Three Semester Review
Leadership through the semesters
My idea and perspective on leadership is one of the things that has changed most so far during my time at the University of Maryland. When coming into college, I always thought leadership was focussed around who was the loudest, best and respected in what they were doing. This was mainly based on my experience with leaders within school sports and clubs. While these things may play into how good of a leader you are to some extent, it is so far from what makes one a great leader. Through my first three semesters I have learned so much about leadership and the factors that make someone each type of leader. There are so many different types of leaders, not just the ones that stand at the front of the room and direct people. Leadership and being a good leader is about being comfortable and able to help get the best out of someone in a specific role. Public Leadership and college in general has taught me so much about how to be a good leader and be impactful no matter where I am, whether that is in an organization I am part of, in my community, as an older brother or just as a friend.
My Style
One of the things I have learned while in Public Leadership is that I have an Authoritative leadership style. The way I lead is by showing people my vision and where I want to get as a group and helping people understand the common goals they should work on not for me, not for themselves, but for a group as a whole. Showing people my vision and why it benefits them, but also a group is one of my strengths and something I feel better than most. On top of that one thing that comes with being able to show people your vision is being a good communicator and having good social skills. Although not necessary, it definitely helps to be able to talk to people when it comes to being a good leader. Another strength is I am presentable and approachable. One of the leadership theories that is important to leadership and the way that I am a leader is relationship theories. The idea of communication between myself as a leader and followers is importance to success and something I do well. Another important part of my style is that I am hard working and show others that I am willing to get down and dirty with hard work. Leading by example is so important and one thing I do well.
What helped form me as a leader?
Position Paper
The Land of Opportunity: A country established for all
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Under the Obama administration in 2012, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was enacted through executive order. DACA allowed immigrants who fit certain guidelines to stay in the United States under a two year visa. With the Obama administration out of office, and the Trump administration in, the DACA future seems to be in doubt, leaving millions worried about what will come next. I believe there should be a program similar to DACA in the United States. The legislation should allow for all immigrants under the 22 who are getting an education, can prove they are working, or are in the military to stay within the United States borders for around five years. In addition, the program will allow parents of “DREAMers” to stay for a two to three year period as long as they too, can prove one of the three requirements for themselves. Lastly, the proposal would include an easier pathway to citizenship after those five years for those who have done well in their years under the program and would like to stay. A new program must be created for immigrants and the United States to receive mutual gain, to allow families to stay together, and to help children in their journey of life.
In the United States, immigrants are helping the economy, military, and society in a way that can’t be ignored. For example, in 2010 it was estimated that illegal immigrants contributed around 12 billion dollars in taxes [1]. In addition to this, around 530,000 military veterans today are immigrants and over 1.9 million veterans are children of immigrants [12]. People such as David Dobrik, a YouTuber with over 14.4 million subscribers, and Bambadjan Bamba, an actor in the Black Panther are DACA recipients. Without a program like DACA, too allow these people to contribute legally, we would have billions of dollars less in taxes, hundreds of thousands of more people needed for the military, and fewer influencers who inspire and empower people to do great things everyday. In order to prevent them from discontinuing their impact, I believe we need to make it easier for immigrants to transition into being a citizen of the States if deserved. Not only would this benefit the United States, but the immigrants as well.
The United States is one of the few countries that has great opportunities for people. The United States has 3,257 universities, 2,977 more than the place with the second most (The United Kingdom) [11]. In addition, the United States has the fifth most job opportunities in the world [10]. By allowing immigrants to come, we would give millions a place to prosper and grow. It is a concern of some that if select immigrants are given amnesty as long as they bring their children, many more will come. The new program would be structured like DACA. DACA allowed for 800,000 immigrants to stay legally, and this program would have a certain number too. This would prevent millions from coming to the States just because they potential of it being legal. In addition, some citizens fear that allowing so many immigrants into the country along with their kids, will lead to more crime and an unsafe country. Under programs such as DACA, applicants are reviewed and approval is only given to those who can prove they are not a threat to society. Of the 798,980 total approved members of DACA, only 7,814 had an arrest after their grant was approved and before they were issued for renewal [2]. That is .97% of all recipients. This idea is a common misconception and “A July 2015 report by the American Immigrant Council concluded that undocumented immigrants commit violent crimes at a far lower rate than native born Americans.” [1]. It is important to give as many qualified people possible, a place of opportunity with their families.
Within the new legislation, parents should be allowed to stay for at least two to three years with their children since children need their parents, economically and psychologically. A child needs their parent as their lives revolve around them. Between living arrangements and financial and social care from their caregivers, parents are extremely important in shaping a child [4]. In addition to this, the absence of adults in a child's life can cause psychological problems. As, “Children who are deprived of any of these things are prone to develop significant behavioral problems,” [8]. If we separate children from their parents, not only are they on their own when it comes to money and society, but also emotionally. A program that only protects children under the age of 16 at the time of their arrival, leaves children all alone if their parents are deported. With a new program that allows parents to stay up to two to three years, families could stay together and live in a place of opportunity. Children can’t be caring for themselves especially in the circumstance of being an immigrant.
In addition, people believe it will be easy to deport every illegal child immigrant within the United States borders in an efficient manner. When looking at the numbers, there are way to many illegal immigrants in the country to deport them all. Whether they are allowed to or not, people are going to be living in our country illegally so why not document them. Children are brought to the United States against their will and have to move and restart their lives all over again, if deported. There are 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States and 3.9 million illegal immigrants in our school’s from kindergarten to grade 12 [6]. If we were to deport all 3.9 million children we would see a mass case of how, “Youth who switch schools are more likely to demonstrate a wide array of negative behavioral and educational outcomes, including dropping out of high school.” [3]. The problems don’t occur only at the time of dropping out as dropouts are more likely to face problems later in life [3]. By moving kids from place to place, their chances of dropping out of school and having behavioral issues skyrocket. Immigrant children had no say in their parents decisions so they shouldn’t be penalized for them.
Immigration and opportunity are two of the bases that the United States was founded and developed upon. Without more legal immigrants, the country would lose a significant amount and potential immigrants would too. Whether it is legal or not, people are coming to the ‘Land of Opportunity’ so why not give those qualified a chance to create a life here, under a restructured program. DACA today must be refined in order to keep families together and to allow those who are well deserving the shot to live here for longer, and eventually gain citizenship in the place they've called home for years. These are people's lives and they deserve to have a chance, just like all of those who are grateful enough to live in this great country.
How it facilitated a change
This Paper that I wrote first semester freshman year was one of the first times I saw a major shift in the way I wanted to be a leader. When writing this paper I really put myself in the shoes of people that are a part of the DACA program and thought about the best way to help their situation while also balancing the needs of the country. By doing this I had a realization that with every single decision whether it is big or small, this obviously being big for these people, people's lives are affected and you must consider that as a leader. This may seem obvious but there are some tough decisions leaders have to make but at the end of the day you must put thought in and find a way to benefit the most people possible while also doing what is right. I recently had a very tough decision I had to make as a leader of an organization I am a part of and this played a direct role in what I was trying to decide. No matter what, everyone would not be left happy so I had to figure out the best way to lead while keeping the lives and feelings of everyone in my head. This Paper helped make this change and made me realize the tough wide spread decisions that are made as a leader and what goes into making those decisions.
Leadership Philosophy Paper
Midterm Leadership Paper
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Leadership by definition, is the act of leading a group of people or an organization. That definition gives a broad outline of what a leader is, but there is so much more that goes into leadership as a whole. There are leaders that are good at what they do. There are leaders that are bad at what they do. There are also leaders that may be good at what they do but bad at leading a certain group and vice versa. Being a leader means putting oneself in a position to impact people and have them follow their lead based on their ability to get the most out of others. There are numerous ways to do this, but I feel there are certain ways to better establish oneself a great leader for all. The best ways are by leading by example, exhibiting courage, and being self-aware, none of which are easy or are learned over night.
These three traits are ones that are shown and taught each day by the Washington Football Team’s Head Coach, Ron Rivera. Rivera is an experienced veteran in the NFL with eight years as a player under his belt and an additional 24 years of coaching. From being a Super Bowl XX champion, to being named coach of the year not once but twice, Rivera has been a great example for the league, and the world, of what a great leader looks like.
One of the most impactful ways to lead a group of people is by example. With a group of people, learning and doing one's best often comes after seeing someone lead by example and put in their best effort too. Rivera does this better than anyone in ways people can not imagine. To start off, Rivera was a player in the NFL for 8 years and won a Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears. In addition to this, Rivera is a very hard worker that is contagious throughout a locker room and teaches players why they should put in their highest effort. It has been said that Rivera focusses on every single individual player and their needs in order to get the most out of them and be the best leader he can be. Of course the main way he leads by example is by doing his work everyday without any complaints. Currently Ron Rivera is battling Pancreatic Cancer while never missing a beat. By doing it all, Rivera shows how actions speak louder than words. A great leader is able to express to others how to get the most out of them and leading by example is a great way to do that. Whether it is showing accomplishments of the past of which a group is trying to achieve now, or putting in a great deal of effort despite all hardships, people are more inclined, willing to trust, and take after someone who teaches with actions.
Courage is another trait a group of people desire in a leader and a trait that allows people to feel comfortable putting their trust in them. Being brave for a group when it comes to the unknown or worrisome situations, a leader shows what they do for others and how they will help. As I have stated before, Rivera is living and coaching while battling cancer. Even though that is as courageous as it gets, this is not the only thing that makes him that type of leader for all. Throughout the NFL’s history there has been a big issue of minorities in front office roles and today Rivera is one of only four minority coaches in the NFL. He has not let that slow him down like it has for others in the past, and is carving a pathway for others. Rivera has also taken up his current role of the Washington Football Team’s head coach, a position which many people have stayed away from in the past based on the failing history of coaches and what is said to be a toxic front office. Instead of letting these things turn him away, he has dove in head first as he wants to be the one to make the change and is not afraid of failure. A great leader shows others they are willing to take risks, whether those risks are for themselves or a group of people. It is not easy to do so, but when someone takes those steps it says a lot about who they are and people feel compelled to follow them and what they are working towards. With Rivera, he shows his team, minorities, and other coaches how brave he is and what he is willing to do for a group of people. This allows them to put their trust in him and give him their best effort.
Being self-aware is such an important part of being an impactful leader and a great one too. When one is self-aware, it allows people to see the honesty and self composure one has and exhibiting those traits goes a long way. When something negative happens, Rivera has proven to be one of the first to admit when he has done something wrong and has established a precedent that when it comes down to it, he is the coach, he is the leader, and it comes down to him. He also is aware that his responsibility is to win the Super Bowl and anything short of that is not good enough. When asked about why he was brought to Washington he said “The only reason you become a head coach in this league, in my opinion, is to win.” He was explaining he understands that if they don't win he will be without a job. In addition, Rivera knows he is not the exciting, flashy, hot shot coach that teams are seeing in the NFL today. Rivera knows his place and does what he believes will win his team a championship and does not cross that line based on what others think. Being self-aware is a trait that a lot of individuals do not have. However, when a leader shows they are, it goes a long way and allows people to see the truth and vulnerability that can be compelling to follow.
For myself personally, these are all traits I would like to emulate to become the best leader possible. Leading by example, having courage, and being self-aware all tie together with one another and allow people to see why they are good leaders. I believe the main reason why these are all important, and the reason why I would like to develop them further is the same reason why Ron Rivera has been so successful. These three traits are those that allow you to gain the respect of others. Respect is an overarching theme of leadership that all good leaders have but when you break it down, it is the traits that one exhibits that earn respect. Leading by example is something that shows you are willing to do the dirty work with the rest of the group. Being courageous can show you are putting others first for the good of them, whether that means putting yourself at fault. Being self-aware shows you know your place and can admit to being human like everyone else no matter your role. Someone who can emulate all three is someone that has respect and is most certainly a great leader one way or another.
How it facilitated a change
This assignment is one that had a major impact on the way I wanted to lead and be seen as a leader. While I had an idea at first, when I got the prompt I really dug deep and decided to look at who I thought was a great leader and then figure out why. I am a big sports fan and love the way leaders on a field are able to have an impact on others and thats how I came across Ron Rivera. I was able to realize why Ron rivera was such a great leader and felt that all that he does as a leader are thing I love to see in a leader and feel I could work on and make myself a great leader. Courage, awareness, and leading by example are all things I have worked on greatly since writing this paper because I realized the importance and respect you can gain through those three traits. I learned how important respect can be and that it makes it a lot easier as a leader to be well respected. This makes people want to work towards the goals you have set based on the compassion you have from others and the support they have for you and your ideals.
Service Learning Assignment
TERPS AGAINST HUNGER
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What is the mission of the organization? What are they trying to accomplish?
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Terps Against Hunger is a student run organization here at the University of Maryland. Terps Against Hunger strives to reduce and eventually eliminate food insecurity in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area. Within their mission, they have three main goals they try to accomplish as an organization. The first is to fight hunger in our area. The second is to educate others about the issues surrounding hunger specifically around us and how to prevent it. The third is to empower students to become leaders. Terps against hunger want to of course reduce hunger in our area but doing it through the students on our campus to make sure people get involved and learn about problems such as hunger.
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What are their activities? Do their activities support the mission? How did they decide that these activities are the best way to address community problems?
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The activities that Terps Against Hunger has are ones that help package meals for people who are in need. This is the event that I volunteered at. At the event, volunteers package four ingredients (Rice, for nutrition, Soy, for protein, Vitamins and Minerals, for necessary nutrients, and Dehydrated Vegetables, for nutrients and a good taste) into a plastic bag and seal them closed. Those bags are placed neatly in a bin and are then ready to be checked and eventually brought to those in need. Their activities do support their mission because by packaging food for people in need, we were actively fighting hunger and creating packages of food for those who need it the most. The organization knew this would be the best way to address the problem because they are able to get a mass amount of people to come in and produce packages of food for those in need. TAH has over 15,000 volunteers and counting who have made over 2,900,000 packages. With that amount of people willing to donate time, the impact on hunger could not be as big in any other way.
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Is there any evidence, either on their website or in annual reports, of their outputs or outcomes? If yes, please paste the link or attach a document indicating results/testimonials etc. If you can't find anything, interview someone who works at the organization and ask them, "how do you know you are making a difference?" Report on what you find out.
On their website they do in fact have reports about their outputs. Although they are not organized by every year, it does give an overview of their accomplishments. In 2019 alone, Terps Against Hunger has packed 378,258 meals. Since the establishment of the organization, TAH has packed 2,941,892 meals and has had 16,070 volunteers. It is obvious that Terps Against Hunger is making a difference as they not only have worked toward the goal of eliminating hunger by producing almost three million meals but also by empowering so many volunteers, a majority who are students, to make a difference and get involved.
https://www.terpsagainsthunger.com/
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Describe briefly how your time was spent (one paragraph maximum). Do you feel it made an impact? If yes, what? If no, why?
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At the Terps Against Hunger volunteering event, my time was spent doing two main activities. I started off by doing the manual labor, pouring ingredients into large buckets for people to package them. After that, I moved to the packaging itself, pouring all of the ingredients in a funnel which drained into a plastic bag which was eventually closed by one of the TAH workers. I feel I made an impact while at the event. When done with my three hour shift, I looked at a stack of plastic bags and how large it was. When thinking about the stack of empty bags, I realized there were about 100 in each stack and I had gone through 3 stacks all by myself. When thinking about it like that, I put together around 300 meals for people in need. Between all of the other volunteers and myself, we all made a major impact.
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If applicable, describe the people you met, including both staff and clients. What did you learn from/about them?
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During my time volunteering, I met three groups of people who really stood out to me. First off, I met the baseball team who was there donating their time to help the cause. It was really awesome to see a sports team here at Maryland donating their time to an organization like this because a lot of people look up to them so if they do it, maybe other people will too. In addition they are very busy with class and practice but the fact that they can give time shows anyone can. The second group was a group of students with special needs who were at the table next to me. It was very eye-opening to see this group volunteering because they showed they are the same as everyone else who is working toward a common goal and to prevent a major problem. It is so cool to see everyone be able to work together no matter our differences. Lastly, when moving the ingredients around at the beginning, two little boys were with me trying to help out. Although they weren’t the best fit for this task, it was their passion and desire to help that made me happy and realize how important it is to be volunteering. If they were willing to do it at a young age then why couldn’t everyone be doing it now.
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What are your impressions of the organization?
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Terps Against Hunger is a great organization especially on a university campus. The way TAH goes about their mission is very inspiring and they do a great job to work toward their goals. While of course they want to prevent hunger, they want to also inspire students to become leaders and be informed about the food insecurity issue which isn’t something you see with every organization. TAH does a great job of getting people to come volunteer which was another sign to me that they were a great group. No matter what hour it was in my shift, people were coming and going and there was never an absolute need for more volunteers. TAH is able to inspire thousands of people while helping millions get a meal to eat at the same time.
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Would you recommend this site to other PL volunteers? Why or why not?
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I would 100% recommend this site to other PL volunteers. I love how they inspired me to volunteer for my community while also educating us on the issues of food insecurity in our area. I loved that this incredible opportunity was on our campus and so easily accessible. I will definitely tell my friends about this organization because everyone loves to volunteer and it is even better when you are having fun too!
How it facilitated a change
The biggest thing I learned from this assignment in my opinion was how to lead by example. This is something I like to pride myself on because I feel it is the best way to show others what something means to you and why they should also make it a top priority for themselves. What I learned when participating in the community service was that anyone can do something in that nature but it is about who actually does it. When I was there like I said I saw groups such as the baseball team, a group of special needs students, families of all ages. This made me gain the respect of all of those groups because they were showing what it means to give back to the community by leading by example. A great leader is one that can show people their vision and what they want and those three groups made me realize the importance of giving back since they were all able to do it and were prioritizing being there. Whether it was by donating time or working hard in a specific situation, I knew from that day on how important it is to show others how hard you are willing to want and it will make you a much better leader.
How I can take what I've learned and apply it to my life
When it comes to how I can apply what I have learned in Public Leadership, I think it is more about how I can continue to apply what I have learned, not just begin it. I have learned so many great skills and information about leadership and what makes someone a great leader. I have used what I have learned in a great deal of decisions that I have made within one of my organizations that I am on the executive board for. The main ways I have used what I have learned was seeing different sides and be willing to understand and listen to others but also leading by example. One major time I have used what I learned was determining who would be on a committee that my position has to put together. While it may seem like a great responsibility to have, I had to decide which of my friends would be working with me and which I would have to explain would not be a part of it. This was one of the toughest things I had to do but all of the skills I learned in public leadership helped me figure out what was not best for me but for the group as a whole. I think that not ending what I have been learning for the last three semester is a major thing too continue my growth as a leader. Whether that is through TED Talks, seminars, workshops or just experience. I have already part-took in workshops and don't plan to stop. I have took the skills I have learned and wrote about and began to use them within my leadership roles that I have in my organizations that I take part in. I have exhibited these skills when it comes to things such as making T-shirts, planning events and just leading conversations that need to be had. I think I can apply stepping out of my comfort zone within my work life. Between this summer when I will get my first internship to when I graduate and will need to get my first job, stepping out of my comfort zone and seeing others perspectives is something I learned a lot about freshman year in our policy class and feel can help me a lot to figure out what I want to do in life and at the same time be a leader within any role.