Leadership Synthesizing Essay
In the world that we live in today, leadership is important and necessary. It is possible for everyone to achieve leadership, regardless of one’s identity, personality, or background. Through reflecting and synthesizing my experiences such as being an elementary school mentor, taking the Strengthsfinder 2.0 assessment, leading as a student leader at the Newman Center, taking the class “Exploring Personal Leadership through Social Change,” and serving as a student clinician in my Speech-Language Clinical Practicum, I have achieved competency and understanding of the leadership competency in the Honors Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
During my time as a Sumner/Neveln Elementary School Science Fair Kickoff Mentor, I identified what I wanted to accomplish as a leader, and I discerned my roles in a group of people by identifying my strengths and weaknesses. I was a leader and a mentor for a group of children, but I identified as a follower of a great idea from a former professor. In my Introduction to Honors course, I delved deeper into the leadership competency, first by reflecting upon my leadership strengths with the assistance of the Strengthsfinder 2.0 assessment, and further critiquing my style of leadership and others after reading the book Quiet by Susan Cain. We heavily discussed and reflected on collective, team-based leadership, which inspired me to reflect on my roles within groups, as well as apply my strengths in team settings such as group projects and volunteer efforts, such as when I took the role of a Student Leader at the Newman Center, when I lead a Bible study or when I worked with a group of students during Mankato’s “Rake the Town” event in order to find the most efficient way to rake leaves down a hill.
As a Student Leader at the St. Thomas More Newman Center, I used what I had learned about leadership to lead a Bible Study. When my plans did not work effectively, I was able to reflect and concentrate on my goals for my Bible study in order to devise a new plan, which was effective. In my group, I developed a sense of belonging to a community, rather than practicing being an individualistic member for my own benefit. My Honors 401 class, “Exploring Personal Leadership through Social Change,” has already shaped my philosophies as well as help me articulate how I want to lead through reading theory, discussion, reflection, and most importantly, implementing leadership through social change in the community. I have critiqued the characteristics of the individualistic model of leadership that is present within our culture, and I have made the shift to adopting a collectivist model of leadership to guide collaboration in the future. I will use this new way of collaboration in my Speech-Language Clinical Practicum this semester. The Speech, Language, Hearing, and Rehabilitation Department is shifting the standards for undergraduate student clinicians; the undergraduate clinician and the graduate clinician will serve as collaborators with different talents in therapy sessions, rather than implementer and observer. I am excited to be able to use the leadership competency in such a unique way in my field.
Overall, I am thankful for the opportunity to belong to a program that encourages such valuable skills, and I know that I will use these in every endeavor that I pursue, whether it is graduate school, a clinical fellowship, my job, or my career. I have developed many aspects of leadership through developing personal philosophies and using my strengths on teams. Leadership is necessary, and there are always opportunities to be an effective leader in order to serve others.