming semester. This time with the goal of encouraging diversity and growth of our members. I created the Deserving Darlin Scholarship, which would be awarded to one member who excelled all of the standards of a Texas Darlin. Alone, I was able to facilitate, organize, and raise over $500 for the scholarship. After months of planning and reading scholarship applications, I was finally able to award the scholarship. At that moment I felt that same adrenaline as I did when I received the student council announcement. Except this time, I felt that I had accomplished my long held dream, to grow as a leader and positively impact those around me, something
I am not born with a silver spoon on my mouth to host a feeding program nor offer scholarships to others. I am just a college student. However, KINDLE, one of Rotaract Club's program, made me realize that we do not need to be rich in order to be of service to others. We could always help, if we truly want to. Afterall, money is just one of the million ways to
On stage, I anticipated third place, but was once again stunned when I placed second. This whole experience was life changing. Working for the National FFA Convention, I developed a work ethic to stick to something, and to do my best, even if it seems impossible. I also gained communication skills, and the ability to work outside my comfort zone. Even now it is hard for me to interact with others, but this accomplishment taught me that I can do hard things and I can communicate effectively. I learned how to perform research and express my findings. This experience was also very valuable for it directed me to my career path. It opened up doors as to my abilities, and gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams without fear. It taught me that failures happen, but enduring effort will turn failure into success. In my interviews, I learned that complete honesty is far better than false cover-ups. I became the person I am now because I was blessed with the experience. This project for some may be seen as a great award, but for me it's an invaluable occurrence which had more life skills and experience than a piece of paper can ever
I do not like my school. All City Leadership Secondary School’s (ACLA) population of approximately 400 people consists of 6th to 12th grade students as well as staff members. We’re our own little town, where everyone is acquainted with one another. Staff members greet us each morning by saying “good morning” with astounding enthusiasm. On a typical school day a student, having been taught the importance of courtesy, does not pass by an adult without saying, “good morning, sir/ma’am.” The adult, assuming he/she heard the student, will acknowledge him or her and say “good morning”. They then separate to go about their days. I have attended ACLA since 6th grade and had the option in 8th grade to apply to highly ranked schools like Stuyvesant
When I am at my best. I am able to prioritize with leadership the needs of the people and/or organization that I am working with before mine. I strategically plan to overcome whatever challenge emerges in the developing or planning of a team project. In addition, I am dedicated and positive throughout the entire process. I am able to bring the group’s ideas together in order to meet a common goal without further delays. I tend to be very analytical and purpose oriented. I am not distracted very easily from the main goals and I am very persistent.
“Guess what I signed you up for?” “What?” I ask my mom worried. “Community service at the Boys and Girls Club!”, “You get to spend the day with little kids!” As soon as I heard these words, my heart started to race, I was filled with anxiety. How could I find any joy in this experience, I have two younger cousins and I can barely interact with them without getting flustered. I had no clue how I would be able to handle so many unfamiliar children. Should I be all no-nonsense; we do things my way? Or should I allow them to do whatever they want, within reason of course. The day had arrived for me to go to the Boys and Girls Club. As I walk through the doors of the community center, I realize two things; one, I was more nervous than I thought
As an important part of IE 250 course, we are assigned to join one-to-one mentoring program with a 350 student to be mentor/ mentee pairs; I am lucky to have Wilson Cochrane as my mentor this semester, and he truly told me lots of interesting facts of Industrial Engineering that I never have thought before.
I was born into a family of oldest children and a middle brother. I grew up feeling that everyone was controlling me and telling me what to do. Decision making proved to difficult, but I was content with living the life my parents and older sister told me to live. However, my parents and the experiences I've had are the reason I have high expectations for myself today.
I was raised in the island of Puerto Rico, which helped to be raised oblivious of segregation based on skin color, religious preference, political division, race background and with a great sense of respect to my elders. The Caribbean is a big pot of interracial mix, which makes a fun place to raise your children. No matter if you are from Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, or Virgin Islands we all are Caribbean’s. Every island ensures to create a sense of respect and idealization to their little piece of the Caribbean, but also a lot of respect to the neighbor island at the same time. Your elders make sure that you understand your place in the pyramid in your family, and the only way to go up on it is as your get older. I got raised
Everyone in high school has their “thing”- something they do not mind spending all of their free time on, something that sparks an unexpected curiosity, something they can look forward to after a stressful week of exams. Some students choose video games or sports or boyfriends as their “thing”. I chose missions. Halfway through my junior year, I received the opportunity to join a missions team for the following summer. Though I had never participated in missions nor been out of the United States before, I knew I had to snatch the opportunity.
The year 7 camp was supposed to make us year 7 kids start to interact and socialise to know each other better as we will need to work together as a team later in the year. On the camp, I had to take responsibility for my own belongings and look after myself.
Naïve and headstrong, I was determined to move out of my parent’s house and face the world on my own shortly after graduating from high school several years ago. Instead of attending college, I began working in the public sector as a temporary typist clerk. During this time my supervisor, Sharon, was an individual who truly made a positive impact on my life. Sharon’s style of leadership is best defined as the servant leader because she invested in the development of her staff and sought opportunities to grow maturely and professionally (Daft, 2016). The manner in which Sharon served the employees on her team still resonates with me today.
My vision for leadership in an educational setting is to be an effective leader. School Leadership: Handbook for Excellence in Student Learning identifies four core leadership behaviors associated with student learning: setting direction, developing people, leading change, and establishing managerial order.
Anyone who has talked to me about leadership has mentioned that you are not a leader unless someone is following you. This is true, but implies more than what is seen at first glance, that if someone is following you, you are a leader whether you like it or not. And with leadership comes responsibility, a lot of responsibility. To be truthful, I do not always like to have responsibility or have to worry about what others see when they watch me. Being a leader requires that I keep my integrity.