RSO Involvement

Not all clubs and sports can be found on campus. Sometimes people go outside the community they live in and become involved with other communities. This helps branches themselves in networking. My RSO involvement consisted of going to my hometown in Bay City Michigan at least once a month to prepare my older scouts in my troop to be prepared for college. The Boy Scouts is a non profit organization that involves scouting for all. My troop has a variety of boys who come from different places and have the same passion to be scouts. One of difficult things for an older scout is balancing high school and boy scouts because both require a lot of time. My scouts are all active in their community besides scouting. When it comes to sports, clubs, work, and social life I understand and I wanted to do something extra for my scouts. As an assistant scoutmaster I asked the troop committee if I could get an hour on a wednesday with the older boys who are in their junior year and senior year of high school. These two grades are the pivoting point of getting scouts where they need to go after they become adults. I would progress their goals and I would ask them various questions and provide an ear about how life is going. I found this to be good because the venting made it better for the boys. I gave them tips and tricks of how to get through college and applying for scholarships and colleges. I was important to the boys and I didn’t mind coming back every month for an hour. I owe a lot to the Boy Scouts. I think that my involvement in my club even after my time in the organization is continuing in the little ways.

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.

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. 

Freshman Year: A Year in Review

This isn’t the end, nor will it be for a while. However, I am bone dead tired after this academic year! I can’t believe how long its been, yet it feels like I just unpacked my suitcases just 3 months ago. I am thankful to have spent my time here at Central Michigan University. I am though in need of some tender love and care. My mind has been frazzled, but the long complexity of these two semesters. It’s also hard to believe that I am a quarter of the way done with college! I am most likely going to finish with a bachelors, for I don’t have time to do a doctorates or a masters. It would seem like a lot of fun, but unnecessary.

Things that I am proud of this year is signing my major and minors. I didn’t even have to switch! I don’t plan on it either, for that would take away time and money. These two things are limited, so I better to have hoped that by choosing Environmental Studies as my major and Geographic Information Science/Leadership for my minor was a well thought out plan in the beginning. I am not about to change anything that I already put my mind to. Another few things that were accomplished was getting an adequate GPA, meeting friends, and making good relationships with my professors. I know though I can do better in all three of those categories, for I want to make stronger friendships, a higher GPA, and meet more fascinating professors.

A few things outside of college that I have done was spending many volunteer hours with my Order of the Arrow group. We have put in at least 1100 hours together so far for this new year. Last year, we had a group 6,000-15,000 hours all together. As for myself I would say I put in 50 hours with them. What we did was we did projects throughout camp, got new leaders appointed to positions, and we also awarded people for their contributions. I was one of the individuals who earned an award. I have continued my interest in the OA and I am now serving Elangomat chairman and Chapter Chief for my lodge and chapter. As for Boy Scouts, I keep in touch with them and make sure to come to the troop meetings when I can. I recently was also initiated into the freemasons. This past April, I accomplished the Master Mason degree which makes me free to visit other lodges and make strong bonds with my fellow brothers.

This summer, I am going to D-Bar-A scout ranch which is a summer camp for Boy Scouts. I am the director of Eco-Con which is the nature arena. I hope to give back to scouting more than it gave me. I am very particular about giving and receiving. It makes me feel better and it allows campers to get a better experience than I had. Even though, it was great for me I truly care about the next generation of scouts. Also, over the summer I will be mentoring an OA member to take over as me a leader for my time as a youth is drawing near. I rather see someone bloom than to see my lodge doomed.

This goes hand in hand with my leadership theory of power & leadership. I admire this theory for it is relatable to what I want to do and be. The power of a leader is broken down into 6 traits that they can be. A leader can be referent which is someone who people like and are willing to be lead by, a leader can be an expert which is how people view that leader by their accomplishments and skills, a leader can be coercive which means they give punishments for everything wrong followers do, but they can also be rewarding to everything a follower does right for them, a leader can be legitimate and have an authoritative status, and finally leaders can be informative which means they have information that people want or need. I want to possess all these abilities equally. I would love to however be more informative than any other trait. I believe if I hold information people want or need they will come to me more often and listen to me. Thus, this allows me to give rewards/punishments to follows. Followers will also view me as legitimate and an expert in my fields of knowledge. I look forward to using these traits. I believe I am still a novice, but I am sure I can work this out.

I can’t wait for next semester to roll out though. After I have rested and let myself breathe the summer air I will be ready to tackle the new year as a sophomore. I am grateful for this year. My hopes and dreams to come to a university have come true. Now I just have to keep this status for another 3 more years as long as finances are in check. Peace and Love to my faith, family, and all the friends I have made throughout my life thus far!