LEAD team

My LEAD team was amazing this year. We put on some great events for the LAS community. The official title of my team is Special Events. What we did was we put on minute to win it, LAS on Ice, and the Detroit Tigers game in the summer. Our leader was Kaitlyn Cox. She was the head chairmen for our group. Her work helped put together our program. Our meetings were held on Monday nights usually around 8:00pm down in the conference room of Barnes.

Minute to win it was our first event that we all helped with. Every Monday in the fall we would brainstorm ideas of what games ad activates we wanted to put on for the event. Then when we got all that done we would make flyers and a promotional video. I was apart of that video and it was awesome. Finally, we made sure to pay for all the materials and make sure to promote to the entire LAS group. Unfortunately, on the day of the competition another event at the Towers trumped our event and a majority of people went to the event. I believe it was a magician who did illusions. Anyway, the remaining people who could come had a blast and everything was worth while.

The next event was LAS on Ice which is a tradition ice skate event. However, new to this year is that we promoted to leadership safari participates. Again, we made sure to book the ice rank, make flyers and a video, and we also promoted to everyone involved in any type of leadership activity. On the day of we had a line from the beginning to the entrance. We were able to raise a ton of money from this event. Also, we had money left over which goes directly into our funding for future programs. I had a lot of fun and skated with my friends.

Finally, we wrapped up the year with making the Detroit Tigers game event. I believe Kaitlyn Cox had organized it and all, for we didn’t meet after February. I think it will be awesome and it will be a great way to get people pumped for next year at CMU. What I took away from this was that it takes a lot of hard work to get events planned. It doesn’t take just one person, but it takes a whole group to make events possible. What I wanted our of this experience was a chance to make an event people would appreciate and which they did. What I plan to do now is I will still keep being involved with attending events, and I will be able to make future events later in my life. I loved being on this LEAD team and I hope future LAS students will too!

Mentor Reflection

At first I was afraid, but then I got by with a little help from my friend Hannah Bastian. She isn’t your typical student at Central Michigan University, for she was chosen to become part of a contingent for the Leadership Institutes LAS program. The Leadership Institute seeks out 50-60 new members each academic year out of 2,000 applicants who applied. The process involves filling out an application sheet that lists involvements and other extra curricular activates that a student has done along with two recommendation letters from one teacher and one outside source. The next step is being picked among the remaining 80 students who received an invitation for competition day. Here at this point interviews are made as well as measuring performance levels among competitors. Finally, the last step is waiting for the call. This happens a week later, and thus determining if you are in or not. Luckily, Hannah Bastian was chosen and I was too.

Hannah Bastian is from Clinton, Michigan, and she is currently a sophomore and soon to be a junior next academic year. Her time in LAS has given her an opportunity to grow and support all people. She went Greek in her Freshman year and was chosen to be in Alpha Chi Omega. Her sorority deals with women’s health and lifestyle. They raise money, promote fundraisers for women, and make a good name for their organization. She is also going to Central Michigan University to get a secondary education in English. At the end of her freshman year the mentee draft was in full swing. She wanted her mentee to have a better time, better relationship, and better opportunity in LAS than she did with her own. She told me that our family tree is blended and is beautiful, for she was adopted by everyone. I love this reasoning to why we got a big family tree. When it came time for her to choose she was happy with anyone and chose me. I love it.

Since then Hannah Bastian isn’t just my mentor, but is a friend whom I can look up to and get the chance to talk to. During our time at Eagle village I made it a goal to make sure that Hannah got what she deserved and that was to spend time on the high ropes course. She loved it and it made me really happy that we can work together and bring each other to a smile. Also, before the trip she got me coffee and a bag of goodies. I proudly display the painting she made me above where I sleep. It says “Carpe Diem”. I have no clue how she knew it was my favorite saying, but I say I am blessed. After the trip, we kept in touch and we went out to dinner at the café. It was neato to have someone to eat with. I made sure to always ask questions and listen to her stories. It is with proud honor to know that she is chief at Camp Timbers. This is a great honor for her and I am happy to have someone dedicated to helping kids. Whenever I need her she is always there. When I am having trouble she understands. The compassion and the lengths she goes for me are phenomenal. I want to say she deserves just the same.

Soon my mentor will be a “G” which is like a grandparent to my mentee. I know Hannah will love her. I know I will have an awesome time with her as I show her the ropes that mentor showed me. I hope that Hannah Bastian knows that I could never top her, but I will let her know that I will make her proud. What I am to do now is to keep a good smile on my face and get ready to mentor my own. This LAS program protocol to mentor a mentee during their freshman year sounds cool and looks cool. I am no skilled mentor, but I believe I will make my little mentee strive for greatness. It’s not about me anymore, but what I can do for them. I can go the distance, and I will carpe the heck out of my diem next year. THIS IS FOR YOU HANNAH BASTIAN! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!

LAS in the D reflection

In early February, my LAS cohort took a trip to Detroit. This was my first time ever being in the city of Detroit. It was not at all like everyone said it was like. They mentioned violence on the streets, run down buildings, many homeless people on the streets. Perhaps they were right 5 years ago, but the city of Detroit now is a marvel. Beginning of our trip we went to Jalen Rose Leadership Academy. My group facilitated 5 students who were motivated to do our fun activities. Some of the games included mine field, eagles nest, and who’s bringing what to the picnic.

After our see you laters we went to the Quicken Loans building. I felt immersed in a futuristic city than what I expected in downtown Detroit. At Quicken Loans we had pizza, pop, and salad. Then after dinner we got a debrief with the vice president of Quicken Loans. He explained that Quicken Loans has donated countless hours and charitable dollars to the city of Detroit. Afterwards, we got an extensive tour of the building. We departed that night to the Detroit Institute of Arts. I was by myself for the length of the trip, but I didn’t mind. I wanted to be alone and take this time to reflect and look at various paintings. The final part of the trip of the night was we went to the Outdoor Action Center near the river overlooking Caesars Palace which turns out to be Canada. What I learned about this Action center is that it used to be a run down building that overlooked a garbage pile along the river bank of Detroit. In the morning, we went to the Cass Community Social Services, and this was not at all like I was expecting. I was expecting a place where people slept, but it was a place that people came to and help make food for the homeless, earn money for the center, make products, and gave people a second chance. The last length of the trip was going to Great Lakes Crossing and home.

What I learned in this trip was that Detroit isn’t what people made it out to be. It wasn’t in ruins nor did I see the mayhem people told me about. Detroit is coming back as a productive city. What surprised me was that Detroit wasn’t crowded with people on the streets. Everyone had places to be and there wasn’t a congested time that it became overcrowded with people. Thus, this made me realize that people had jobs and a life in Detroit. What made me happy was that Quicken Loans is offering to help clean up this society. This random act of kindness is also seen at the Cass Community building. Their organization too is giving people second chances and offering anything they can to help their city.

At the Detroit Institute of Arts, I was able to get help from volunteer workers. I had no idea that people would give their time to support their local art museum especially in Detroit. It was amazing to talk to the Detroit volunteers and ask them what makes their city great. They responded that it’s because of local shelters and businesses taking the time to take care of the city. One mans reason for volunteering was to give back to his local community in someway. I started to think also how the leadership academy kids are going to do when they lend a hand. That this is their home and they are lucky, and the best way to show appreciation is by also volunteering their time to their community.

What I might do in the future as a leader is becoming more involved in the development of Michigan. I should take pride in my state and what better way of doing it is getting involved in my neighboring counties business. Another thing I should do is promote issues happening today. As of today Flint still needs help. The bests things I can do as a neighboring city is send a care packages and a PSA from time to time of important things my state needs from me. I would love to keep up to date on issues locally too.

As a leader I need to be able to adapt to my surroundings. Perhaps, I need to take it easier and slower, for anything can happen. There are key times that are fixed, but other times I need to go with the flow of what is currently happening to me instead of panicking. The numerous opportunities to better myself should not go unmissed. I should fact check certain current events, and I should tell others too.

What specific leadership skills Detroit needs right now are people who can listen, people who can serve, and people who can guide others in helping with the progression of the city. Leadership isn’t necessarily found in qualified leaders but in random acts of kindness. I think the development of the city can be made first by its own people. Then after start to attract more people in a great cause. By listening to the people volunteers can suit their needs, by serving the community it lessens the burden on some,  and with the guidance of others Detroit can become a popular city again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mystery Reflection

Leadership comes from a no. Yes, you read it correctly. I didn’t mean to put a yes. I did put the two letter word. I want to more outside the box when formulating a response to this question.

My personal thought is that if everything in the world worked perfectly then we don’t need leadership. However, today I am the leader, but I am the leader for some people said, “No”. I took the initiative to direct and guide others not because I said yes, but because others said “no”. I wanted to help others, because others lead them away with a “No”. This concept is far-fetched.

A person who seeks change is more often than not told no, and then once they find that certain someone then they will be hearing a yes. Not everyone can achieve greatness without failing. It’s okay to fail and be lead a stray. However, if you earnestly believe in something or someone there is a good chance you will bounce back.

George Washington our great leader in charge of the American Army in fact loss plenty of battles within the first 3 years. He probably heard many people tell him he couldn’t do it. However, with his earnest belief for a country of independence he led the Americans to victory. It takes time to build the momentum of a leader. It will take criticism and distrust. However, the leader will be victories when they stick to their beliefs and make themselves stronger.

Failure is an option. It will be an option, but don’t let failure turn into neglect. If you keep working at the leadership skills you have then you will do wonders. Still to this day I go to seminars about leadership, participate in leadership games, and provide trainings about leadership. Every time I do one of these things I grow in small ways that will leave a lasting impact.

 

 

Spark Leadership Experience

I went to Spark leadership experience early in the fall, so I can get information on spark leadership early. It was great! It opened up with Dan Gaken taking about how Al Capone’s son become a better person even though the family name is tarnished as gangsters. I was proceeded to go into groups. These groups identified me as an optimistic. Then we went to rooms with games and activities. I remember helping Madison Mariles through a room filled with mouse traps, and I was in another room filled with people who spoke different languages. It was a neat experience and all of them had the same theme of leadership. Helping others will come along way.

Mentor/Mentee Retreat Reflection

Hannah Bastian is an amazing mentor. Without her the high ropes course would of been difficult. She made me happy , for she accepted me without knowing me at all. I am currently crying as I write this, because Hannah makes my day. We talked all the way to the cabins and we did a canoe trip down a river in Hersey Michigan. During this canoe trip it started to rain, and we had to abandon canoe. I was happy none the less. It was grand. What I learned from this was everyone is chill. I got to talk to all the sophomores and freshmen. We all slept in the main lobby area. It was discomforting on my body, but in my heart I cherished every moment.

Leadership Safari Reflection

I loved Leadership Safari, for it was my first inside look at CMU. It was August 20th, 2016 and I arrived around 1:00pm. My family and I got my room all set up, and I felt very cozy. It was a good day. I talked to some neighbors and made new friends. That same day I was split into my animal group of Iguanas. My leader was Owen Wood and he was rad. The one event that we did that stood out the most was learning about hunger. It was ghastly knowing how many people benefit from hand outs in Mt. Pleasant. What I will do in the future is try to be involved with humane society projects.This was an amazing experience as we celebrated leadership safari’s 20th anniversary.