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?

COM 267 Reflection

Professor Hillman was my favorite teacher to have this semester for a required class. He was my favorite because he was a kindhearted man. It’s a good kind of kind hearted, because I compare myself to him, and I could relate and frequently talk to him. I told him good luck as a dad for his wife had the baby in November. This class made me like to debate, because I was challenged by Lucas G. a lot. He is my good friend, and we would have good arguments. To expand on my classroom teaching, not only did I debate but I also learned techniques and various words associated with public speaking. It is often a priority for leaders to stand up and face their foes. By having this class I was able to hone my skills to speak in front of crowds. I also learned that many famous people like president Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. had the capability to speak in front of at least a crowd of 2,000 people. It was a great time in this class, and I was able to open up to people about my thoughts and beliefs. Sometime in the future, I want to advocate myself even more to people about various issues and topics that I find interesting.  I did a job well done earning my grade in this class. I have 3 and a half more years to go at CMU!

Connections Conference Reflections

I had a splashing good time at connections conference. I learned from 3 keynote speakers about how to become a better leader. I can’t recall their names, but their presentations I can vividly recall.

The first leadership speaker had a presentation on Harry Potter. It was about dumping out. Sometimes it’s good to talk to people who might be in the center of the situation, but you need to prioritize of what is okay to say and who it is okay to say it to.

The next one was about growing your garden. The speaker had a tree and it was about who you are and how you can connect with yourself.

The last one was about Disney and how you can make your dreams come true. It was about making yourself a good person. How you achieve anything if you go the distance.

Because of these speakers I questioned myself and asked how can I improve myself. What I did was exactly what they preached and so far it is working out for myself.

I enjoyed the waterpark, ice cream shop, and being with friends. I had the best experience ever. I wouldn’t want to forget a moment.