Leadership is a learned trait. I found this out through the course of this school year. Each event my class organized taught me something different about it. I used the following for my speech at our end-of-the-year leadership banquet, like a progressive journal that highlighted the year's events. On the floor of the gym were nine "X"'s. For each new event, I walked to the next "X," all while "Dare You to Move," by Switchfoot, played. Here were the events.
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
I met with my leadership class for the first time today. To be honest, I felt kind of alone being up there in front of the students. I have some really big shoes to fill. The students loved Mrs. Porta, and I know it won’t be an easy transition for them. Leadership, to me, means fear.
Friday, September 24th, 2010
The class held its first rally today. Without a doubt, it was stressful. I had the students meet for a rehearsal, and things didn’t go well at all. I felt like they weren’t listening to my instruction, and frankly, that they didn’t want to be there. I have to rethink what went wrong. Leadership, to me, means work.
Monday, October 25th, 2010
On Saturday, the class and I went to St. Mary’s Dining Hall to serve the homeless. I wasn’t sure what they would think of it, but they told me today that they loved it! I polled them, and this was the first time most of them had done something like this. It made me feel like they were able to see what it means to care genuinely about other people. Leadership, to me, means humility.
Friday, November 12th, 2010
Today, the kids and I served breakfast to the staff. I learned how giving people can be. A few of the parents bought the bagels, the fruit, the water, and most of the rest of what we needed. I was so grateful for all my students’ work and all of the parents’ help. There is no way any one of us could have done this alone. Leadership, to me, means generosity.
Friday, January 14th, 2011
We hosted the Mock Rock this evening. Some of my students had to deal with kids arguing with each other as those kids waited to take the stage and dance. I think the students learned that being responsible for someone is more about patience than it is about telling them what to do. Overall, it went really well, and I’m starting to see my students work as a unit. No one, tonight, acted as the star of the show. Instead, we acted together. Leadership, to me, means cooperation.
Monday, January 31st, 2011
Leadership organized a movie night for the school this evening. Of all the events, this was the most relaxing. We sold concessions while parents and kids sprawled out on blankets and lawn chairs to watch Despicable Me. The movie was a hit, so much so that one little girl got up to dance with the main character at the end of it. Some of the parents want us to organize another movie night soon. Leadership, to me, means reward.
Monday, February 16th, 2011
I think I'm going gray. This weekend just went bad. We hosted our second dance on Friday, and it seemed like nothing went right. The kids didn’t like the DJ, there wasn’t much energy to the dance, and Monday found us bickering about it. They were mad at me. I was mad at them. Leadership, to me, means perseverance.
Saturday, April 2nd, 2011
My students and I just got back from our leadership conference in San Jose. More than ever, they felt and acted like a team. Not once did they fight with each other, and there were very few discipline problems. I’m really proud of the way they handled themselves, except maybe for the balcony problem. They’ve also taken ownership of what they’ve learned, and they want to put lots of ideas into practice. Leadership, to me, means high standards.
Friday, May 20th, 2011
My leadership students organized our end-of-the-year banquet almost entirely on their own. They determined the order of events, gathered the supplies, and prepared the gym. I am truly proud of them for their dedication, their willingness to work, and their positive spirit. I feel like all of us have learned so much about leadership, above all that it’s never about one person. The leaders depend on their followers just as much as the followers depend on their leaders. Leadership, to me, is a song: it’s meant to be played with others in mind, and is valuable only so much that those listening dance to its tune. Leadership, to me, means service.
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
I met with my leadership class for the first time today. To be honest, I felt kind of alone being up there in front of the students. I have some really big shoes to fill. The students loved Mrs. Porta, and I know it won’t be an easy transition for them. Leadership, to me, means fear.
Friday, September 24th, 2010
The class held its first rally today. Without a doubt, it was stressful. I had the students meet for a rehearsal, and things didn’t go well at all. I felt like they weren’t listening to my instruction, and frankly, that they didn’t want to be there. I have to rethink what went wrong. Leadership, to me, means work.
Monday, October 25th, 2010
On Saturday, the class and I went to St. Mary’s Dining Hall to serve the homeless. I wasn’t sure what they would think of it, but they told me today that they loved it! I polled them, and this was the first time most of them had done something like this. It made me feel like they were able to see what it means to care genuinely about other people. Leadership, to me, means humility.
Friday, November 12th, 2010
Today, the kids and I served breakfast to the staff. I learned how giving people can be. A few of the parents bought the bagels, the fruit, the water, and most of the rest of what we needed. I was so grateful for all my students’ work and all of the parents’ help. There is no way any one of us could have done this alone. Leadership, to me, means generosity.
Friday, January 14th, 2011
We hosted the Mock Rock this evening. Some of my students had to deal with kids arguing with each other as those kids waited to take the stage and dance. I think the students learned that being responsible for someone is more about patience than it is about telling them what to do. Overall, it went really well, and I’m starting to see my students work as a unit. No one, tonight, acted as the star of the show. Instead, we acted together. Leadership, to me, means cooperation.
Monday, January 31st, 2011
Leadership organized a movie night for the school this evening. Of all the events, this was the most relaxing. We sold concessions while parents and kids sprawled out on blankets and lawn chairs to watch Despicable Me. The movie was a hit, so much so that one little girl got up to dance with the main character at the end of it. Some of the parents want us to organize another movie night soon. Leadership, to me, means reward.
Monday, February 16th, 2011
I think I'm going gray. This weekend just went bad. We hosted our second dance on Friday, and it seemed like nothing went right. The kids didn’t like the DJ, there wasn’t much energy to the dance, and Monday found us bickering about it. They were mad at me. I was mad at them. Leadership, to me, means perseverance.
Saturday, April 2nd, 2011
My students and I just got back from our leadership conference in San Jose. More than ever, they felt and acted like a team. Not once did they fight with each other, and there were very few discipline problems. I’m really proud of the way they handled themselves, except maybe for the balcony problem. They’ve also taken ownership of what they’ve learned, and they want to put lots of ideas into practice. Leadership, to me, means high standards.
Friday, May 20th, 2011
My leadership students organized our end-of-the-year banquet almost entirely on their own. They determined the order of events, gathered the supplies, and prepared the gym. I am truly proud of them for their dedication, their willingness to work, and their positive spirit. I feel like all of us have learned so much about leadership, above all that it’s never about one person. The leaders depend on their followers just as much as the followers depend on their leaders. Leadership, to me, is a song: it’s meant to be played with others in mind, and is valuable only so much that those listening dance to its tune. Leadership, to me, means service.
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