ASSIGNMENT #13: REFLECTING ON LEADERSHIP FOR CHANGE

Exercise #2: The Sound-bite & Exercise #3: Personal Reflection

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The most important thing I have learned this semester is the importance of asking for what you want out of life as opposed to accepting whatever comes your way. For the first time in my life I understand why I have failed so many times in my professions. I used to think that things did not work out at work because I had bad luck. It never occurred to me that things did not work out because they were not supposed to work out! After reading my blog the discovery of my new found freedom came to life. I call it freedom because anytime you discover something that brings you closer to becoming your true self will liberate you from all the falsehoods that have held you back. I find that for the most part falsehoods have dominated my life. I have listened to the outer voices that told me that I must do as others do in order to fit in or become part of the group while all the time the inner voices spoke quietly in the background warning me of the truth. The truth that said, “You are different and its ok” or “You know you don’t belong here doing this job,” or “When are you going to start being who you really are?” While taking this class I have listened more to those inner voices that move me towards discovering my touch stones leading me to my true place in life.

Reading Barbara Sher and Bell Hooks have enlightened my understanding of the term vocation. A vocation should not be something you do to survive or fit in with others, a real vocation requires identifying your touch stone and using it to get what you need to be fulfilled at work. As I reflect upon my work life, I am almost glad for all the failures I have experienced. One thing is clear. I am a very determined person whose determination is illustrated in every failure I experienced when choosing a vocation. I simply refused to listen to my touch stone and concentrated on trying to fit in by taking what ever job came my way. However, after taking Leadership for Change class, I can imagine using my determination to take me exactly where I want to be.

With my new found freedom comes a new confidence that has changed the way I view choosing a vocation. I have learned that becoming successful is a process that is not very complicated. In fact, identifying your touch stones, planning your road to success and taking actions towards your goals is a very practical approach to going after and getting exactly what you want out of life. This semester is the first time in my life that I have created a planning wall. Creating the planning wall was the most important task in the class because it allows you to see your desires as real possibilities and to think about your dreams in practical terms. The planning wall also allows you to act upon moving towards your dream in real time. I will continue to use my planning wall well after the class ends in order to stay on top of accomplishing my goals.

Leadership for Change Class:

The class was very engaging, informative, and down right fun. My favorite part of the class was interacting with my team as well as the entire class. As the class learned about choosing a vocation through self discovery, we looked to each other for assistance and support through brainstorming and barn-raising. I like the fact that everyone was engaged in these activities. The assigned reading was very informative. I learned a lot from all four authors and enjoyed being quizzed on what we learned each week. The atmosphere of the class was friendly, free, and honest making the class a fun place to be; not to mention our professor whose guidance was essential to our success in the class.

There is nothing I disliked about the class. I would suggest that next semester the class get an opportunity to meet a guest speaker whose leadership or vocation reflects taking specific actions to achieve success as described in the reading. The instructor may also consider taking a field trip with the class (maybe to a seminar) and watching more movies with the class. Overall I loved the class and wish I could take it again!

Good-bye and Best Wishes to Everyone......

Assignment #11 - The Buddy System

Exercise #1

My next steps:

1) Meet with advisor at the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences:

David Schaafsma, Director of the English Department referred me to Kathleen Kruhl to advice me on class selection for next semester. I have an appointment with her for next week.

2) Go on a job interview:

I never heard back from the employer who was to reschedule my interview. I contacted her a few times and left messages.

3) Register for spring classes:

I will register for classes after meeting with Kathleen Kruhl on Monday.

4) Ask about acquiring a T.A. position.

I approached my Entrepreneur professor about a T.A. position with her class. She stated that she was flattered that I would ask and would look into it and get back with me.

Exercise #2

The Buddy System

Step One: Looking Back.

I reviewed the actions I took during the previous week to accomplish my weekly goals with my buddy Caryn. With the exception of not getting a job interview, everything went very well. I also informed Caryn that the Honors College contacted me via-email to invite me to apply to the program.

Step two: Flow Chart and Goal Calendar Update.

According to my planning wall I am only a few days late on accomplishing my goals. There are no unseen problems affecting my progress. I have adjusted my target dates to correspond with next week’s agenda.

Step Three: List of First Steps.

I have updated my list to include applying for the Honors College by tomorrow and there is no need to cross out any steps.

Step Four: Problems.

The only problem I encountered last week is not going on a job interview. I am not discouraged and will seek other opportunities.

a) Hard Times

I did not attend class last week due to a problem with my hand. Since my last blog, my hand has greatly improved. I really think the pain I was experiencing was stress related. My buddy Caryn and I met on Monday at BSB at 9:30 in the morning. Caryn was kind enough to meet with me on short notice while she was between classes. We started our meeting by discussing hard times. I vented about my hand hurting, my lack of money, how much work I had to complete for finals and whatever else I could think of. She listened for several minutes without interrupting me. I really appreciated her listening to my problems because it helped to relieve the stress I was experiencing. I asked her if she was having personal problems as well. Caryn shared with me that she is also stressed, primarily about completing her final exams. Our hard times session was quite productive and at the end of our meeting we were both laughing and having fun together.

b) Brainstorming – and Barn-Raising

I shared with Caryn that completing the semester with good grades is one of the goals I have set for this year. I told that I am feeling stressed about completing a final project in my entrepreneur class. After our session I decided to contact a class member to assist me with my project. I called the classmate and she agreed to help.

Step Five: Next Week’s Plan.

a) Weekly Calendar

1) Tomorrow I will meet with the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences at 9:30 a.m.
2) Apply to the Honor College at 8:30 a.m.
3) Complete class projects at 1:00 p.m.

My weekly calendar has been updated and transferred to my pocket calendar.

Step Six: Evening.

Journal:
Today I accomplish a lot in the way of class work. I feel tired but satisfied. I am also feeling more hopeful about my future as time passes.

List of Fist Steps:
The only new step I have added is applying to the Honors College.

Rewards:
I took a hot bath and drank pineapple juice.

Dreaming:
When I go to bed tonight I will imagine that my financial problems have been solved. I will look forward to accomplishing my future goals.

ASSIGNMENT #10: MOVING AND SHAKING

Exercise #1: First Steps:

Last week I visited the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences to acquire information about the PhD Program at UIC. After meeting with the Program Coordinator, my next step was to contact the Director of the English Department for advice on selecting classes for next semester. This week I contacted Associate Professor and Director of the English Department, David Schaafsma. I gave him a call and left a message on his voicemail. I followed up with an e-mail requesting that we meet to discuss my class schedule for next semester. I am waiting to hear back from Mr. Schaafsma.

Going on a job interview was my next step to complete. Last week the manager of the company I applied to said the interview would be rescheduled. I am still waiting to hear back from the manager.

Exercise #2: Reflecting on Fear

I already feel much resistance about meeting with Mr. Schaafsma to discuss my class schedule. I am afraid that he may be too busy to give me any personal time. I am thinking that he may refer me to someone else. If that happens, I won’t be disappointed. I will simply go with it and get as much assistance as I can. As far as getting a job is concerned, I am very afraid that the manager will not contact me to reschedule the interview. Companies are experiencing hard times right now and maybe the manager has changed her mind about hiring someone.

My fears are manifesting in a physical way. Suddenly for no reason I can think of, my left hand feels as though a sofa has fallen on it. My entire body feels tired and useless. I feel that the fear I am experiencing is definitely survival fear. I am afraid that I won’t succeed in accomplishing my goals due to a series of financial set backs. There are some underlying messages in my physical manifestation of fear. One of the messages being the thought that nothing will ever really change and my financial situation will worsen.

In hard times all I know to do is try to concentrate on my class work. Going to class and doing the work seems to minimize my anxiety.

I look forward to seeing my classmates on Monday.

ASSIGNMENT #9: Get Into Action

My next steps I have completed:

1) Go on a job interview

Unfortunately I did not go on a job interview last week as planned. The interview was postponed by the manager. Although I was disappointed, the manager will call me to reschedule.

2) Obtain information about Masters/PhD Program at UIC

On Wednesday, I visited the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences to obtain information about the Masters/PhD Program in English at UIC. I met with Neil O’Callaghan, Program Coordinator for the English Department. I had a very engaging talk with Mr. O’Callaghan about the PhD Program. He stated that UIC does not have a combination Masters/PhD Program for most students. What they do have is a program for exceptional students who may pursue a PhD after acquiring a Bachelors Degree. He explained that because of the lack of financial funding, UIC only admitted a total of seven graduates into the program last year. He went on to say that students who are admitted into the program are the top academic performers at UIC. I am glad that Mr. O’Callaghan took out the time to speak with me about the PhD Program. I now have the information I need to plan a more realistic time table for acquiring a PhD. Most likely I will need to complete my Master’s Degree before working towards a PhD instead of working towards both degrees at the same time. However, Mr. O’Callaghan was very encouraging. He suggested that I speak with David Schaafsma who is the head of the English Department, before I register for classes next semester. He stated that Mr. Schaafma can assist me in selecting classes that are appropriate for students who want to become teachers. I appreciate the referral and will contact Mr. Schaafma next week for an appointment.

I will continue to search for a program that combines the Masters Degree and PhD for any student with a good academic standing at other colleges. In the meantime, I will work on accomplishing the goals I have identified on my planning wall.

My experience at the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences was very positive and I am very confident that I will follow up on any referrals/assistance that will lead to acquiring my educational goals.

See you in class.......

Complete Your Planning Wall

(Click the Images for Better View.)

My Fellow Students:

The assignment asked that we take a photo of our paper planning wall and post it our blogs. However, my paper planning wall was so full of scratch outs and other mistakes that I decided not to photograph it. Instead, I decided to do a computer verson. (It probably isn't much better.)

Complete Your Next Step:

Last week my next step was not done. I will complete my next step tomorrow on Monday, October 26th. However, I started my next step this week by contacting my classmate Brianna about open positions at UIC. She told me that there was a T.A. position available that is now filled because I waited too late. I won't let this information discourage me. On Monday, I will go to Career Services and talk to counselors about open positons. I will also inquire about the Master's Degree/PhD Program at UIC. I will blog about it on Monday night.

Assisgnment #8 REACHING OUT PART III

Below is my last interview for Role Models. My summary of the interview follows:

Sharon – Mentor/Teacher:

1) State your current job title and responsibilities.

Facilitate online and face-to-face student centered learning for non-major students in applied and pure science subjects (biology, environmental science, earth science and microbiology.)

2) What do you find the most and the least satisfying about your job?

The most satisfying part of my job is seeing the light bulb come on as students connect to the subject. The least satisfying part of my job is feeling totally unsupported by fellow teachers and management.

3) What path did you travel to achieve success?

My path was full of ups and downs. I started in a pre-med program at UIC, but was dropped by the college for academic reasons. After working one year in a minimum wage job, I decided that my life was not working as I planned. I enrolled in a Junior College for one year then transferred to a four year university. While there I obtained a B.S. Degree and was selected as a NIH-MARC-HURTP trainee. This program is designed to direct minorities into PhD Programs to become professors and/or researcher. I published numerous scientific articles as an undergraduate then completed the grad program receiving an MS. in Biology/Research under a MSB-NIH Minority Biomedical Scholarship. Following graduation I worked as a Research Assistant teaching Research Consortiums at UIC, Veteran, Rush, and Cook County Hospitals. During this time I published two scientific articles, facilitated and taught training classes in corporate non-profit companies. Finally, I taught at Malcolm X and Harold Washington Colleges which led to online teaching opportunities as well as my current position.

4) In following your path to success, what difficulties did you face?

Being dropped from UIC was a real wake up call for me. I had never “failed” at anything and I felt like a complete failure. This feeling led me to return to college and work hard to succeed. While attending Junior College I found a mentor who assisted me tremendously, especially where time management was concerned. I also learned a valuable lesion about asking for help!

5) Did you ever feel discouraged or unsupported?

How did you overcome the challenge? There were many times I felt discouraged and unsupported starting with taking poor advice from a college advisor while at UIC who convinced me that I could take a full load of classes my first year. At that time I did not know anything about time management as I was working a very demanding full-time job. My inability to balance school and work led to my being dropped by the college for failure to meet academic standards. After returning to college and getting my degree, I went to work in my field. Once there I had a hard time being accepted by piers in the workplace. I also had family pressures after getting married and having a child. Again time management became a challenge. I was able to overcome the time management crisis in my life by asking my employer if I could work from home periodically. Although I am still challenged with time management issues today, I have learned to balance my life between home and work much better.

6) What advice can you offer for my next steps to become a mentor/teacher?

(See Next Steps Below)

Summary:

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Sharon’s path to success includes the following:

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Learned from failure

Became an honor student

Received scholarships to pay for college

Obtained a Master’s Degree

Worked an internship

Published articles while attending college

Found a helpful mentor

Utilized time management

Sharon is not only my mentor, she is my best friend! I am very proud that she is big enough to admit her failure to meet academic standards and realizes that not addressing time management issues when scheduling classes was the reason.

I am proud of my friend for facing and overcoming a major college setback. She could have easily given up hope of ever returning to college as I am sure many students have done when faced with being dropped from college. Instead she used the experience as an opportunity to succeed. What Sharon does not tell us in the interview is that she graduated with honors from Mississippi State University! Besides being proud of Sharon, I appreciate her openness about the challenges of her profession. Sharon states she often feels unsupported in the workplace, a problem that I have faced myself. However, Sharon strives in her position and continues to be promoted. To overcome this problem Sharon clings to her professionalism and superior work ethics.

Sharon also speaks about the importance to time management. Truthfully, I have never really taken time management seriously and maybe this is why I am often up late at night doing homework! Her advice on the subject is well taken and I can see a relationship between her statements on time management and the Planning Wall we prepared in class that gives us a more realistic view of time management. Ironically, Sharon emphasizes that following your path to success includes learning to manage your time.

Overall, Sharon’s interview speaks to facing challenges and the belief that failures serve as learning experiences.

Next Steps:

Below are specific next steps Sharon suggests I take to become successful as a mentor/teacher:

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1) Get a job as a Teaching Assistant.

2) Enter a program for minority students seeking PhDs.

3) Enter a summer research program.

4) Do an internship

5) Publish essays, commentaries, blogs, etc.

6) Get help from others

7) Seek advice from more several college counselors

8) Strive for only top grades

ASSIGNMENT #7: REACHING OUT PART II

In completing the assignment, I prepared six questions for my two role models. Their interviews followed by my summaries are below

Julie - Social Worker

1) State your current job title and responsibilities.

My title is Individual Service and Support Advocate (ISSA) Case Manager. This is a position created through DHS (Department of Human Services) through the Division of Developmental Disabilities to monitor the cases funded within. My responsibilities are to monitor and advocate for the individuals on my caseload. I visit each person quarterly to ensure that they are receiving the care they need and deserve. I advocate in various ways to resolve any issues that occur. I also assist with making changes to services (ie moving to a new CILA or Home Based Services, etc)

2) What do you find the most and the least satisfying about your job?

I enjoy my job when I am able to help someone to resolve an issue or to enhance his or her life in some way. For instance, one of my clients was living in a CILA home with 24hour staff but she was becoming very independent with her life skills. She was ready to have less staff support and really wanted to move on. I helped her to find a new place to live and complete the necessary paperwork to make that happen. She still calls me, thanking me, for all of the assistance. She is very happy in her new home.

The least satisfying part of my job is seeing problems in the care and despite all my efforts it may not be enough to fix the problems. It can be very challenging, frustrating and upsetting – especially when problems are so systemic.

3) What path did you travel to achieve success?

I don’t know if I’ve succeeded yet. I don’t think I’ve achieved my potential yet. I hope to do more still.

What path did I travel to get this far? I had a psychology class in High School that I really enjoyed so when I went to college I felt strongly about pursuing that. I took an Intro to Social Work class as part of my curriculum. I loved it. I became a social work major at that point. After a few semesters of college, I thought it would be a good idea to get some relevant experience to build my resume. I was moving home for the summer and saw that the group home in town was looking for help. I applied and got the job. I worked as a direct support staff with 4 developmentally disabled gentlemen at that home for the next year and a half. I moved onto another home closer to my college for my senior year of college. During college I also completed three internships and only two of them were required. The third one was just something I sought out because I wanted to learn and experience as much as I could. I interned in a corrections/probation office, with a disadvantaged youth program, and in a pro bono legal center.

After college, I moved to Chicago (I grew up in Minnesota). I was hired at a job with Victor C. Neumann. Neumann works with people with DD and with Mental Illiness. I felt sure, after all my college experiences, that the population was right for me. Although I had sort of fallen into the work, I really had grown to enjoy it and I felt that I was good at it. I worked there for almost two years. I began finding myself burning out though. I could sense the stress of supervising staff and being paged in the middle of the night was wearing on me. I decided to make a change and that is how I wound up at CAU doing ISSA. I’ve been here for about 3 and ½ years. I think some of the most important things one can do are to strive for the truth, trust your gut instinct, and never stop trying to learn. I try to do this every day in my job.

4) In following your path to success, what difficulties did you face?

I continue to encounter difficulties. Difficulties are abundant in social services because there is never enough funding, training, staff support, etc. Difficulties are abundant because different people have different ideas of what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is not so good. Frequently the answers are not black and white, so it can be challenging to find a consensus.

Also, I have a young child – so it has been difficult to balance my life as a mom with my life as a social worker. That has been my most recent difficulty.

5) Did you ever feel discouraged or unsupported? How did you overcome the challenge?

For me, my patience may start to wear thin and discouragement maybe setting in – with whatever situation I may have been dealing with for a length of time. If day after day, month after month, you don’t see improvement on an issue that you have become so impassioned about – it can be very difficult. I don’t have any good advice for how to overcome these obstacles. It is an ongoing battle for me. I can say this: I try not to take my work home with me or internalize negativity, I try to be honest with myself and my supervisor if I am struggling with any challenge, I try to take care of myself and do things to relieve stress (such as massage, exercise).

6) What advice can you offer for my next steps to become a social worker?

Social work can take many forms, so try to figure out what field or population you are interested in. Learn as much as you can about that segment. Get as much real experience as you can. Try to take care of yourself – social work can consume you, but you won’t be much help to anyone else if you can’t help yourself.

Summary:

Julie's path to success includes the following:

Following her touchstone of helping others
Acquiring experience in social work while in college
Working an internship in her field
Following her moral and ethical nature to discover the truth
Continuing to learn new things in her field
Embracing stress management
Not allowing a job that is difficult to deter her from her love of service

I was struck by how proactive Julie was in ascertaining her goal to become a social worker. After following her touchstone, she sought job opportunities while attending college. Julie was able to gain the experience she needed to become a social worker before she graduated. I feel that her aggressiveness in getting a job in her field of study before graduation gave her a big advantage over other recent graduates in her field that did not have work experience. I was also impressed by Julie’s dedication to service. Obviously helping disabled and disadvantaged individuals is a noble cause to pursue, but Julie is candid when speaking about the difficulties and challenges that exist in social work. In addition, I truly admire Julie’s tenacity and conviction to help others despite of obstacles, lack of funding being the main obstacle, that stand in they way of her personal commitment to community service. By facing adversity, I feel that Julie’s moral and ethical convictions sustain her desire to remain in the field of social work. I feel that it is extremely important to have professionals like Julie who fight through difficulties in order to assist and serve people who are unable to fight for themselves. In our society it is essential that every individual has the right to be treated as an equal.

Julie emphasizes the importance of learning while working in her profession. Many people in our society become too comfortable in their profession and find their skills are outdated after years of service. I feel that Julie has approached her career in a realistic and progressive manner by continuing to learn new things about her job every day.

Julie describes the most satisfying part of her job is when she feels that she has helped someone to become a better person. Although she expresses that she has a “ways to go” before she feels she has become successful; in my opinion by bringing about a positive change in the life of even one person, she is already a successful leader.

Next Steps:

Julie’s advice begins with narrowing down the specific area of social work that most interest me. This information is very useful because I did not consider the variety of areas of study that are available in the field of social work. Her statement led me to conduct a brief analysis of the various fields I could pursue. After my investigation, I discovered that there are numerous opportunities in almost all sectors of the job market for social workers and that following my touchstone for mentorship can be captured in a variety of careers. Julie advises me to gain work experience early on during my journey to success and to guard against stress by taking care of myself. Taking care of yourself is good advice to any woman who dares to become successful.

Cookie - Image Maker/Stylist

1) State your current job title and responsibilities.

As an image maker and stylist I work for various department stores by coordinating cosmetic/fashion event promotions. In addition, I am an independent fashion consultant. I coordinate fashion shows and perform makeovers for women of all races and ages.

2) What do you find the most and the least satisfying about your job?

The artistic and creative aspect is the most satisfying part of my career. I get to see my ideas come into fruition daily. The least appealing aspect of my job are the long work hours and having few weekends off.

3) What path did you travel to achieve success?

I started in retail sales working at an upscale boutique on Chicago’s Gold Coast which led to participating in retail fashion shows. Opportunities allowed me to become more involved with the fashion show aspect of my job by becoming the fashion show coordinator where I worked. I quickly began to build my clientele and subsequently became a stylist with name recognition in the fashion consulting and make-up industry.

4) In following your path to success, what difficulties did you face?

Being in the beauty business, my biggest difficulty was interacting with co-workers who were insecure about their talents. I was often challenged when co-workers would try to steal my customers or become hostile towards me because my sales were high, being that I was working on a commission basis. I found that team building is very important when working among women who may feel intimidated by others. I still am challenged with this problem. However, I try my best to make co-workers feel comfortable around me and I go out of my way to assist them when I can.

5) Did you ever feel discouraged or unsupported? How did you overcome the challenge?

Yes there were times I did, but I overcame it by not taking no for an answer. If I was turned down for an opportunity I simply kept asking for what I wanted. Eventually the doors opened for me through my persistence and my family was very supportive.

6) What advice can you offer for my next steps to become an image maker/stylist?

Make an effort to meet people who are already in the industry and network constantly. Keep a positive attitude even when things don’t go your way. Stay in the public eye in order to obtain name and face recognition. I also suggest taking classes in fashion, make-up artistry, and marketing in order to attract the clientele you need to become financially stable. Seek out opportunities that put you in places where you want to work although the pay may not be what you want at the time. Remember that bigger financial opportunities will come once you build a good reputation. Finally, keep pushing forward and do not take no for an answer. In my business persistence is the key.

Summary:

Cookie’s path to success includes the following:

Sought other career opportunities from her current employer
Utilized networking as a tool to gain name recognition in the fashion industry
Became an entrepreneur while still working in her current position
Practice team building as a leadership skill
Believes that persistence brings about positive results

The most impression thing about Cookie’s career as an image maker is that her career has branched off into many aspects of the fashion industry. She explains that her creative nature has led her to become an image consult, fashion consultant, make-up artist, fashion show coordinator and cosmetic promoter. Wow! In addition to all the roles she plays, while working in department stores she still discovered a variety of opportunities by working as an independent contractor. I first met Cookie at a party and clearly she was the most beautiful woman in the room. I approached her to ask about what she was wearing and our friendship was formed from there. I found her very charismatic and fashion forward. After visiting her at work at Saks Fifth Avenue and watching her turn ordinary looking people into “Divas” I was convinced that I wanted to do something on the level of an image maker. Cookie would ask the women questions about their life style and after only a few minutes she was able to create the look or style of dress they desired. When I met Cookie she was the top sales person at the store. Currently, Cookie works independently and in department stores and I continue to admire her exceptional work ethics. Cookie has managed to become financially stable as well as spiritually happy by embracing a career that she loves.

I have no doubt that her charming personality has taken her far in life. In her interview Cookie stresses the importance of networking. She explains how name and face recognition plays a major role in becoming successful in her field as an image-maker/stylist. As we are learning in our class, according to Barbara Sher “Barn Raising” is a form of networking necessary in becoming successful as we seek out our vocations. Cookie’s experience in the fashion industry can be used as an example that networking is crucial when creating relationships with others that lead to work opportunities. Today Cookie is the only image maker/stylist that I remain faithful to when purchasing cosmetics and other beauty products. In addition, Cookie is the reason that I chose becoming an image maker as one of the vocations I would like to pursue. I cannot forget the look on her customers faces after she delivered the look they wanted. I feel that Cookie helps women to build their self-esteem by assisting them to enhance their appearance. In many ways she is a mentor.

Next steps:

Cookie's suggestions for my next steps are in line with what we have learned in class about making connections with people through networking or Barn Raising! According to her interview, her success in the beauty industry rest almost entirely on name recognition or (creating relationships with people.) It is important to know that being successful in the beauty industry is not entirely based on skills and knowledge, rather connecting with people, learning to overcome personal differences and personality conflicts with others by team building is equally as important.

Assignment #6: REACHING OUT

Exercise #1: Interview two of your role models -

In completing the assignment, I prepared six questions for my two role models. Their interviews followed by my summaries are below:

John Hader – Associate Dean

1) State your current job title and responsibilities.

I’m an Associate Dean in the Office of Instruction at Harold Washington College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago. My primary duty is to evaluate non-tenured and tenured faculty, while assisting non-tenured faculty through the tenure process, and I serve as an administrative liaison, attending to the needs of five academic departments. I am also responsible for establishing articulation agreements, overhauling departmental syllabi, reviewing and updating courses, and seeking course approval from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) to ensure transferability of credits.

2) What do you find the most and the least satisfying about your job?

I love working with faculty, helping to develop their skills as instructors. I hate paperwork.

3) What path did you travel to achieve success?

I was a tenured assistant professor in the Department of English, Speech, and Theatre, and I became the co-chair of the department, a quasi-administrative job. This led me to the job I have now. However, I didn’t take the academic path until late in my life. In fact, I didn’t earn a college degree until I was forty years old. For years, I worked in a dizzying selection of lousy jobs: factories, warehouses, chemical plants. I would stick my head in tanks and tell you whether perchlorethylene or methylene chloride was in there last. I could drive a straddle truck in the closest quarters, in the tightest warehouse, around the most fragile stock, after guzzling a six-pack of Old Style, while chewing a plug of Red Man. When I was a facilities worker at IIT, I would start every morning by skillfully sharpening up the nail at the end of my pick-up stick on a grinding wheel, and then proceed to patrol State Street, picking up dirty diapers people would throw from their passing cars.

4) In following your path to success, what difficulties did you face?
See above!

5) Did you ever feel discouraged or unsupported? How did you overcome the challenge?

Sure, I felt discouraged; however, my wife, Lisa, was and is tremendously supportive. I am very lucky to have her and two beautiful daughters who inspire me daily. I also found something I love: Harold Washington College! But, probably the key thing was that at one time I felt like a waste of flesh, and I found that service to others—the students, the College, the community, the City of Chicago—gave me great satisfaction.

6) What advice can you offer for my next steps to become a College Dean?

It’s one of those “keep your eyes on the prize” sort of things. I don’t know what else to say, Michelle!

Summary:

Mr. Hader’s path to success includes the following:

Acquiring a college education
Not being afraid to pursue college later in life
Gained inspiration from working lousy jobs
Followed his touchstone “Service to Others” by entering a vocation he loved
Looked to his family for moral support
Obtained promotions from within the college where he worked

Mr. Hader is by far my greatest role model. He was my instructor at Harold Washington College for two semesters in Literature. I was extremely impressed with Mr. Hader’s teaching style and professional ethics. While taking his classes, he told the students about all the lousy jobs he worked before he decided to go into teaching. I can identify with his work experiences because like Mr. Hader I feel that I have wasted much time and effort working jobs that I hate. His story has inspired me to follow my touchstone by pursing a vocation that I love. Mr. Hader’s story is proof that anyone can accomplish their dreams no matter where you are in life or what profession you currently hold.

Next Steps:

Mr. Hader’s advice is simply stated, “Keep your eyes on the prize.” I feel that what he means is to stay in school and don’t allow obstacles to deter me from my goals. However, after reading his path to success I have learned that seeking higher opportunities within your current job can lead to your ultimate vocation. I find this information encouraging because I outlined a similar path on my flow chart in last week’s class.

Renisha Campbell - Counselor

1) State your current job title and responsibilities.

As a Community Health Consultant I provide consulting services to Community Based Organization and Individual Businesses to assist in their development, implementation and/or evaluation of their health programs. Partner with organizations to provide HIV awareness outreach to the LGBTQ community, and other underserved minority communities that are disproportionately affected by the epidemic. Facilitate Health Ambassador Trainings for youth aged 14-18. These trainings are intended to empower young people to become proactive about their overall health and provided opportunities for them to practice their presentation skills. Assist individuals in navigating federal/governmental programs i.e. Unemployment, and Public Assistance.

2) What do you find the most and the least satisfying about your job?

What I find most satisfying about my job is that I started the company. About a year after I completed my Master’s Degree in Public Health I decided to start my own consulting business (Jan 2008), RMC Consulting due to the limited job market. I figured most non-profits/businesses could not afford a full-time employee therefore they may be open to hiring someone on a contractual basis.

What I find most frustrating about my job is building cliental. Although I enjoy networking greatly, with the current economy I am having a difficult time increasing my client base.

3) What path did you travel to achieve success?

I would say my path started with taking school seriously. Completing high school was a task in itself because I did not have the support of my parents. However with much determination I was able to graduate from high school with honors. I then moved on to the University of Illinois at Chicago where I completed both my BA in Psychology (2001) and MPH (2007). Outside of completing my education, I believe my work and volunteer experience has lead to my success.

4) In following your path to success, what difficulties did you face?

I faced many difficulties because I was a first generation college graduate and myself nor my family had a clue as to what to expect and how to be successful in college.

5) Did you ever feel discouraged or unsupported? How did you overcome the challenge?
Yes I felt discouraged often however I had a great advisor and he helped me through personal and academic problems.

6) What advice can you offer for my next steps to become a Counselor?

I have worked both as a Medical and Legal advocate where I provided survivors (and their families) of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence crisis counseling/support. What I have learned is that you must leave your personal baggage and privilege out when having your sessions (with your client) and/or advocating for a client. The client will know if you are not being sincere. For this reason it is imperative that we encourage all professionals to take cultural competence courses. Also remember that everything you learn in a book is not applicable in every setting, therefore you must be willing to adjust in every situation.

Summary:

Renisha’s path to success includes the following:

Acquiring a college education
Having good work ethics
Volunteering
Analyzing the job market
Becoming an entrepreneur
Pursuing untraditional methods of work in her field
Seeking help when problems arise

I was very pleased to find that Renisha refers to her college journey as one of the paths she pursed in becoming successful as a counselor. She received a Master’s Degree in Public health and started her own business. I admire the fact that Renisha was proactive in securing employment by becoming an entrepreneur and sought untraditional ways of establishing herself in her field by becoming an independent contractor. Renisha takes pride in her work and performed as a volunteer in order to establish herself as a counselor. Becoming a volunteer is one of the methods we discussed in class in order to gain experience in a particular vocation. Renisha was challenged with the fact that she is the first from her generation to receive a college degree. Unfortunately, receiving a college education is not always viewed as a priority in the African-American community. For this reason first generation African-American college students may not receive the support and skills needed to succeed in college from within their family. Although it is not stated in her interview, Renisha has stated to me that she experiences resentment from some family members because she has a college education. I admire Renisha for seeking support outside of her family by speaking with an advisor and admire her determination to become successful.

Next Steps:

Renisha’s advice does not give a specific course of action in plotting my next steps in becoming a counselor. However, she emphasizes that getting a college education, having a flexible outlook and maintaining a professional attitude is essential.

Exercise #2: Map your network:


Last class I identified five lives I could live that are linked to my ultimate goal of becoming a leader. Although my goal is to become a Professor at a University, my five lives describe other careers that are in line with my desire to become a leader. Below are people who currently serve in those roles.

1) Counselor:
Renisha Campbell -Project for Violence Prevention
(773)-297-1824
Phil Leary- Catholic Charities (773) 867-4099

2) College Dean:
Wendell Blair -Dean of Student Services, Harold Washington College (312) 553-5600
John Hader- Associate Dean, Harold Washington College
(312) 553-6087

3) Social Worker:
July Greenshade - Catholic Charities (773) 867-4093
Charlotte Rehman - Catholic Charities (773) 369-4092

4) Image Consultant/Stylist:
Cookie Nelson - Nordstsroms (773) 633-2674
Debra Goodman -Cachet ( 312) 925-4550

5) Mentor:
Sharon Jackson Pincham - Park Manor Christian Church
(773) 238-8965
Janice Buckner - Apostolic Church of God (312) 543-4815

Brainstroming

Class -

Please bear with me. I am sure that my flow chart lacks creativity and is in need of improvement. I look forward to attending class tomorrow for suggestions.

Please "Click" the flow chart for a better view.

Assignment 4 - Excercise 1 & 2

Exercise #1: What is Your Touchstone?

Dream: To become a Professor

Touchstone: To be a leader who teaches, encourages, and inspires people to establish and accomplish goals.

Role Model: Oprah Winfrey

Target: To receive a PhD and having the life I have envisioned for myself.

The reading this week “GoalSearch” was very inspiring because it teaches that most goals are within our reach. Barbara Sher gives the example of a woman who wants to be famous in spite of the fact that she is unsure by what profession she would be famous in. After going through the process of GoalSearch she can identify a profession that captures her desire to” be famous” in a more tangible manner. For me, completing the process was not difficult because I am very clear about what it is I want to accomplish. However, what I found fascinating is that my chosen profession satisfies my needs to interact with people, be the center of attention, become a leader, and most importantly to help others.

I chose Oprah Winfrey as my role model primarily because she introduces subjects on her show that are rarely discussed on daytime television. She talks about intelligent and important issues that affect everyday people and she has no reservations about discussing matters that are considered taboo. Watching her show is an educational experience as well as a social experience and what she has accomplished is profound in the way of bringing people together to observe the “human” side of life. She is probably the most charismatic person I’ve ever seen and she has an enormous capacity to reach out and help others. Her leadership skills are extraordinary which are displayed by the successes of the people she mentors. In addition, her job gives her a celebrity status that she openly admits she enjoys. She has the dream job I has always wanted, however, becoming a professor will satisfy my need of being the center of attention. I was surprised and pleased to find that Oprah Winfrey shares my personality type.

Exercise #2: What Is Your Personality Type?

My type is ENFJ

Extraverted 78
Intuitive 25
Feeling 50
Judging 56

You are:

very expressed extravert
moderately expressed intuitive personality
moderately expressed feeling personality
moderately expressed judging personality

The Bright Side:

My personality type is classified as “The Giver.” It states that I often consider the needs of others above my own. Although I find this to be true to a great extent in my life, it is something that I had not considered as my personality type. After giving it some thought I realized that when I lend money to family members when I truly cannot afford to lend it, that I am putting their needs before mine. Or when I give away things to my best friend and pretend that I do not need the item.

According to the reading, I live in an external world where people are my priority. This statement is absolutely true. I am identified as a “people person” with great interpersonal skills; a person who enjoys bringing out the best in others. I am very impressed by this statement because nothing gives me more pleasure than helping others in any way I possibly can. I have always had a strong longing to “fix” things in people’s lives whether it be to help them to get a job, giving them advice, or just leading them in the right direction. In my work, helping others brings the most satisfaction.

What astounds me most about my personality type is the statement that I would make a good counselor or teacher which is exactly what I aspired to do! The statement reads as follows:
In the work place, ENFJs do well in positions where they deal with people. They are naturals for the social committee. Their uncanny ability to understand people and say just what needs to be said to make them happy makes them naturals for counseling. They enjoy being the center of attention, and do very well in situations where they can inspire and lead others, such as teaching.
I was also amazed when I read that my personality type enjoys organization and that I am “fussy” when it comes to my home. I find this statement to be accurate as well!

The Dark Side:

I was especially struck while reading about the dark side of my personality. I find it shocking and a bit disheartening to discover that my personality type is classified as 56% “judging.” Mind you, once I was told by a sibling (my sister) that I tend to prejudge people. I never believed this about myself and became very insulted when she said it. Maybe now I should investigate the accusation.

Finally, the reading suggests that I do not enjoy being alone. This is only half true. I do enjoy spending some time alone having time to ponder, but for the most part I am most happy when surrounded by people I love and admire or am participating in group activities. When I am alone I do tend to think about the negative aspects of my life and sometimes may become depressed. For this reason, I spend most of my time with others. Obviously this is a problem I need to overcome.

Assignment 3 - Understanding Yourself

Exercise 4

Pick a color:

I am the color green. I am peaceful, calming, tranquil and still. I am strong as stone and as delicate as a flower. I am welcoming and comforting; supple and giving; embracing and protecting. I represent serenity and solace.

Exercise 5

The Private Eye Game:

Detective Inventory List:

1) The home has an ample amount of fresh flowers and plants, all real.
2) It is nicely appointed with prints and painting from the impressionist period, (Van Gough, Seurat, and Caillebotte) to name a few and modern art such as Thomas McKnight hang tastefully on the walls of every room.
3) The furniture is an interesting mix of the old and the new; some contemporary pieces of furniture that flow well with the room along with the traditional dinning room scene - you might find this room in the window of a department store.
4) There are an unnecessary number of drinking glasses (some crystal) throughout the home neatly arranged in cabinets and on shelves.
5) In the living room stands a bar well stocked with liquor, mixes, and more glasses. (Somehow I get the feeling that the bar is primarily for looks sake.)
6) A large piano serves as the center piece in the living room, “used” but kept in good condition.
7) There is an extensive wardrobe in the bedroom closets (2) with clothing neatly arranged by season for work, evening and Sunday social meeting.
8) There are several pieces of costume jewelry in the bedroom carefully arranged on jewelry racks much like the ones you see on a department store counter. There are other accessories in the room including hats, gloves, belts, and scarves folded nicely on shelves. For a moment I though I was in Macys.
9) The bedroom has a heavy concentration of knickknacks elegantly arranged on the dresser.
10) Among other items is a pointless collection of shoes, about 80 pair. (Most of them have never been worn,) smartly put away under the bed in roll-away containers.
11) A sizeable collection of coats and furs are packed into a smaller closet in the living room.
12) The bathroom is marble and reaps of fancy Kohler fixtures and a life sized poster of Diana Ross.

It is obvious that the woman who lives here takes great pride in her home and loves to entertain. She is a bit of an exhibitionist who enjoys being the center of attention. At the same time she enjoys her privacy and quiet time and utilizes the flowers, plants and warm colors of the home, (mostly shades of green) to create that feeling of solace she craves for. Judging from her wardrobe I find that she enjoys her social life but takes her work life just as seriously. The knickknacks on her bedroom dresser points to her love for travel (most of them are souvenirs.) The bathroom tells me that she enjoys the spa. (It’s stocked with many products used for relaxation.) However, the art work on the walls reveals her innermost secrets. This woman is a dreamer. A dreamer who visualizes herself as a person who is searching for something; something that she feels is bigger than herself; bigger than her life. In fact, everything in the home is a representation of her desires.

Exercise 6:

Seeing Yourself as Others See You – Version 1: Praise Be!

My boyfriend Anton:

Michelle is very caring. She keeps in contact with all her friends and family members because she cherishes them in ways I’ve truly admire. She also loves people in general and has no problem making new friends or being concerned about people she has just met or doesn’t know at all. She respects everyone equally from the homeless man or woman on the sheet corner to her managers at work. She does not judge anyone and has an incredible capacity for forgiveness and empathy. She is concerned about the environment, nature, and people who live in hunger and poverty as she is always seeking solutions for them. Lastly, Michelle has a talent for making people feel comfortable around her.

Exercise 7:

Twenty Things You Like to Do:

1) Ride my bike. The last time I road my bike was a month ago on the lakefront free of cost with my boyfriend. It was planned and not job related. Bike riding has some physical risks. I fell and badly skinned my shoulder. I always ride at a fast speed for fun. For me a bike ride is both mentally and physically challenging.
2) Swim. Last time I went swimming was on my recent trip to Lake Geneva with my boyfriend. It was not free of cost. It was planned and not job related. I swam slowly. Swimming is both mental and physically stimulating.
3) Make up my face. I make my face up everyday and do it while alone. It was free of cost. It was planned and not job related. I make-up my face at a fast pace. There are no physical risks. Doing my make-up is mentally pleasing.
4) Plan and participate in parties. Last time I planned a party was on August 23rd for my son. I attended the party with my family and my son’s friends. It was not free of cost. It was planned and not job related. There were no physical risks. I planned the party at a fast pace. Planning and participating in parties is a mental and spiritual activity.
5) Buy flowers. The last time I purchased fresh flowers was on this Sunday and I was alone. It was not free of cost. It was planned and not job related. There are no physical risks. I purchase flowers at a slow pace carefully choosing the ones I like most. I find purchasing flowers to be a mental and spiritual activity.
6) Playing in dirt. The last time I played in the dirt was during my recent trip to Lake Geneva with my boyfriend. It was free of cost. It was planned and not job related. There were no physical risks. I played in the dirt at a slow pace paying attention to all the small creatures. I feel that playing in dirt is a mental and spiritual activity that takes me inside of myself.
7) Listen to Music. The last time I listened to music was on Friday when I was alone. It was not planned and not job related. There are no physical risks and there was no cost. I listened to Michael Jackson music for about two hours recalling all the songs he made famous. I always listen to music at a slow pace. Listening to music is a mental and spiritual activity that takes me away from my everyday life and allows me to dream.
8) Travel. The last time I did any real traveling was last November when my boyfriend and I took a cruise to Bermuda. I was very expensive. It was planned and not job related. There were some physical risks when we went parasailing. The ship cruised at a slow speed for five days and we had the most wonderful time. The mental and spiritual benefits of traveling are endless.
9) Go shopping. The last time I went shopping was last weekend to a thrift stop. Because of financial strain I have found a cheaper way to shop. It was not free of cost and there are no physical risks. I am usually alone when I go shopping and it was not job related. I like to shop at a slow pace because I enjoy the experience intensely. I use shopping as an outlet to everyday stress and find the experience more mental and spiritual than it is physical.
10) Reading (Mostly Fiction.) The last time I read was today on Sunday. It was free of cost. I read my class books and finished up a John Grisham novel. Most times when I read I am alone, but my boyfriend and I read together on occasion. My reading was planned and was not job related. There is no physical risk in reading and I always read at a fast pace. I find reading to be mentally and spiritually challenging.
11) Watch a good movie The last time I watched a good movie was Saturday night when I watched the Film Noir “The Big Sleep” with my boyfriend. It was free of cost. There were no physical risk and it was not planned and not job related. I watched the movie at a slow pace. Watching a movie is always a mental experience for me.
12) Go out to dinner. The last time I went to dinner was on Saturday for my brother’s birthday with my family. It was not free of cost. It was planned and not job related. There were no physical risks and as usual I ate at a slow pace. Going to dinner is a mental and spiritual experience for me.
13) Attend parties at friend’s homes. The last time I attended a party at a friend’s home was last Thanksgiving with my boyfriend. It was free of cost. It was planned and not job related. There were no physical risks and I always take my time to eat and enjoy myself. These gathering have mental and spiritual meaning.
14) Go to church. The last time I attended church was last Sunday with my sister. It is free of cost. It was planned and not job related. There were no physical risks and I always I like to take my time at church because I love being there. Going to church feeds my mental and spiritual needs.
15) Dress up. The last time I dressed up was on Saturday for my brother’s birthday dinner at a restaurant. It was not free of cost. I attended the dinner with my family. It was planned and not job related. There were no physical risks and I dressed up in a new dress I purchased from the thrift store. I got dressed very quickly because I was running late. Dressing up is not only a fun activity, I also find it be mentally and spiritually stimulating.
16) Attend theater (Mostly plays.) The last time I attended a play was about a month ago when I went to see an Albert Albee play with my boyfriend. It was not free of cost. It was planned and not job related. There were no physical risks and I watched the play at a slow pace in my mind to gather the play’s theme and appreciate the actors on stage. Attending theater speaks to my creative side making it a mental experience.
17) Talking on the phone to friends and family. I love taking on the phone. The last time I talked on the phone was today and I was alone. It was not free of cost. It is my way of keeping up with loved ones. It was planned and not job related. There are no physical risks and I talk at a fast pace in order to get everything in that I want to say. Talking on the phone is a mental and sometimes spiritual experience depending on the conversation.
18) Serve food to others. The last time I served food to others was at a homeless shelter in Lincoln Park last year where I volunteered along with five other people. It was free to cost. It was planned and not job related. There were no physical risks and I rushed to prepare the food before it was served. This experience was physically, mentally and spiritually satisfying.
19) Spend time with children: The last time I spent time with children was in June during the Taste of Chicago when I treated my nieces to the festivities. It was planned and not job related. There were no physical risks and I took my time in order to allow the kids to enjoy the day. I found the experience to have both mental and spiritual meaning.
20) Attend college classes. The last time I attended a college class was last Wednesday along with my classmates. There is no physical risks attending class and it is not job related. College classes are not free. I like to take my time in class in order to understand the material being taught. Attending college is a mentally challenging experience which I enjoy.

What I’ve learned about myself:

Some things are new to me and others are not. I’ve always known that what I really love to do cost money. Most of the things I have identified come at a cost; things such as going to college, dressing up, going to dinner, spending time with kids (treating them), keeping my phone on, attending theater, buying fresh flowers, shopping and so on. There are only a few things on the list that does not require money such as playing in the dirt and volunteering my time. Most importantly, I find that the spiritual connection with these activities come at no cost, like appreciating the performing arts. Being a spiritual person is priceless. I am also very creative and connected to nature and things that are natural.

Exercise 8: Your Ideal Environment.

In what imaginary environment would my best self emerge?

I live in a house on a hill overlooking a beautiful garden close to the water. I am a professor and a writer who enjoys traveling the world seeking out opportunities to engage in charitable activities. I spend a great deal of time with family and friends and take out the time to manage my own garden and home. I teach classes at a local college and mentor students after class. When I am not working or finding causes, I am entertaining guests in my home or attending social activities that speak to my creative side. I am surrounded by people who are supportive and goal orientated.

What have I learned about myself?

I’ve learned that home is where my heart is and filling it with friends and family is first and foremost. Managing my own life matters and that I would not enjoy having someone to help me with domestic chores. Also giving to others has great importance in my life and carries as much weight as my personal goals of becoming a professor and mentor.

Exercise 9: Your Ideal Day:

I wake up at 8:00 a.m., dress in professional attire and head for the local diner for morning coffee with a good friend. After coffee I go to the local University to teach my literature class as a professor. After class I conduct a mentoring session for a student who is having a difficult time passing classes. I convince the student that he/she will improve with time. The student takes my advice. After teaching a few classes I leave work to meet my partner Anton and friends for dinner at a nice restaurant. After which I go to my beautiful home on a hill and tend to my garden near the water. Later in the evening Anton and I sit outside on our porch and plan our next vacation to Hawaii as we gaze at the stars while Anton explains the wonders of the universe to me one more time.

Fantasy Analysis:

Question 1- Indispensable

What: Becoming a professor/mentor
Where: At a University/Junior College
Who: My partner

Question 2- Optional But Desirable

What: Going on vacation.
Where: Hawaii
What: Living in a beautiful home on a hill with a garden close to the water.
What: Becoming a writer.

Question 3 – Frills

What: Eating out with friends.
Where: Nice restaurants

Question 4 - Adjusted ideal day

Walking through an adjusted fantasy is not a total disaster. Although, it is a bit disappointing, I feel that I can do without the optional desirables of going on vacation to Hawaii, living in a beautiful home on a hill, becoming a writer, and frills like going to fine restaurants regularly. As long as my indispensables are satisfied I can still enjoy my life to the fullest.

Question 5 – What elements do I already have?

1) Who: I already have my wonderful partner Anton.
2) Who: I already have good friends who love me.
3) What: In a way, I am already a mentor because I mentor people all the time for free.
4) I already have a beautiful apartment across the street from the lake.

Question 6 – What elements are absent from my life now?

1) What: Being a college professor and professional mentor
2) What: A beautiful home with a garden close to the water.
3) Being a writer.

Question 7 - What stands between having your adjusted ideal day tomorrow?

1) Who: Going to nice restaurants with friends. - Lack of finances.
2) What: Going on vacation – Lack of finances
3) What: Living in a beautiful home on a hill with a garden close to the water – Lack of finances.
4) What: Becoming a writer – Lack of confidence

Step 2 - My Personality Growing Up

These comments are given by my best friend Sharon who I grew up with from age 7. I have no parents, aunts or uncles. My caregivers are all deceased. Sharon was not a caregiver, but she knew me very well back then.

1. What was I like in the first 5 years of my life?

Michelle was a very determined and loyal person from the time I met her at age 7.

2. What things did I love, what games did I like to play, what did you think was unique about me?

Michelle loved to play school, run around the neighborhood, throw rocks, play in the grass, ride her bike, and play with her dolls. I thought Michelle was unique because she was very dark skinned and very pretty. (When we grew up being dark skinned was not a sign of beauty.) For me, this quality made her unique.

3. What did you think I would become when I grew up?
A supermodel.

Step 3 - Comments from five friends

What do you think are my greatest gifts/strengths?

My best friend Sharon:

Michelle has an incredible ability to encourage others and an enormous sense of style and beauty.

My girlfriend and former work associate Alison:
Michelle, I believe the following are your greatest gifts/strengths: time management, working in group situations under strict deadlines, you recognize the importance of a strong work ethic, persistence, and intellectual integrity.

My boyfriend Anton:
Integrity, commitment, tenacity and humor. These are some of the gifts that Michelle possesses. Her honesty, in both personal and professional relationships and commitment, whether to a friendship or a cause, makes her a unique individual. She also has an unshakeable belief in doing the right thing and the tenacity to see it through. All these traits, combined with a great sense of humor, make Michelle a wonderful person to share life with.

My photographer and good friend John Smith:
Michelle you have a knack for doing your best in whatever you do. You are a great people person who enjoys the company of most everyone. You are very creative and have your own since of style. The most incredible thing about you is that you have discovered the "fountain of youth." Everything about you is young! You also have an excellent sense of fashion.

John...

My sister and friend Nadine:
Michelle is a great communicator. She knows how to present herself and her ideas. In addition, Michelle has been a model which is another form of communication. When she walked on the stage it was as if she was talking without words. Her biggest gift is having the “it” factor. She is very attractive, but more than that, she radiates from the inside. Clearly there is something special about her.

Step 5 – “What Do You Love?”

During the in class essay I spoke about the things I love. My most cherished possessions are those things found in nature. This weekend my boyfriend and I went to Lake Geneva, WI. I could not wait to explore the town and partake in nature by visiting the beach. I started by lying on the beach getting acquainted with the smell of the grass, sand and dirt. After about one hour of doing nothing but taking in the sights, smells and sounds that surrounded me, I decided to take a swim. I learned to swim last summer at my health club and since that time I have become a different person. I always wanted to swim, but allowed fear to stop me. Now that I can swim, my fear of the water has subsided. I am still not completely comfortable swimming in a large lake, so I stay close to store and enjoy myself. My favorite part of being a new swimmer is being under water. There is no better feeling than being under water because it takes you to another world where the sounds are intensified and everything looks mystical. When I’m swimming under water I feel a sense of freedom or “escape” from the real world. It takes my mind to another place where things are peaceful and pure. In “assignment 1”, I spoke of having a desire for “freedom.” I am discovering that the need for freedom is consistent in all the things I love.

After taking a swim I played in the sand and dirt like a child paying close attention to all the tiny creatures I found in the sand. One tiny creature had fallen on its back and was struggling desperately to turn over. I took a stick and turned it over. When it became free again it crawled away as if it was happy to get along with its life. I imagined that the creature “thanked” me as it quickly ran to its destination. Freedom is everything……

Had a wonderful day in beautify Lake Geneva.!

Assignment 1 - Who Do You Think You Are?

Michelle A. Daily
African-American Studies
Leadership for Change
BSB 294
Assignment 1 - “Who Do You Think You Are?

Honestly, when I signed up for the class I was under the impression that the class would include African-American literature or topics in conjunction with African-Americans. The class description was vague, and I did not find out that the class was entitled “Leadership for Change” until my first day. However, after learning the subject matter, I am very pleased to have stumbled upon this subject. After reader the first chapters of the four assigned books, I have become very excited to learn about leadership. Primarily my excitement is due to the fact that I have yet to study about the principals of leadership during my college journey. I believe that leadership is crucial to any journey that brings a successful end. I find the assigned reading very engaging and have already embraced some knowledge of the principals of leadership. With that being said, after reading the assigned works I have already discovered that leadership which brings about positive change can only be accomplished by followings certain principals put into place by people who have experienced successful results. The reading has enlightened my scope of success by making me aware that positive leadership does not just happen automatically, rather that positive leadership is in fact a science; a road map to study and to follow. I desire very much to be successful in all aspects of my life and learning how to be an effective leader will assist me in acquiring my professional and personal goals.

My goal in this class is first to understand the fundamentals of leadership. After which I would like to learn how to put what I have learned into action. I would also like to learn about the negative aspects of being a good leader, learning how to overcome adversity and how to work with difficult people under difficult circumstances. In chapter one of “Exploring Leadership” the subject of “Followership” was discussed. I found this section very interesting because the word “follower” usually carries negative connotations. Contrary to what I thought about followership, the chapter explains how followership can in fact be a positive thing. I also discovered what “type” of follower I am at my current job, discovering that I am a “partner.” After putting my leadership skills into action, I would then like to examine the results of being a strong positive leader. If I can accomplish these three things, I feel that I will greatly benefit from the class.

When I was a child I was most struck by flowers. I was fascinated by the look and feel of flowers. So much so that I would “steal” flowers from neighbor’s yards and replant them in my yard. We did not have any flowers and I felt that my yard should be beautified with flowers as were my neighbor’s yards. I was also fascinated with the sound of the el train that aligned my house. We lived next door to the el and I was very used to the sound of trains that passed every 20 minutes or so. When my parents sold our house and moved away from the train when I was seven years old, I missed the sound of the el train terribly. Sometimes at the new house I still imagined hearing the train passing.

As a child I daydreamed a lot, mostly about living other lives. The reason for this is not because my childhood was unhappy, but because it was fun to imagine myself as other people doing other things. Things like being a famous singer, (I can’t sing at all), I was very impressed with Diana Ross, or being a person who lived outside with the flowers, trees, dirt, and everything that was natural and pure. There was a sense of freedom that came with my daydreams. Freedom of movement and freedom to do something that felt good. Every since I can remember I loved dolls. In my daydreams I would imagine that my dolls all had their own lives. They were my children, sisters, brothers, and cousins. In a sense their lives became my “other lives” and this gave me a sense of freedom of movement and freedom of expression. Every doll was assigned a name, a personality, and a life of their own. Later I realized that their lives were a representation of the other lives I dreamed about living myself. I have never shared this with anyone until now.

Ironically, I still have these daydreams. This admission is a bit embarrassing, my being a grown woman. But the truth is that I still imagine myself being someone else sometimes. Again, it is not because I don’t like myself, but for the same reasons I had as a child. I have always yarned for a sense of freedom in life that I feel I have never experienced. As far as talents and abilities go, my early days are a sign that I would be most happy if I were in a position of freedom. Free to do things that are untraditional or things that are not time sensitive. I also love the environment; being one with animals and nature would make me very happy. Being surrounded by beautiful flowers and plants, (I have a lot of them in my home), but on a much larger scale such as owning an orchard, nursery or farm. I would love to have the freedom of travel to pursue humanitarian efforts in other countries. In my daydreams my dolls lived the lives of travelers or were people who took care of animals or lived in trees. All the things I wanted to do they did for me.


Regards….