RSO Involvement

Clubs and Sports are really awesome programs to be apart of at CMU. If you got nothing else better to do then try going to one of the RSO’s that are found on campus. They have a wide variety of programs that are offered to the public. For myself, I found a couple that I got invested in for a little bit at CMU. When it came to picking an RSO I had to work with my school time and my study time. I couldn’t go back to back to back like I used to or else I would be bogged down. I have been discovering portions of my life that I have not reflected upon due to the complexity of figuring out self awareness. It sort of became this elaborate design that manifested because I never could figure out this puzzling puzzle of who I was. I decided though after the summer of 2018 that I would take a rest for self caring and self help. Why this is important to know is because the RSO that I chose to help me get myself feeling self motivated was CMU TWLOHA chapter. TWLOHA which stands for “To Write Love On Her Arms” is a club about self care and health. It was a group of people that cared to pick themselves up and spread that around the campus. I was the only guy that was in the club and I was still accepted. I was deeply involved only for myself because I needed a place for an hour to just reflect and not worry about anything. I didn’t give myself daunting tasks so I gave myself the position with unison census of being the rep to go to the Monday night meetings campus council to bring back information to our group. My involvement was close with the group for the first semester than the 2nd semester because I had to balance more time to my classes. I did a lot for the group and it went recognized.

RSO Program Board

Music, Movies, Comedians, AND COOL Sweatshirts? Count me in! I had a blast being a part of the CMU Program Board as a member. I would show up when I can so that I could have the most fun possible. Of course, I could not be involved a ton because of commitments to my grades and classes. Yet, everytime I was there the staff would know my name and say great things about me. I guess they really cared about their members. One of the big things I was involved in WAS being involved in the events that CMU program board had put on. I would occasionally go see a movie like Spider-Man and Black Panther and I would help out with events like the ghost event with Chris Fleming. I knew that my semesters needed excitement and I had to be super involved in events. It started off seeing the people that took down Pablo Escobar. I had won a free meet and greet with the men who took down a coke kingpin. They were leaders that went through a lot to help the people of Colombia. I got their signatures and shook hands with them and said my thanks. I went to Papa’s pumpkin farm with Program Board and ate RAW corn. IT WAS SOOO GREAT! Then I went to another Program Board event with Chris Fleming as the guest speaker. I won a free meet and greet with Chris and I got his signature, shook hands, and a picture too. I got to go on a ghost tour with him too. Sadly, no ghosts could be seen or barely heard. CMU is safe. Then, my final program board that I got involved in was winning tickets to see Jesse McCartney. It took me a lot of searching to find the items to get the tickets and it took me a while to find the president of Program Board to get free tickets from her. Overall, I won 4 tickets and took 3 of my good friends. Not only that but I got to meet Jesse and shake his hand. I got his signature on a CD album. It was really cool! I tried my best to be a part of the team as an E-Board member BUT I was overqualified! I had a lot of fun in this group and I couldn’t ask for more.

Lead Team

Flash back to the start of my sophomore year! I had no clue what Lead Team I was on until a week before the event. It was in fact the new Lead Team for the beginning of the year picnic for everyone. It was a Hawaiian theme event. I did not at all to put in any input because the lead chair people already put it together in the summer. It was honestly a relief though because I could count on the lead chairs. I guess what I could talk about is how I saw old faces and the LAS seniors. It was great seeing everyone for the first time since school started. Fortunately, I met Shelby Arnold my mentee at this event and I got to learn more about her. There isn’t a big take away that I can honestly say but I guess I can say is that I could count on the leaders and still be as involved. I did help carry boxes and get the pizza out. It was a cool event.  \

COM 461L

Dwight’s Speech: BLOOD ALONE MOVES THE WHEELS OF HISTORY! [pause] Have you ever asked yourselves in an hour of meditation – which everyone finds during the day – how long we have been striving for greatness? [bangs fist] Not only the years we’ve been at war – the war of work – but from the moment as a child, when we realize the world could be conquered. It has been a lifetime struggle [bangs fists again] a never-ending fight, I say to you [bangs again] and you will understand that it is a privilege to fight. WE ARE WARRIORS! [applause] Salesmen of north-eastern Pennsylvania, I ask you once more rise and be worthy of this historical hour. [even bigger applause as Dwight laughs maniacally] No revolution is worth anything unless it can defend itself. Some people will tell you salesman is a bad word. They’ll conjure up images of used car dealers, and door to door charlatans. This is our duty to change their perception. I say, salesmen and women of the world… unite. We must never acquiesce, for it is together… TOGETHER THAT WE PREVAIL. WE MUST NEVER CEDE CONTROL OF THE MOTHERLAND… Audience: …FOR IT IS TOGETHER THAT WE PREVAIL! [thunderous applause]

Exactly why did I posted a speech? That’s because I had to give a presentation about qualitative communication through effective public speaking. Com 461L was a leadership class about Communication. It was honestly a really chill and relaxing class. I had Elizabeth Carlson for a teacher and let me tell you that she knew how to be enthusiastic in the most appropriate times. It was really good of her because it kept the class entertaining and I did not at all dare to sleep during her class. It was that good that I would listen to her and consider what she talked about. I had no idea there were many different types of ways to communicate as a leader. It was bizarre because I assumed you had to be so spontaneous and so original. Remembering Dan Gaken or even Jesi Ekonen talk to us as a class they were always vocal and had this specific approach to us as a class. It turns out they were only channeling one kind of effective communication style. There is so much to learn about communication that it’s unfortunate I had to only take one class for this. I felt really good during my exams but what the kicker was is that my grades looked bad. She told me that I was on track to getting an A-. I was in disbelief because the beginning of the semester looked terrible to me but it got better. I was always showing up taking some notes and engaging in all talks with my fellow classmates. It was really cool.

What I could take away from this class is that I don’t have one specific style of formally communicating. In fact, I could talk informally as much as I want to. The trick is when is the appropriate time to do so. I feel like I could also take from this class was my presentations that I gave to the class were not at all bad as I used to speak. I wasn’t swaying or looking bewildered. I did have tough times but I would always keep on track. It was awesome and I can’t wait for Junior year and effectively use these new found skills in my classes. 

PSC 105L

Never is there a time that I don’t ever think of my rights as a citizen of the United States. I am always exercising my rights as a free person of this country. I feel like if I gave up my rights for security I will not have either. These words were spoken by Ben Franklin but ultimately they were quoted by my government professor Thomas Stewart. Immediately, in the first week of class he got to know us personally. He asked me what I wanted to be and I said an Environmentalist. He said that why aren’t I already and I was confused. Apparently, you don’t need a special title or influence to say you are an environmentalist. Therefore, I can officially say that I am an environmentalist who advocates for the healthy rules and regulations that will govern the environment and I will support and find support to conserve natural resources and preserve habitats. You could say that I learned a lot from this class and it would not be at all wrong to say. Last time I took a class for U.S government was 10th grade year and I failed the A.P Test but I passed the class. Let me tell you that the A.P test is way harder than the government college classes you hear about. That was a relief to know that I was in good hands with this professor I specifically chose this class over SOC221 because I love government work. This class really was great and professor Stewart was grander. I had a tough time taking notes but as a matter of fact when it came to the exams there was amazement when I could answer the questions with out a lot of studying and difficult. I suppose it’s because we really discussed on key legal cases and rules that it was ingrained in my brain. I am really happy with the results for I passed the class with probably the highest remarks I ever received in college so far. I went in not really sure if I could pass because that AP test really put fear in my gut but I managed and got through it all. I think that was an important lesson to learn is that I have nothing to fear except fear itself. I am fortunate for being his last class he ever taught and I was not at all in the least bit dissatisfied with any part of it.

What I could take away from this is that leadership is tough but there are reasons why its tough in government because of the hard work and dedication to shape it to what it is right now. I find that really cool that leadership at the government level isn’t clean cut but a working progress like myself. I am so happy with this result and I look forward to my career field in environmental studies. 

HDF 100L

I never really thought about what oppression really meant before this class at Central Michigan University. I thought it meant that you were oppressed by how to act in society. Well, that is a partial answer to that. In the Fall, I took the class Oppression: Roots & Impact as an online class to further my leadership education. It hit me big time when I learned oppression meant you were look down upon and unable to help it because you are what you were born as. I learned that this impacts the majority of African-Americans because they can’t help themselves when they are looked down upon by the content of their skin. It doesn’t stop there because it is the physical and permanent parts of a person that can be oppressed. My professor was David Brown and it was his first time teaching it. I mean I assumed he knew what he was doing and he sure fooled me! He said that this was a working progress for him on the account that they reimagined this class as an online course. There was a lot of “bugs” to fix and a good handful of assignments that had to be reviewed over and over. I thought I was going to have a heart attack at times while in the class! I pictured how difficult it was for him and the rest of the class. Yet, David Brown was always on top of things and making sure to always answer my frantic calls. He said he was grateful I was always eager to call and ask questions. In my mind, I was definitely worried about my grades and how well I can do on my assignments. I had two exams in the class and I was thinking I was going to fail them. It was however untrue. I passed them with high remarks. I even completed all my assignments.

The big takeaway from this class wasn’t the point that I passed, but I learned how to go with the flow and not stop in my tracks. I had a lot riding during the Fall and I couldn’t miss a beat. Perhaps the bigger picture was that I learned how race was unrealistic and that no race was better than someone elses. I learned how oppression can be a real struggle. I found out that I am not oppressed but that doesn’t mean I stop there. In fact, I recognize the differences that I share with others on their physical appearances. I appreciate they are themselves and that they strive for a better tomorrow. 

Here I come Detroit

I know nothing about Detroit except that it is home to the Detroit Tigers. I think that is pretty sad on my part. In fact, I only go to Detroit for Tiger games when I can go for free. It isn’t just me though. Plenty of people don’t know this grand city. It was home to the car manufacture back in its hayday. The motor city was a hustling and busy place. However, over time it has fallen into what I have heard a state of “ruin”. I wish I could put my two cents in, but I must wait till I get there. On a light side of things I am going this weekend for a leader based program. I can’t wait!

Perhaps the social issue I am quite familiar with is poverty. People living off welfare, on the streets, and without the proper necessities to live. It is devastating to know it happens in my own home state. How I learned about this is by the ear. People talk about Detroit as if it is on fire every other week. I don’t think it is that bad I want to be optimistic about this city. I hope to finally realize what people are saying.

The vision of the leadership institute is to “prepare the next generation of individuals who will act responsibly to improve the quality of life”. We find leaders of today. Perhaps a leader could be in Detroit. It’s up to a community of leaders to get to them and help them in their community. I believe that as leaders at CMU we have the responsibility to further our learning of service experience. There are workers right now in Detroit that clean up the community everyday. This experience and what I hope to get out of it is to understand the struggle and the commit people have to help grow a community.

What I think the trip to Detroit will help me grow in is to understand the purpose of the LI. Even though it states, “to prepare Michigan students and citizens for leadership roles in an increasingly complex and challenging society” I need to know where I fit. How will I make that difference?