To start off with, I loved the lecture on Monday! I know we've discussed some of the many leadership qualities essential to making a great leader several times, but it seems like each time I re-study them or even study them in further depth, I continue learning so much more and have an even greater desire to apply them in my life! It is awesomeness and I love it!

Specifically the speaker touched on 5 key leadership principles that I would like to share and express my thoughts on:

1. COURAGE Not only does this include physical bravery and mental confidence, but most importantly I believe Moral Courage-to stand up for and speak truth in a day and age where this is not the popular thing to do.

2. INTEGRITY Synonymous with consistency, experience, trust, honesty, respect, and commitment to a clear goal. (I want to possess an unquestionable Integrity!)

3. SACRIFICE John 15:13 & Matt. 25:40-the greatest examples of sacrifice.

4. TAKE ACTION! So important because its the only way by which things get done. Many times it requires acting in faith.

5. VISION Moses 1:39-"Behold, this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and Eternal life of man."-Our beloved Heavenly Father's ultimate vision for all of us, his beloved children, made possible through the Atonement of his most amazing and beloved son Jesus Christ.

Lastly, I too believe that it is so important not to let fear get in the way of our ability to shine forth and lead out as examples. We must substitute it with its opposite, that is Faith. Sometimes this is not always easy to do, but we must, and as we act in faith we can find comfort in the scripture, "For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

Also, a little comment on how my leadership roles are going:) I'm continuing to strive to be a good leader among my awesome room mates, by doing such things as taking out the trash, doing the dishes, vaccuming, or other chores when I see it is needed. More importantly, I'm trying to get to know them better personally and to do fun activities with them or have funny/good conversations. It is awesomeness, and the more I am getting to know them, the more I am appreciating them for who they are and what they do.

This week I really enjoyed both the lecture on Monday as well as the Group presentations in class. One thing I thoroughly enjoyed about the lecture was all of the cool quotes on leadership that he explored. Some of my favorites are:

"In History, chance plays a part again and again. Character counts over and over."
-David McCullough

"Live in the Present!"

"The best leaders inspire people to rally around a change, while poor leaders have to push, cajole, or even threaten to accept change."

"We all have the potential to be great leaders and make a difference in our world today."

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly...who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows the triumph of high achievement and who at worst, if he fails, at least he fails fighting for what he believed in."
-Theodore Roosevelt "In the Arena"

Along with these quotes I also liked the idea behind motives. Our motive-what is at our core, what causes us to act in a certain way, to do a certain thing, our incentive-truly is essential to consider, not just in being a good leader, but I believe in general for being a Good Person.
And of course, the closer our motives are to Christlike attributes, such as charity, service, joy, devotion, integrity, happiness, brotherly kindness and love to name a few, the better leader or individual we will be able to be.

I found that as a strived to be a better leader throughout this week, whether it be at school, amongst my roomates, at church or with family or friends, I was happier and felt good that I could perhaps help those around me, whether they be dear loved ones or simply strangers.

In particular I focused harder this week on being a good leader on campus. I've found it's so easy to get focused on things like school work, planning my schedule around homework projects, etc. that distract me from focusing on other people and trying to make a difference on campus. So my goal for this week was to try not to focus on being preoccupied with my own needs by doing small and simple things for people like saying hi, smiling, holding open a door or striking up a conversation with someone I don't know while I'm walking. I've found this to be so uplifting and although it is so simple, it has a very profound effect on my attitude and I hope on the attitude of those I meet as well. It has also given me the opportunity to meet some pretty amazing people that I otherwise wouldn't have had the chance to meet.

So, to all of you my friends I would like to extend the challenge to try one of these simple acts of kindness and then to experience for yourself the happiness and chain effect that it has on both yourself and other people.

Interview

Typically when we think of someone who we view as a good leader our thoughts are drawn to those heroic leaders of our society such as Presidents, government officials, party organizers, service groups, educational instructors, and other position holding individuals.
Although these are all very important and often good leadership roles, as I thought about someone who I view to be a good leader I immediantly thought of both of my parents, and in particular my mom.
She plays one of the most important leadership roles anyone on the face of this earth could do, that is by being a mother and leading out through her example and love in the home, alongside my father.
Some of the qualities she has that make her a good leader is firstly, that she is FULL of Love! The whole world could turn their back on me and yet I'd always know that she would be there for me. Also she is compassionate. I make mistakes, as does everyone who is human, yet she has the ability to look past my weaknesses and help me to realize my strengths. Another leadership quality she has is that she is selfless. She is constantly sacrificing her own time for her family by doing such things as cooking dinner, cleaning the house, helping with homework, working as a full-time no pay limo driver, and much much more.
She is an influence for good in all of these ways. Through her awesome example, she effects me and my siblings to try and do what she teaches us. We want to be better because she wants us to be better and we sincerely feel that. Also we love her, so to show her that we appreciate her, we work hard to follow her example and do what is right.
I can learn so much from her in my leadership roles. Not only in the different accademic and social roles that I've had/have/will have, but also in my role someday as a mother. I hope to apply her qualities in all aspects of my life, but most importantly in my future role as a mother. If I can be even half as awesome as she is at being a mom, best friend, and leader to my children, then I am in good shape! I'm so grateful for her and her example as a good leader.

Blog and Reflection #1:

First of all, I just had to say how happy I am to have set up a blog all by myself! :D haha! It is quite the accomplishment for someone as technology-handicaped as myself!

Secondly, I am very excited for this course and the opportunity we will all have to learn how to be better leaders, in both large and small ways.

From our first lecture on Monday, I was able to see a lot of cool insights about individual and group leadership. I gained these insights from people's comments in class as well as the video clip we saw about the climbers of Mt. Everest.
I was very impressed with Eric's "vision" of climbing Mt. Everest although he was blind. I loved how he didn't let his situation get in the way of him living his life to the fullest. We can learn so much from his example. I also liked the Unity that was involved as well as the genuine care of each of the climbers for each other.
One of the comments made by one of the climbers who summited with Eric has stuck with me. He said that it felt so outstanding for him personally to have made it to the top, yet it felt even more satisfying and enjoyable that others, including Eric, had made it with him. This got me thinking about our "Journey of Life." I believe this statement applies to our lives as well-sure, it's great when we accomplish some huge task before us or experience something amazing individually, but it doesn't even compare to the feeling of gratification and happiness and pure joy we feel when we accomplish, fix, create, build, discover, explore, experience, lift and overcome something with other people; especially when we are serving with or for them.

As for my leadership role that I have decided to work on throughout this semester, well there are so many good ones, I couldn't settle for just one ha! My plan is to join and serve as a member of my ward choir, strive to be a good friend and outgoing roomate, possibly and very awesomely-(don't think that's a word:)-join byu's Karate club, volunteer with byusa, and I'm already a member of Cougar United where I will cheer my heart out and deck out in all blue for the byu football games! I can't wait! :D