Never the End, but rather the Beginning again

Hi fellow ELPers!

When I first thought about taking this class over a quarter ago, I had a few hesitations. Some people I had talked to that had taken this class fall quarter were not too fond of it, and I was nervous about what taking twenty units would do to my social life and sleep levels. Even after enrolling, people would ask me how many classes I was taking this quarter and when I would respond with "Six!" they would tell me I was nuts. But I knew I wanted to take this class because it embodied exactly what I wanted to get out of Santa Clara, a small unusual learning environment, surrounded by people who wanted to make a difference, both at SCU and also in an even bigger context.

And what do you know, but dreams can come true! This class was everything I had hoped for and more. Each one of you surprised me with your depth (especially as freshies, we can all still put a mask sometimes) and your motivation. Many times I think to myself (maybe slightly selfishly) that I am the one who is trying and organzing more than others. But being around such hard-working people made me feel like I wasn't doing enough, and thank you for that. I would take twenty units over again in a heartbeat.

I think my favorite part of the class was blogging and reading everyone else's blogs. Blogging because it forced me to look inward, at what makes me tick, what I value, and who I want to be. This was wonderful; I often think people don't look inward enough in our fast-paced world. And reading everyone else's blogs was also an incredibly special opportunity because it is not often that you can look into the mind of another, and see their thoughts, delights, and fears. Some of you were an inspiration with the way you explored yourselves.

What I look forward to growing in leadership development is meeting people who will make me question what I believe. I think it will polarize me in one way or another, making my beliefs on the subject stronger, or changing them, but I do want to be questioned and to explore how I think and feel. I think leadership is the perfect opportunity to do this because as we saw in the SCM, change is a main focus. I want to meet diverse people who will introduce me to their way of thinking, and to see how I react.
Additionally, I would like to grow to be a leader who can take on any challenge but also understands that sometimes they must say "no." It is truly an art to allocate your time in the most efficient way, and still be happy with what you do, and I hope to be someone who can do that.

Thanks everyone for an amazing quarter and good luck with future endeavors!
Finally, a shout out to our vivacious "practitioners" and buddies, Lori and Casey!! The class wouldn't have been the same without you!


And now I leave you with one of my favorite Harry Potter quotes, kinda in response to whether heroes are both or made.

The Opportunity Cost of Life, "What If?"

Webster's Dictionary defines opportunity cost as:

 "the added cost of using resources (as for production or speculative investment) that is the difference between the actual value resulting from such use and that of an alternative (as another use of the same resources or an investment of equal risk but greater return)"

Now this is a very economic-y definition of something we experience literally every day of our lives. And, what it means in laymen's terms is that opportunity cost is what you give up to do something else. It happens all the time. We give up eating a pizza to eat salad because of the added calories. We give up time spent with friends to hang out with our significant other. We give up money we could use on clothes or other activities away to save up for a big trip. All these decisions come to varying extremes, but opportunity cost in present in every decision we make.
And I am obsessed with it.

Everyone has a drug of choice in some way or another. For some people it's gambling, for others it's food, and even unfortunately for some it is drugs. For me, I constantly think of what I could be doing. Even when I am enjoying something completely I am always comtemplating if my time could be better spent or if I should be doing other things, or even what I'm going to do next. Many times it can be good for insight and planning in my life. I pride myself on being a practical person and I think some of it comes from being able to completely understand what benefits I will be able to get from a decision. It definitely has helped me look at a bigger picture too when thinking about what I want to accomplish in life and my goals.
But...
It also keeps me from totally enjoying the moment. Thinking about what I could be doing makes me totally stressed all the time. This doesn't mean that I'm not happy, or don't enjoy the things I'm doing, quite normally I do. But, for example, many times when I'm with someone I'm dating I think shouldn't I be out exploring the world and meeting hundreds of new people, instead of being on this date!?!?! Come on Christine, like you always tell every one else, you only get one chance on life!!! You need to go explore and create and find yourself! and then therefore I don't really enjoy the date.
It also makes me incredible indecisive when it comes to big decisions because I look so hard at the benefits of both options, that they both sound good and then I can't choose!


Leaders too I think have to re-learn how to handle this all the time, because each situation is different and so therefore the opportunity cost will be. Whether it be an ethical dilema or forsaking a few years of income to get a Masters' degree.

Obviously, I recognize this is something that I struggle with, and am trying to correct it. But it is hard to not think that you can always be doing something better with your time.

Thank you for reading ELPers! Hopefully you guys know that this wasn't a call for a mini violin while I have a pity party. I've really enjoyed getting to know each one of you through class and your blogs. You all are so special and have shared quite a lot. This is a challenge that I face in life and wanted well educated opinions. Goodluck with Week Ten everyone!!

Game Show Host! Tuckman's Stages of Group Development

Who wants to win a million dollars!?!?
Well unfortunately, ELP is one of my favorite classes this quarter, but I don't think even they offer a million dollars. Welcome to the game anyways!

The clip from "Remember the Titans" I think best describes Tuckerman's second stage of group development. From the clip, it is obvious that the players know each other, but they don't agree with one another's views. Specifically, race is the dividing factor. From the worksheet I think suppressed tension breaking is the conflict between the two players. Each has been holding back things that irritate them and they are at the, "Hey! I've got something to say point." The interaction between the two boys is definitely a storm at its height.

Next up, the video clip from "Coach Charter" is in my opinion the third stage, or "Norming" where the group has the feeling of, "We're all in this together!" There is conflict between the coach and the player who can't quite complete the workout, and is therefore punished. In this instance, it is the leader of the team or the coach who is too harsh on one of his players. His teammate (Channing Tatum) stands up for him and epitomizes the characteristics by helping the other player do the workout. The sense of commitment to one another shows the "cohesion of shared goals" and "acceptance of diverse people" that the team experiences.

Then, for the fourth stage of group development or "Performing," "Finding Nemo" seems to have it in the bag (get it?). It can be seen through the quick thinking and decision making ability on the part of the older fish and the rest of the fish crew in the tank when they need to save Nemo. If they had been in any of the other stages of development they wouldn't have been nearly as effective in their performance, because they would still be developing to what appears to be fluid cohesiveness. The creativity of launching the older fish out of the tank would only be accomplished by a group who knows and trusts each other.

Finally, Genie and Aladdin have the fifth stage of development: Adjourning. This was clearer because it was the end of the movie and the end of a team, just like this last stage. What doesn't appear though, is the negativity that the worksheet predicts. The two part ways eager to see each other again. It does leave the viewer with the thought of "Now, what?" which is the characteristic of this stage of development, and Disney gives you free range of imagination on this one.


Now for the one that was missing, Stage One: Forming!

Traditionally, I'm not an enormous fan of High School Musical, but this song "Stick to the Status Quo" really hits the nail on the head when it comes to "self-orientation" and "exploration and discovery of how to interact with one another as a group." We can see that high school is the group they are in, and with the arrival of a new group member, everyone starts to really try to find their place, the main characteristic of "forming." In the song, students reveal secrets that incite excitement and optimism and a little against the norm as well.

Let's Talk!

How do I talk to you, and have you talk to me? How do I communicate? Does it matter if it's a group of people or just you and I?

The answer to that last question in my book is most definitely! The difference between a group and a single person are how can you combine a group of people and their feelings and how do you talk to an individual with singular feelings.
When I'm talking to an individual I really try to make them feel as comfortable as possible and so my way of communicating is usually catered to who they appear to be as a person, like gregarious or quiet, guarded or open. Sometimes I look at myself think it might be "flip-flop-y" but really I just think everyone has a unique story to tell and by communicating to different people differently you allow them to feel secure and therefore tell more of their story. So with a person who is an obviously loud open person I expect a lot of talking on their part with little prompting on mine. But for someone who seems more guarded, it might take more questions to discuss something.
When looking at a group their is a big difference in communicating. Because their are so many thoughts and words flying around you really need to be a more vocal person to have your voice heard. And then to lead that group, I think you need to be obviously passionate in your way of speaking to make all those people follow your idea.
What's interesting about communication is that as humans we do it so many different ways. Through actions as well as words. A single, well-placed hug can mean as much as a years worth of "Thank You" cards. And who can say that they talk to their grandparents or baby cousins the same way they talk to their close friends in college.
Communication is as unique as the person who's wielding it, and appears in just as many forms.

This i Believe

http://thisibelieve.org/essay/21253/

This essay from the "this i believe" website is written by a man who grew up in the projects named Frank X. Walker.
When I first started looking around the "Believe" website I didn't quite know what I wanted to find/ read. This is a reoccuring theme in my life. I often feel that there are a million different paths and directions that I can choose from, but don't know which would be right for me. Frankly, I'd like to try them all, but as we undergrads well know there are never enough hours in the day.
So I started in by clicking on "browsing by theme." There were many that caught my eye and I sorta checked them out, but then I saw the one labeled "purpose." I mean Perfect!! since I'm always looking for a little direction in life.
This man's story revolves around the idea that we are all creative, not just the "painters, artists, and sculptors." This to me was eye-opening. I often label myself as not creative at all because I'm not artistically nor musically talented. I settle myself for the practicality aspect of whatever I'm doing and leave the creativity for those with freer-minds. But what Walker writes is that he believes there is creativity in our everyday aspects. Because we are all different human beings, each one of us is creative. What a wonderful celebration of diversity at it's root level, and especially so, based off of last week's class.





I believe in Responsibility.

LIFTERS AND LEANERS

There are just two kinds of people on earth today,
Just two kinds of people, no more, I say.
Not the rich and the poor, for to count a man’s wealth
You must first know the state of his conscience and health.
Not the humble and proud, for, in life’s little span,
Who puts on airs is not counted a man.
Not the happy and sad, for the swift counting years
Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.
No, the two kinds of people on earth I mean
Are the people who lift and the people who lean.
Wherever you go you will find the world’s masses
Are always divided in just these two classes.
And oddly enough you will find, too, I ween,
There’s only one lifter to twenty who lean.
In which class are you? Are you easing the load
Of overtaxed lifters who toil down the road?
Or are you a leaner who lets others bear
Your portion of labour and worry and care?

- Ella Wheeler Wilcox -

My dad first read this poem to my brother and I when we were just starting to realize ourselves and our actions (I'd say about 10 and 12). He said that this was a poem his father had read to him when he was young and wanted us to know it. Eric (my brother) and I would always dread when he would whip this poem out at the dinner table because we knew it came with a lecture, all be it a gentle one, following the reading of the poem.
However, where I stand now, I think responsibility is one of my core values.  I believe in responsibility for yourself and actions and how they will affect your life and the lives of others around you. I believe that if you are able to work you have a responsibility to do so and not be a drag on society. I believe that you have a responsibility to be a "lifter."
What does responsibility mean? As defined by Webster's Dictionary "responsibility" means that you are liable to be called on to answer for an action. What I interpret this to mean is that you have an obligation to understand what your actions will mean for others and if they will be an improvement on the world around you. I think one has a responsibility to family, work, and integrity, with many other things in between.
My first encounter with responsibility came in school (mundane example,but it played a big role in my life), I always knew I wanted good grades because I wanted to be able to go to a good university. My actions in school would have a direct correlation to where my future was headed.

My most recent example of responsibility was seen in the classroom with you, my fellow ELPers. When standing in that line, and understanding what those who had been hurt by differences and stereotypes had to say, I realized that this was another instance of responsibility. Negative phrases are said everyday and have an obviously hurting effect on others. Although we might not have recognized it, now from this class we have been educated and I believe that we have the responsibility to rectify our actions.

I believe that you must own up for your actions, no matter their size. I believe that we must strive to improve our world, not just throw it away. I believe that we must be conscientious of ourselves because we must be aware of the effects we have on others. I believe that we are responsible.

What path to pick?

I like to be contrarian. Now, most times we laugh at people who say this, because while it can be frustrating, it makes for an endearing person. But what I think it really means is that I take pleasure in being the opposite of stereotypes, the challenge of proving that to someone else (epitome of exroversion) excites me. Now normally this is all fine and dandy and makes for some spirited banter, but in one scene of my life it took a toll: picking a college.

The Setup:
I applied to 16 schools and got into 12. There were schools out of state and schools in state, both private and UCs. And there was Santa Clara University. For some background, I am a third generation Santa Clara attendee. First, my grandfather, then my mom, his daughter, and now me. And I should also mention that my aunt and uncle went here and all of my mom's friends, who are our close family friends went here. Therefore, I have been raised white and red since day one, both through the forceful influence of my grandfather who thinks that there is no better school (think traditional, all family goes here, etc.). And also through the much subtler influences of hearing the fabulous stories from their time here and seeing their wonderful friendships.

The What:
So when the time finally came to pick a school I was at a loss of where to go. This may not seem like the biggest challenge but I had been dreaming of college because of my mom since day one. To me this would be it, I was going to make these the best four years of my life no matter what. But where to go? I felt like this decision would define my life because it seemed like it had my mom's (one of the people I admire the most) and everyone else around me. I got in to UCLA and UC Berkeley and those were at the top of my choice list, along with the ever-present Santa Clara. And it's not that I didn't want to come to SC, even back then I think I knew I did, it was more that I didn't want to be or have people think that I was being just like everyone else in my family. I like to be slightly rebellious and do things my own way, it makes me feel individualistic. So going to the same school was about as far from that ideal as I could get. I've always really liked the quote, "If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room." And I would be taking up a ton of room choosing the school everyone in my family had gone to. Plus factoring the opportunity cost of giving up an education at UCLA and UC Berkeley was tough.



The So What: 
The reason this decision matter more to me than most was because in my world college was it. I would be 18, and out of the house, and beginning to live a life away from my parents. This decision would be the first one of my own and make an enormous impact, and to be honest it was scary. Growing up with all the wonderful and sometimes stupid stories of my grandfather, mom, and friends I wanted to have the same exciting experience more than anything. But at the same time I wanted to be my own person, and make my own life, not copy someone else's. I felt like I was uninteresting and someone who couldn't make their own unique choices so I would just follow in the footsteps of everyone else.

The Now What: 
When push came to shove in the 11th hour I realized that Santa Clara is an incredible school and just because my family had come here it shouldn't stop me. I am my own person even if we attended the same school. Sure some of the experiences will be the same, but I am not. I will meet different people and make different and just as exciting everyday choices. Plus, looking back and laughing at myself, my dad attended UC Berkeley for a masters degree, so even if I had chosen to go their I would have still been in the family tradition of sorts. I realized that just because I like the same things as my family doesn't make me boring. In fact I am now proud to be at such an amazing school with such a vivacious and driven student body, SCU is the best place for me and I love everything about it. Just take a look at my URL for this blog, "happilyabronco.blogspot.com." Santa Clara was the best decision I ever made.  It just took me a while to get here...



“Why do we have to listen to our hearts?” “Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure.”” – Paulo Coelho

Open Happiness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceTBF1Hik5I

When we think of security cameras we always think of the usual negative acts that they videotape: stealing, pickpocketing, and violence. But what about the positive things that people do that never seem to be brought up? I love this video because it shows the little good things in life that people are rarely recognized for. It also turns those negative words into happy oxymorons, such as "honest pickpocket," and "stealing kisses." It shows values for both integrity and a force for good.

This video relates to me because this is how I would like to live my life, by making others lives better. My personal goals include always smiling at people I know, even if we are just acqauintances. I like to live by the  theme that you never know when you could be making someone's day. In addition, the integrity shown in this video relates to me because even if you are accountable to no one else, you are accountable to yourself. I want to be happy with myself and to do that I don't cheat on tests, return wallets, etc.

This video promotes the value of positivity, which is something I think is often lacking in the world. I look around myself and see the beautiful Santa Clara campus and the beautiful people in it, and am so happy. It's about doing the little things, they will add up to make a glorious bigger picture.

MBTI My Personality on Paper

"When we put people in boxes where they can only be one or another, we miss the opportunity to see people as diverse as they are"

A lot of times, when I take personality tests I stumble upon the same question. So often I think that we do have innate preferences, but  also think that our preferences our situational and we make different decisions and therefore change everyday. People change all the time with age, experience and sometimes traumatic events, so many times I think that personality tests just test in the moment but it's hard to have one piece of paper "put you in a box." One of the main reasons, I find issue with personality tests is that you are put into that box but see some things on the other side of the spectrum that you relate to, I personally think that it feels like well I'm this thing, so I obviously can't like that. In reality you can, the box is just putting up walls.

I think sometimes also that society puts certain stereotypes on personality traits. Take for example how people view the introversion vs. the extroversion personality traits. Many times extroverts are viewed as the vivacious, popular social butterflies who everyone seems to know. In contrast, introverts can be thought of as those quiet wall-flowers always seemingly deep in thought. Those introverts get a bad rep especially in places like highschool! Especially, with the onslaught of social media, extroverts seem to be the people you want to be. Doing everything and knowing everyone, the figurative "cool kids." In reality we now understand that this is not the case, introversion and extroversion just depend on where you get your energy from. Extroverts also have the reputation of being more successful in the workplace because of their people skills but I am hear to tell you that is not the case! My wonderful dad is a successful executive and loves to meet new people, but it one of the biggest introverts I know. And I mean have you seen Lori... she loves to talk! Don't put baby in a corner or people in a box ;)

My results for the MBTI test were ESTJ, I was on the left of the spectrum on all accounts! Whoo Whoo! I really liked what my strengths were from the test, but I even more so I saw that the weaknesses were spot on which I felt was a good check. "Only notice and comment on the flaws, rather than the positive attributes of projects or people," was the main one where I thought oooh yeah I can see that. I would in no way say I'm a negative person but I like perfection and have a tendency to pick at something when it's not. This might be an add on New Year's resolution to complement more, because as a leader you have to say not only what doesn't work, but what does.

Charisma

Up to this point in my life, I have held a few leadership positions, most of them selected by either my peers or authority figures. I believe to get to that point of being given responsibility one has to display certain qualities and that would enable his/ her peers or high-ups to want to give that reward to them. That is why I believe that the Charismatic Leadership Theory has best described me up to this point because I think to be elected to student government in high school for example I had to write a speech and convince my peers that I would be the best man for the job. man times, in high school it's not based off what you can do, but how you present yourself and what you say you can do. Not that I am trying to state that I gave false promises, but it helps to have people skills and a certain aura I believe to put confidence in your peers as yourself. Charisma is a wonderful thing to have because it will light an audience up when say the rally theme or football game didn't go in the way they had hoped it would.
My greatest leadership challenge in high school was leading a three-night, four-day Kairos retreat with another student. We were in charge of the whole retreat, and in this position even had some authority over the teachers that attended (a great but weird experience). To get the students to listen to what I had to say was more than just giving directions, I needed to convince them that they wanted to do what I was saying no matter how hungry or tired they were. This means I had to tell jokes and call on friends and make the next project seem so appetizing they couldn't possibly go back to their cabin. I really enjoyed being a leader at the retreat, it was a special experience that I won't ever forget, but having been in this class for only two weeks I see that there may have been ways to make my position even more effective.
Now, having said that I believe charisma has most described my leadership form in the past, I would like to modify my leadership skills to be more like The Leadership Challenge. As a slight refresher, the Leadership Challenge has five parts: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart.
I think that because this form is so through on how to both perform as a leader through Model the Way, and also be charismatic and Enable Others to Act at the same time that it is a great model for leading others. As a leader I would like to be able to have people share my enthusiasm for the project/cause but I know that that can be hard to control. This leadership model I believe would be more effective and hands-on because of how it challenges one to interact with the a team or members of a movement more than charisma, which one can think of as just a big man spiting words behind a podium.


And for Part Two!

 

This is one of my favorite photos and a highly controversial one at that. It is a Chinese man making a non-agressive protest against the Chinese government in Tiananmen Square. The man was later removed by government offcials but his actions and this photo inspired the world. A tribute to that would be that it is mostly censored in China were communism still plays a large role and the government doesn't want it's citizens to see it.



Instead of a photo that is a symbol of the Social Change Model, I think this one represents the Social Change Model in action. The man is becoming a figure-head for the rebellion against the Chinese government in a non-violent way that expresses his individual values. This is how the Social Change Mode should be implemented, in such a way that we change the wrongs through rights and do not stoop to violence.

Elevator Speech

What would you say in just one elevator ride?
Hi! My name is Christine Peters, and I grew up in Central California near the city of Fresno. I say it that way because I didn't acutally grow up in town, but on a vineyard. My family's business is agriculture and so when I was younger I rode horses and played in the mud with my little brother in the mud from the irrigation behind my house. It was a great childhood!
I think my rural lifestyle was contradicted with my parents love of traveling, and I was fortunate enough to go with them to Europe and South America. They have definitely passed this love down to me and one of my goals at Santa Clara is to study abroad my Junior year, possibly in Seville (yay, tapas!). I also love to be active and outdoors, which includes sports like wake boarding, snowboarding, hiking, backpacking, basically I will be up for any sort of adventure.
A few of my general likes are that I love ALL food! All of it. I like happy, vibrant people that live out loud and want to have a good conversation! I also really enjoy reading when I get the time, and on that note I have to insert that I can take anyone on Harry Potter facts. Music wise, I am definitely not as knowledgeable, I like anything from Kenny Chesney to Passion Pit to Macklemore.

I am so happy to be a Santa Clara Bronco! I am actually 3rd generation and also almost didn't pick the school for that reason because my family has always talked about it. However, I am incredibly happy that I did! It's beautiful and the people (like yourselves) are incredibly intelligent and motivated. And the staff is amazing! Especially, I must say, in the Business school (I am a Business major). Whoa, talk about teaching through their expirences, they are inspirational. Also, hoping to grab a Spanish minor to add to my Biz major.
I'm really excited to be in Emerging Leaders. It is a great feeling to be surrounded by people who elected to take a class to learn how to be more active in the communtiy. I want to have a presence on campus and am hoping to score an Ambassadors position at some point to share my love of SC to perspective students!
Ding! This is your floor! See ya on Wednesday Broncos