Reflection on blogs

I chose to read the blog about Mr. Ritchie.
1. I think the most important topic that came up when reading this blog was how Mr. Ritchie said that we should be grateful for what we have and not focusing on the material things in life. We need to remember where we came from because that makes us who we are.
2. This helps me think about who I want to be, what character qualities I have and what ones I should try to develop. I think about how important relationships are within a family when a person goes off the college. I think about the relationships that need to be in place in the work force. Relationships should matter more than anything else. Without relationships material things will never be able to bring true happiness.
3. Right now I think I need to strengthen my relationships with the people around me because they are the people that represent where I come from and they will be the people that I will always be able to go to when I need advice. I need to finish developing my character as an individual not just as someone who lives in Williamsburg and goes to school there. I need to be able to represent myself as well as where I came from.
This was a really good blog and the writer talked a lot about the things that Mr. Ritchie was able to teach us in a short amount of time.

Respect

“Respect”                                                                                        

respect: high or special regard; esteemed

 Respect is something that everyone tries to get from others. Teachers try everyday to get respect from students. Students would rather make fun of teachers and try to make them mad than listen to what they have to say. Students’ lack of respect is wrong because they are the ones who are in charge and we need to do what they say. They are telling us things to help us in school.  Respect will help you in school because it helps show teachers that you are grown up and you are mature.

Respect is something that all adults deserve from teenagers and children. Parents work hard to try to show their kids that respecting others shows what kind of person you are. When I think of people I respect I think of my parents, grandparents, teachers, and co-workers. Theses people deserve respect because they are knowledgeable in areas of life that I have yet to experience. They are the people who are helping to prepare me for what the real world will be like. Respect needs to be given before it is returned so we must be respectful to everyone around us and show our good character.  

As we worked on our project respect was something that we always needed to keep in mind. Without respect we would not have been able to express creative ideas. Teamwork will only work if there is respect for others and the ideas that they bring to the table. In my group we were respectful of everyone's ideas and took them all into consideration for our proposals. 

Listening

lis-ten: to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.

As young children we are always told to listen to what adults tell us. As important as it is for young children to listen it is also important that older children and adults listen as well. Listening is a big part of communication and without communication nothing can be accomplished. Teenagers often think that they know everything so they can make their own rules and don’t need to follow anyone’s advice. If teens take the time to listen they can learn valuable lessons without having to experience any sort of trouble.

Relationships are built on communication so it is important to listen to what the other person is saying. A good friend will listen to what you have to say and try and help you. If the person you are talking to ignores what you have to say then there is no respect. Just by listening to what others have to say you are showing them that you do care about what they have to say and how they are feeling. If you want a relationship to work you need to be able to be quiet and listen. Listening is a very important skill that everyone should have or be developing. No one can be a good leader if they don't listen to what others around them are saying. Leaders need to show that they respect others thoughts and ideas by being willing to listen to them. To be a good team member we need to listen to the other members and work together toward a common goal. 

Mr. Ritchie

Mr. Ritchie gave a great speech on Thursday. I thought that the most important thing that he talked about was the importance of relationships. Who you surround yourself  with is who you will ultimately end up like. It is important to remember where you came from because it will always be a place where you can go back to and get advice from people that know you the best. People that really know you aren't fooled by your fake persona they know what you are like in public and when no one else is around. Relationships are what will get you somewhere in life. It is how you interact with those around you that will give you job security. It is important to have an education but it also important to have people skills. Being who you are will get you farther in life then being the person you think others want. If you are being someone that isn't you to please others then you are lieing to everyone including yourself. Relationships are one of the most important things in life and we need to work to keep them strong everyday.  

Character

“Character”                                                                         

char-ac-ter: moral excellence and firmness, one of the attributes that make up and distinguished an individual.

What is the thing that you remember most about people? For most of us it is what the person has done or how they reacted to a situation. How they react and what they do is a result of their character. Character is what makes a person who they are. Character will show through no matter what the situation. People aren’t fooled by false character they know who you really are.

What defines your character? Your morals or what you believe and stand for shape your character and who you will be in live. Religious beliefs can develop convictions that will create a path for you to follow. The people that you chose to surround yourself with also shape your character because we often have a habit of doing the same things our friends do. It is important to choose the right type of people to be around.

Character makes you the person you are and it is one thing that people will always see. Character is one of the most important things when looking at the relationships you have.  Character gives you the strength to be comfortable in your own skin if you are the person you have worked hard to create. Character makes a leader.

Thanksgiving

When I think about Thanksgiving I think about family time and eating good food. I think that in American we have commercialized holidays. After Thanksgiving there is Black Friday when people go out and shop at weird hours for the best buy they can find. Is Thanksgiving really about food or is it about when people come together and share in each others happiness. I think that we need to reflect on the real reason for the holidays and what really gets us in the holiday spirit. as leaders we need to bring to others attention the holidays. We need to focus on the reasons we need to be thankful and the people that have helped us become who we are. Family is one of the most important things we have.  

School surveys

After looking at our seminar surveys I think we have a good problem to try and solve because I see that there is a lot of people unhappy with the way seminar is handled. I think that most students feel that it is a waste of time for them to be there for 15 min when they can't get much done in that short amount of time. Some of the teachers    that I spoke to said that the students could come up with a better way to spend the time rather than just sitting and talking. I am hoping that we can come up with a solution to some of the issues surrounding seminar because it will make both students and teachers happier if there needs and wants are met. I can't wait to see what other administrators say about their school seminars because it will help us come up with a well thought out solution. 

Aaron Thomas part 2

I had the chance to see Aaron Thomas before the school assembly. Even thought I had already seen him his speech had the same impact as it did the first time it made me reflect on my life and the lives of the people around me. He talked more about leadership and what it meant for us as students. He talked about the 4 groups that students fall into I see these 4 groups everyday. I think that people need to break out of the groups and be who they are and give everything their all. I thought it was ironic how he asked the seniors what people would say about ua and if they would be happy we are leaving or if they will miss us. I think a lot of the teachers in the gym were thinking about how glad they would be to see us be gone. I feel like our class get judged based on the actions and attitudes of a few not the majority of the class. I think it is unfair that we have been labled from early on as a bad class because there is almost nothing we can do to prove that wrong. I think that our school needs to become more accrepting of everyone reguardless of how others have labled them. We need to show that we have good character because that is the only way to change how people view us.

School problems

I am really excited that we will beworking on a problem that we see in our school. Everyone seemed excited about the possiblity of being able to change something we didn't like. I was put in the group looking into Seminar. I think that in some ways seminar is a good thing because it is a main time when school organizations can have meeting and everyone will be there with no worries about missing school work or sports practices. Seminar has become a time that most use as a time to talk  to their friends and others around them I think that it being used for that can also be good because it gives time for students to talk and not disrupt classes. Some use it as a study hall and I personally think that for it to be an effective study hall that it needs to be longer then 15 min because many cant get things done in just 15 minutes so they don't even try. I am looking forward to the feedback from students as to what they think of seminar.   

My Mission statement

When I was going through the questions to make my mission statement I thought that some of them were really strange and pointless as far as a mission statement. After looking at my mission statement the one thing that seems present all through it is my want to help people. I really hope that one day I will be someone who helps others with their problems and goals. I want to be there when others don't know where to turn to or what to do next. I want to be someone that is a resource for people when they need something. I want people to be happy and to be able to reach the goals that have been set. My mission statement is all about that because it shows my love for my family and others. I think that the mission statement was a good idea for those who don't know what they stand for and what they want to do.

10 Questions

1. Anna Marie Sleeth- she is the strongest woman I know, she works really hard and tells the truth.
2. My family- my parents, sisters, my own family, eating together at the table eating
3. I would give up anything for love
4. FDR because he was able to help others and make a big impact on our world
5. I love being outside in the sunshine
6. Hearing Aaron Thomas talk about what his family went through after his father's murder and how they forgave the killer because it would be what his father wanted.
7. I am a good friend who is always there and ready to listen. I work hard at everything I do and try to do my best. I love the simple things in life
8. I think a flower represents me because they are able to stand up to the wind and rain they may come out a little tattered but they are still full of joy. I open up most when it is beautiful outside.
9. I could be one person I wold be one of the woman rights fighters because they stood up for what they believed.
10. I think my most valuable talents are being a good friend and listening because I am always there to talk to when someone has a problem.

Mission Statement

I am at my best when I am doing something that I am passionate about.
I will try to prevent times when I am forced to pretend to care about something that doesn't affect me.
I will enjoy my work by finding employment where I can I love to help people find things and have conversations with them.
I will find enjoyment in my personal life through Spend time with my family and those that I love .
I will find opportunities to use my natural talents and gifts such as I am a good friend who is loyal. I am a very good listener and try to help solve people's problems.
I can do anything I set my mind to. I will help those who were less fortunate and help my family reach their dreams.
My life's journey is To bring joy and happiness to those who are less fortunate. To have a family that is loving and close to each other. I am happy when I am able to make someone's life better. .
I will be a person who My family. I would hope that they would say that I have been there for them and helped those around me reach their goals. .
My most important future contribution to others will be I want to give advice. .

I will stop procrastinating and start working on:

• I should work more efficiently.
• I should go to church more happily

I will strive to incorporate the following attributes into my life:

• Strength
• positive
• hardworking

I will constantly renew myself by focusing on the four dimensions of my life:

• live a healthy lifestyle
• go to church
• talk through problems
• talk through my feelings and emotions

Leadership

As I was at FFA national convention I was able to see some great leaders.  The national officers were able to get everyone excited and take part in the sessions even when they weren't always the fun ones. I could see how they worked to motivate everyone to take those leadership qualities back and apply them. The keynote speaker was a Vietnam veteran who was burned very badly by an incinerary grenade who many thought would die.  He talked to us about how to overcome our problems and with him he had a man who had been burned in a meth fire. The man told us that if we showed him who are friends were he could tell us where we would be in 10 years because friends change us and shape us. As leaders we need to learn to suround ourselves with the type of people who believe in the same things we do so we aren't lead astray. As the future leaders we need to show that doing the right things aren't always the most cool but they will give you the potential for a successful life that others will use as an example.

class activities

I think that doing different class activities/competitions was a good thing because we can learn many new things about the kind of person we are.  We learn if we are watchers or doers. I think that we have peoplen in the class who are less passionate about the prospective win that will come and they become more of the ones who watch what is going on and gives help when they are asked then there are those who want to hurry up and get a plan that will get them to win. I think that the passion of some people is contagious because when one person is really excited then the whole group feeds off of it and gets pumped up. There are good things about a calm leader as well because there is often more organization. I think we learned a lot from these activities.

Core Elements of leadership

I was looking through my blogs that I follow and I came across a post that I think fits in well with what we have been talking about and it was about core elements of leadership. It said that delegation was one of the most important components of leadership. I think that this can be seen in the classroom everyday. Mr. Fritz always deals with disagreements or misunderstandings between students and helps them see why they were having a disagreement. Delegation between people is important for leaders because when you are working with a lot of different people you will have different personalities and then you will have disagreements. Leaders need to be able to work through disagreements with others.

Core Values

I think that core values are very important in a person's life because they help guide you through the tough times that you encounter in life. They make the cross roads clear. I think that I have some strong core values that have helped me make choices in life.
1. Respect. Respect is important because when you respect others they in turn will show you respect and it shows that you have good character.
2.Faith. Faith is important because it is always there to believe in when you feel like you have lost all hope it is always there.
3. Convictions. Convictions are important because they make up the strong foundation of who you are and what you stand for.  If you know what you stand for then you know what situations to avoid.
4. Honesty/Trust. Honesty and trust are important because if people see that you are honest and trustworthy then they will confide in you and you develop true friends that will give you friendships that stand the test of time.
5. Determination. Determination is important because it will keep you going when you feel like giving up. Pushing through the tough times shows that you can conquer things if you try.
6. Family. Family will help you through everything they will be there for the good and the bad. Family will help you stick to your values because they help to shape your values.
7. Integrity. Integrity is important because it shows that you are someone who sets goals and does what is right. You will be there to help others when they need it.

Leadership blame game

I was reading a blog that I follow and they pointed out that a good leadership team doesn't blame one member but they all take the blame when something doesn't go as planned. I think that to be a good leader you have to be able to communicate with a leadership team and that when faced with problems everyone works to work it out not just one person doing what they want or just being someone who watches as things happen around them. I think that we have become a society who looks for one leader to deliver us toward a goal but we aren't willing to step up and help. We need to show others that things will work out better if we help each other out and don't let lazyness take over. In groups people tend to follow one leader and when something goes wrong or the group gets a bad grade the leader is blamed when really everyone is at fault because no one else is willing to help. We need to learn to take the blame when we do something wrong because that is the only way to change the pattern.  Taking blame is needed so we can learn to be better and to find new solutions it what was planned didn't work the first time. The blame game is never fun but it is a teaching and learning tool.

Happiness

    After watching The Pursuit of Happiness movie and analyzing the changes that he was making and why he was making them the movie seemed much more meaningful.  I have seen the movie more then once but have never caught all the reasons and the struggles before.  I think the movie helped teach us that we can become who we want to be we just need to push through all the hard times and work hard and our drams of who we want to be will become the reality.
   I was very moved on how Chris did almost everything not just for himself so he could feel successful therefore be happy but he did it so he could provide for his son and that they could be happy.  Chris grew up not knowing his father so he made sure that Christopher would always have him and no one would take Christopher away. Chris worked hard to sell his scanners so that he could provide a home for him and his son.  Even when he was told no he remained calm and kept trying. Chris did everything he possibly could to better their lives.
  Throughout the movie you see the theme of happiness vs. happyness.  Chris didn't like how outside the daycare it was spelled with a y because it wasn't proper English.  As the movie goes on we see that his wife Linda practices Happiness when she leaves them because she wants herself to become happy and just gets away from all of the other problems. Chris finds Happyness in the end because he is happy but it isn't just him that is happy it's Christopher too.
  We as leaders need to have high hopes like he did and reach toward them.  He showed how honesty and determination can get you wherever you want to go. I am very glad we got to watch and analyze this movie because I think we can learn many new skills.

Speeches

I think that over all the first go round of speeches went well.  I can see some of the class has natural speaking talents.  I think we have areas to work on and we will be more comfortable talking in front of each other.  I think that I need to work on just being more comfortable in front of everyone.  I know that we can become good leaders and will be able to deliver meaningful speeches to an audience.  I could tell that some people chose topics they were very passionate about because of they way they delivered them. I actually was surprised at how much I enjoyed giving my speech because I felt so nervous before giving it.  After I was done I felt like I had accomplished something and I was more comfortable with the idea of giving more speeeches. I am very glad that we gave speeches because I think it has helped me come out of my shell.  I am really glad I took this class because I think it is helping me with my leadership skills.

5 important leadership strategies

I was reading one of the blogs that I follow and I found one that I feel fits in really well with the Raider leadership blog.  This blog talks about the 5 most important strategies in becoming a good leader.  It talks about how you need to be strong and knowledgeable about what you are talking about to get those to follow you.  You can't just wing it and expect those to stand with you if they fear that you won't be a good leader.  A leader needs to have a purpose and a drive about something that needs changed otherwise they have no need to be a leader. Leaders need to be organized because they can be more efficient and those they are leading feel more comfortable.  Leaders need to have good problem solving skills so they don't overwhelm others with their fears. If a leader doesn't have a good problem solving skills then they won't be able to make the changes they would like to see.  A leader needs to engage all the members of the organization.  If every one is engaged there is more creative thought flowing freely thus providing new ideas and new solutions to problems.  We as leaders need to keep these 5 points in mind as we move on in our lives.

Character makes a leader-thursday speaker

I thought the speaker on Thursday Mr. Atkinson was a really good speaker and had a great message.  I agree that character makes a leader.  To be a good leader you need to consider the feelings of those around you. When he told the soup story I felt that the father in law did the right thing which was the only thing one should do in that kind if situation.  I felt that the point he made about the most popular people don't always have the most respect is true because sometimes the most popular people don't make the best decisions.  I think that popular people often times get to wrapped up in their image and how many people admire them for the wrong reasons.  I feel like at our school this isn't a big problem because we have leaders who want to set an example. I think that our school have many very respectable young leaders. With good young leaders we are able to acomplish many great things for our school and community.  I thought he was a really good speaker I enjoyed what he had to tell us.

hypocrisy in leadership get you no where

When thinking about leaders what do you remember the things they say or the things they do? Often times we look at both of these things.  When a leader says something and does another they loose credibility. If a leader wants to be a true leader they must stand strong by their words and their actions.  Followers will go off the example they are given.  A leader needs to check what they are doing and make sure they are following the rules they have set, the examples they have given, and participating in all activities they are asking others to do.  If you are the kind of leader that doesn't stand by what you say you will find out soon that you are all alone. You can't judge others on if they are getting something because you may be the problem due to the example you are setting for them to follow.

Speaker Aaron Thomas

This past weekend I had a Hills Bank Youth Salute award ceremony and we had a motivational speaker who spoke to us about leadership.  Aaron Thomas is the son of coach Ed Thomas from Parkersburg who was shot and killed by a former student.  Aaron spoke about how his father was a leader throughout his life.  When Parkersburg was hit by a tornado coach Ed Thomas took charge and started the clean up efforts and had the vision to play the first football game of the season on their home field.  Ed Thomas led people by being a good example for the community. Aaron told us the stories of his fathers life and how he worked to bring the best out in people no matter who they were.  When Ed Thomas was shot by one of his former players his family made the decision to do what he would have wanted and in a press conference forgave the family for what had happened and reminded the community that they were going through something terrible as well and the community needed to keep them in their prayers.  Through the leadership of the Thomas family the Parkersburg community was able to heal and stand by both families.  I was very moved by the speech that Aaron Thomas gave because he showed the kind of leadership in his life that is the best kind.  The Thomas family has been strong through many things that have made a change on their lives.  This speech was one of the most moving things I have witnessed because I could see the impact Ed had on his family and community and he was taken before his time but his family understood and was forgiving.  Aaron used the things his father taught him to help get through his struggles and is telling his story to help others develop that kind of leadership.  Leadership is something that if used to the best of the leaders ability can change a whole community.  The leadership we are trying to achieve should be this kind because it is the kind that changes the lives of many people for the better. 

Who has made me who I am today.

I think we become who we are by the people we surround ourselves with throughout our lives.  I think my family has been a big influence on who I am today because they have given me the values that I have come to stand for. My family are the ones who took me to church and encouraged my belief in God. My parents sent me to a Lutheran school so I could further my education along with my faith. Going to a Lutheran school I was able to surround myself with friends who had the same drive to follow God.  Going to a Lutheran school has helped to decide who to surround myself with in high school.  I have my friends as a support system when I need advice or help with a troubling time.  I think living out in the country has also shaped who I am because I know what hard work it is to support a family and run a farm. Everything can shape who we are and how we see things. The way we view situations depend on how the people have changed us. 

Anywhere leadership

When reading one of my blogs I made some connections to what the speaker Doug Doty said on Thursday.  He showed us what a matrices does for a company by bringing everyone's leadership qualities together to work to a goal.  It brings everyone's thoughts into a setting where there isn't one person in charge but people working together.  Leadership is needed everywhere especially in companies.  Large companies need team leadership so everyone in the company knows what is going on and can play an active role.  Leadership can be seen in every job that there is from a large company to a babysitting business.  I think that if we were leaders who didn't use a hierarchy we would have more ideas flowing between everyone I hope that I can try to apply this style of leadership to my life.      

Leadership in everyday life

We talked in class about how someone could be a leader in a sport, organization,or activity.  Leaders are important for all of those groups.  A leader has to keep in mind those who are looking up to them and be the role model they should be.  When we talked about the situation of a bad cheerleader we talked about the actions of one person having a direct impact on the squad as a whole.  When someone is in a leadership position they have to keep in mind not only their own goals but the goals of the people they are leading too.  We need to work toward our own idividual goals as if everyone was depending on us because it helps to motivate us to do our best.  We need to make our visions a reality.  There is always going to be an opportunity to be a leader we just have to be strong enough to overcome the fear of failure and be that leader. 

The BEST kind of leadership

I was reading one of the blogs that I follow and came across a post on what types of leadership were the best types.  It talked about how we follow strong leaders and look to them for guidence.  It also pointed out that the best kind of leadership was the unnecessary kind.  Meaning that when people step up when they are needed not when they are told to step up.  They lead at all times not when they are trying to impress a big group but when they feel that they are needed and do the right thing and help.  Often times we do our best when we are being watched by someone of importance but in reality we should always do our best because if we don't we are letting ourselves down and not reaching the full potential.  We need to be leaders at all times not just when we think it will benifit us.  We need to get rid of the fear of failure and think of the positive and how we can help make a change.  We need to be strong leaders that aren't afraid.  

Leadership character and credibility

After reading some of the posts from one of the blogs that I follow I decided to make some connections from two of the posts.  One post talked about the character of a leader and why certain characterists are important for leaders and the other was about the credibility of leaders today.  In the cerdibility post it talked about how people now seem to be more concerned about the leaders they follow.  I think the credibility of a leader has a lot to do with the character of the leader. Today we have seen many political leaders who were bad leaders and forced the people to do things that they didn't agree with.  The character of those leaders was lacking because they were leaders to feel power and to control people unlike a good leader who has goals that will help the people not just themselves. Character is very important for a good leader because a leader needs to have the drive to help others and care about the people they are leading.  When a leader is thought to be non credible leader in my opinion it has to do with how the leader presents themselves to the people.  Credibility and character are two things that are connected in producing a good leader. 

Leadership: What to ask the person in the mirror

When I was reading throught the bolgs that I have subscribed to  I found one that I thought was very interesting. The blog was titled What to ask the person in the mirror and was talking about leadership that is discussed in the book What to ask the person in the mirror. the author points out that at certain times in life every great leader is uncertain and struggleing with decisions.  We can see this very thing when we look at the great Presidents we have had that have brought us through so much.  FDR is known as one of the greastest Presidents in our nation's history and he was President at one of the most difficult times. He used his ideas to push us through the bad times into the better times.  Even President Roosevelt was unsure of how his ideas would be liked but he stood by them and was strong because he knew that our nation needed a strong base to stand on.  He was a goodleader because he overcame his own fears and in turn stabilized the nation.

     The main difference between a good leader and a poor leader is the ability to overcome their own self doubt and find the answers to the questions they have. We need to become good leaders ones that listen to what is being said, give advice, strengthen and bring others up as well as ourselves, and to remain strong in the times of trouble where good leaders are needed and therefore become great leaders.   

Leadership characteristics and qualities.

The in class activity about what was a word you would use to describe each person in the class showed me in many ways that when we talk about people that we don't really know we often remember the negative rather than the positive.  I learned when you sit and think about a person you find the good words to describe them.  Everyone has the good qualities in them to be a good leader they just might not use them to the best of their ability.  People with different types of personalities have different qualities of leadership.  Some people are more bold and loud leaders while some are compassionate and sensitive. A good leader is someone who is strong enough to take charge of any situation that arises and still able to help all of those involved.  We all need to find our special skills as a leader and use them to help and guide others.