The Last Lecture

This week was our last lecture was fantastic I loved the Macy’s mom and how she talked about leaders making tough decisions when the pressure is on. Keeping your integrity even when you’re surrounded by those who say they have the same standards then brake those standards when no one is watching. A true leader will stand up for integrity no matter who is watching.  Always stand up for what is right that is the last charge for all leaders everywhere. 

Change

For my final paper i am going to write about the change I want to see in the Adaptive Aquatics program. The change is more participation form the Students here at BYU. I, personally would love to get more involved in the Program and work to get others involved. sometimes the ratio of kids to students is not 1:1 and this makes things very difficult, because then the student has two kids hanging off of him, not just one.  By getting more people involved the program would be able to accommodate more kids and also the students who were participating would truly enjoy them selves, it is impossible to not enjoy yourself when you are in the service of your fellow man, especially children.

Goals

My leadership role I set a goal to become an example to the child I help.

In lecture we learned about obtaining more then we are capable of, this is the main thing i want to teach to the kid I help. If sees how much he can achieve even with his disability, his life will become so much easier. and that would make me feel as though accomplished my goal and was able to be a good example to him and help him for the better.  

Team Work!

This week we got the chance to work together with members of the class we were not familiar with. It was a great opportunity to not only use team work but to meet other people.


My role was like that of everyone else in the group; to come up with ideas, put the skit together and then preform it. Our group was very good at listening to all the ideas presented and then incorporating them into a skit. From my group i learned that there is no bad idea and all every ones voice should be heard and considered when making decisions.  

Trial

This week in lab we had the most awesome time! We did a moot court! I got to be a Supreme Court judge.

In a court it is imperative that everyone is keeps their integrity, and also sticks to their ethical values. With out these two contributors the judicial system would be a flop. Courts to their best ability try to keep these two traits by having witnesses take on oath on the bible. Attorney’s jobs are to argue the interests on those they are hired by. This can cause personal conflict and they may have to take the side of the guilty which may not be the proper thing to do but it is their job. The witnesses I saw stuck to their guns and did not falter due to peer pressure. The final decision was correct, Jack was not obeying the honor code they had been set by the school, the only problem for me personally was the issue with only males having to abide by the hair length, and all the other rules were for guys and girls except for that one.

In my leadership role there are many kids and not so many toys... conflicts rise constantly between kids who are not willing to share. All the kids are watched by a college student so when conflicts arise if my kid is the one taking the wrong action I tell him he is misbehaving and that taking toys is not honest. Thru this action I hope that he can learn honesty and develop ethical values.

Service

This week we discussed service and also got the chance to preform a service project.

As we discussed service i came to realize that leadership truly is all about service, its about being in a put in position where you can better serve your fellow man. i love the example Jesus gave at the last supper when he washed the feet of his apostles. Here was the son of God washing the feet of his followers. His example is so amazing to me. In my leadership role I am helping the little children develop and grow. I hope that by serving them, by giving of my time they will truly see the joy one can have from service. I know service always leaves me smiling.
This week we went to Y serve and i made a gratitude book, this book will be given to a student and they will be able to write down what they are truly grateful for and then reflect on it when ever they are feeling depressed or even just want to smile. When we were making the books i could not help but think about all the wonderful service that i have received in my life and it made me want to give back. Service is the way to become like Christ and it is the the best way to become Christ like.

Conflicts

This weeks discussion of conflicts made me realize that most, if not all conflicts can be resolved with communication, however, that communication may need to take place before the conflict begins.

Last week at adaptive aquatics one of the kids had an “accident” in the pool. This conflict lead to other conflicts. The pool was considering putting adaptive aquatics on a ban. They even considered not letting adaptive aquatics continue at the RB. This conflict all developed as a result of lack of communication between the child and the student who was supervising him. If there had been communication before the accident happened then the secondary conflict would have never developed. This secondary conflict was resolved by communication and adaptive aquatics is allowed to “swim” on.  

I have learned that you just need to communicate with all those around you especially when you are a leader.

Public Speaking

In my leadership role(adaptive aquatics) does not require much public speaking, it does however involve speaking one on one with little kids. In my role i can benefit the children by just talking to them and letting them practice their speaking skills. As these children grow and develop it is imperative that they have speaking skills to  communicate with their peers.
In the future i hope to become a swim coach in this role public speaking will be necessary as i try communicating to large groups of swimmers, and their parents. Public speaking is not just a skill for leadership it is a skill for life.

P.S. never start a talk, "today the bishop asked me to speak on..."

Time Management

Time management is a necessary attribute of a good leader, because you must be able to fit every thing into your schedule. My leadership role i will be honest is not very time consuming, and there are also two days that they have available for you to attend. so if you cant make Thursday then you can go on Friday. It does however require me to make sure to keep those times open during the week. I write down what day i plan to attend and keep`that day free. In all honesty my leadership role does not require much time management. 

Davine Leadership

This week we divine leadership. As we learned to follow Christ in all things I came to realize that as I help these children acting in the lord’s stead. I am trying to apply this by demonstrating patience, charity, and giving of myself freely. As I help these children develop I not only grow closer to them but also become closer to my savior. I hope that I can continue to help these children grow and I know that if I do that the lord will help me grow.   

Myers-Briggs

This week I got back my personality test. Myers-Briggs classified me as ESFP.  Getting classified allows me to better utilize my strengths and be aware of my weaknesses in my leadership role. Myers-Briggs tells me that my best environments are one where I am closely working with others. As I help children develop social and motor skills I am working very closely with them. This allows for me to utilize my strength by working in the correct environment. By helping these children I am also utilizing my strength of performing best when in constant interaction with others. By utilizing my strengths I hope to better serve the children.

Extroversion: Being more focused on outside activity and people. this allows me to better focus on the kids and help them learn and develop.
Sensing: Using my 5 senses and focusing on the here and now allows me to better help the kids by using my senses to see what the kids need help with on a day to day basis.
Feeling: Making my evaluations on person centered concerns. this means that i can see what each child needs and thus help them more.
Perceiving: Dealing with the outer world, by perceiving and means that i like to keep my options open means that  i can bring a creative side to training and realize that there is not just one one of doing something.

Applying situational Leadership and My Book

My leadership style in helping with adaptive aquatics will involve two of the four styles discussed in lecture. The first will be coaching. As I try to help these impaired children develop I will need to coach them. That is what coaching is all about, helping others to develop skills. I hope that I can help the children improve, not only in the facet of swimming but with all their motor skills.

The Second leadership style will be supporting them. As you learn there needs to be a supporter so that you can gain your confidence in what you are doing. As these children- many of whom are venturing outside their comfort zone- lean a new skill it is vital that they receive support in every aspect of their development of new talents.

Book

The book I picked is by Gordon B. Hinckley and is titled standing for something. I picked this book because I love President Hinckley and have read other books by him, all of which have left me feeing happy, so why not read another book by him. From reading this book I hope to grow closer to Christ, which in turn will help me be more Christ like. Christ is a good person to become more like if you are trying to learn how to lead. That is why I picked this book.  

Interview

One of the best leaders I have ever met is my own sister. She is three years older then me and a senior at Brigham Young University, Ever since we were little I have always looked up to her, and it was not until my freshman year of high school that I realized that I was not the only person that looked up to her. She was the student body president and with that responsibility led many charitable activities. She lead very much by being a strong example for what was right, not to receive recognition, but because it was right thing to do. I saw her people follow her not because of her title but because she loved them, and they loved her. The most notable activity that she lead in her tenure was “Beanie’s for Bagdad.” Where she got to get the whole school to bring in their old stuffed animals (mostly Ty’s) and donate them for children in Bagdad. The participation was amazing and the joy of those children is unimaginable.

Through Irene’s example I have learned that if you love your followers they will love you back. I hope that I can demonstrate this love not only in my leadership responsibilities but in every aspect of my life.   

Learning from past and present leaders

This week we had the opportunity to see leaders from the past and present. There were two leaders Gordon B Hinckley and Robert Gabriel Mugabe. One was loved by his followers and the other is feared by his followers. As I sat in the presentation I realized that it honestly all boiled down to one point, if you care about your followers they will love you.

            I realized that this is completely applicable to my leadership role. As I am helping the disabled children I need to foster love for them so I don’t end up like Mugabe! The program is set up so that I will be paired one on one with a child, this allows for the growth of love and trust between us both. I am so excited for my service project to start and to try my best at helping those around me.  

What is Leadership?

Leadership is no easily defined. there are many quotes that define leadership.The best quote i have ever seen was from a poster in my high school,"A leader knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." lets break this quote down.
"A leader knows the way" this means a leader must be competent, they must know where they are leading their people. they have to know the proper methods to motovate their people to "The Goal."
"Goes the way." they will not just pat you on the back and say, "good luck!" they will go with step after step toward the goal. This is where the trust of others is built, they realize that you have the same goal and are willing to work for it. Leaders must be doer's.
"shows the way" by acting as a light to his followers. He brightens the path that the followers must follow.

That is what a leader is.

My Leadership role

For this semester I am going to be participating with the Adaptive Aquatics program through Y serve. This entails devoting one hour a week to helping a 1st through 9th grader who is physically or cognitively disabled learn to swim. I will be paired up one on one and am excited to learn from the kid I am paired with, I know they will teach me so much! I also love the sport of swimming and hope to foster that love in others.

What leadership means to me

Leadership means being able to initiate action.  No action has been met with positive results unless it was lead by a competent leader. Leaders are able to inspire their followers to have confidence and believe in themselves. It is truly a talent, and a wonderful ability to be able to properly lead a group of people. Leadership means being able to,`"walk the walk, not just talk the talk." you have to not only know what is best for those who are following you but also be able to demonstrate it.