I think the hardest part about writing is often coming up with a topic to write about! Many times, I simply wait until something hits me (often in the middle of the night) and take a second to write the thought down and try to develop it while I’m on a roll! This time around, I actually developed my topic as the new semester started.
Two of the classes I am taking, Change Theory and Organizational Theory in Higher
Education, focus on the many aspects of leadership. Something that has struck me in the first few
weeks of these courses is how much a leader can affect an environment. Leadership is not an easy task. Leaders are responsible for many people;
often the livelihood and productiveness of people falls under a leader. A leader cannot simply walk in and expect
people to work. Creating a productive
environment demands creating a culture of productiveness. Not only is a leader responsible for the culture
of a working environment, but they are also responsible for the overall productiveness
in a global environment. If the leader
causes an organization to fall, it will affect everyone employed there and
everyone connected to the organization.
Leadership is no small act.
Leadership is a skill we have to work on and cultivate EVERY SINGLE DAY. Leadership is more than good words and
encouragement; leadership is action.
Many types of leadership
exist. We may find ourselves in a
top-down model or in a model that involves everyone and is more horizontal than
vertical. Whatever the case may be, we
have to understand our own leadership style and make an effort to continually
improve it. The Myers-Briggs Personality
Test and the Strengths Finder are popular tools to identify our personality and
strengths in an effort to capitalize on them, while also understanding where we
fall short. Often, leaders surround
themselves with people who have skills they may lack (a smart move, in my
opinion).
So why this long talk about
leadership? Well, the GEAR UP Alumni Leadership Academy (GUALA) is an area
where the GEAR UP program finds, cultivates, and produces leaders. GUALA produces leaders who participate in grassroots
advocacy and give back to their GEAR UP communities. I think GEAR UP did an amazing job of finding
these leaders; I can’t say I’ve been in a room with more inspirational leaders
or in a program that cultivates leadership quite like GUALA has. Not only did we spend a week in Washington
D.C. learning about leadership, but we have now spent eight months out in the
field. We are living out the actions we talked about during that week and continue
to talk about during monthly Google Hangouts.
But let’s be honest. There are days when that week in D.C. seems
soooooooo incredibly far away. There are
days when we become discouraged in our own daily trials and forget that we are
leaders. It happens.
Despite these downs, there are
current GEAR UP students whose lives we are working to make better. They are the reason we became leaders. Maybe it doesn’t always feel like it, but
there are GEAR UP students who see your face or hear your name and become
inspired. There are GEAR UP students in
your state/city/alma mater who hear your name and a sort of reverence falls
over them. Students aspire to one day be
JUST LIKE YOU! And THAT is the reason we
are leaders.
The day-to-day grind can be dull
and monotonous. The endless emails,
phone calls, good plans, and failed plans can be discouraging. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, if you
have inspired someone, you have succeeded.
GEAR UP changed our lives, and we work to change the lives of GEAR UP
students after us. We work to cultivate
our leadership so that students like us have a fighting chance in this
world.
So find the leader in you
again. Re-read your strength finder
results. Take the Myers-Briggs. Read about how to be a better leader and
cultivate your skills, because those students are looking to us. Our successes will make a difference for GEAR
UP communities across the nation.
Perhaps we can change the mind of that one Senator or Congressman. Perhaps
GEAR UP funding will increase slightly.
Perhaps that student who is growing up just like you did will receive
services and have a chance to become as successful as you are.
Keep on striving GUALA’s! You are making a difference!
“Be the change that you wish to see
in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Here are some small reminders to inspire :) --
--Thank you all for being you :)
