I first heard about Bonner Leaders during student orientation. It was on a list of seminars I could attend, and I wasn’t exactly sure was the program was all about, nonetheless, I did know that it included getting involved with the community and volunteer work, which was one of my main goals for my academic career at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Following the seminar, I learned that only ten freshmen were accepted into the program, therefore, I was doubtful that I would have the opportunity to take part in this program. However, over the summer I received an acceptance email and my journey as a Bonner Leader began.
Being one of the inaugural Bonner Leaders had undoubtedly influenced my understanding of what it means to be an engaged citizen in Charlotte - on and off campus. I have had many opportunities which have contributed to my experiences during my first semester at UNC Charlotte. These
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involvements include readings from Find Me Unafraid: Love, Loss, and Hope in an African Slum written by Jessica Posner and Kennedy Odede, class discussions, and my community partnership with Friendship Trays and Kitchens. Each of these occurrences opened my eyes to something I had not previously thought about. Prior to reading Find Me Unafraid, I did not realize how many things I had been taking for granted. In the book, Kennedy talks about his lifestyle; how he lives simply and does not require extravagant things to be happy, whereas Americans tend to desire more. When Kennedy first moved to America to attend Wesleyan University, he did not realize that he no longer needed to scamper to get food or that he could take as long of a shower as he wanted to without the hot water running out. One night Jessica and Kennedy came and spoke at UNC Charlotte and a student asked Jessica what was the biggest culture shock to her while studying abroad. She replied that it was appalling to watch children dig for food out of trashcans and no one said anything because this was considered normal. She also spoke about one night in Kenya when she was chatting about the way she cares for her pet, such as feeding it every day and taking it to the vet when it was sick, and the little boy said he wished he was a pet in America. All of these circumstances helped me to become aware of things I did not consider to be particularly important because I am so accustomed to them, such as having access to clean water, electricity, and an abundance of food. In addition to the reading, class discussions were also eye-opening.
Many of the discussions included questions drawn from the book and we were asked to relate them to our own lives. For the majority of the questions, I had never even given much thought to the topics. For example, one of the discussion questions was about how Jessica went outside of her comfort zone when she decided to study abroad in Nairobi, Kenya. It then asks each individual to discuss a moment in their life when they were called to participate in something that was outside of their interests or comfort zone. I talked about how during the summer of 2015, my youth director asked me to help teach vacation bible school at our church. I am very shy and not a public speaker, so this was definitely out of my comfort zone, but the idea of bringing children closer to God filled my heart with joy, so I said yes. After talking about this experience I realized how big of an impact this particular event had on my life; I became more involved in my church and I took on more leadership
roles. I believe one of my favorite parts of being a Bonner Leader is my community partnership. Friendship Trays is a Meals On Wheels service that delivers balanced meals to individuals in the Mecklenburg community who are unable to prepare their own meals due to age or infirmity. I love the fact that I have the ability to work hands on to help those in need. I have also met amazing people within the community. The first few weeks at Friendship Trays I shadowed the employees in order to learn more about the organization and the individuals who work there. This time period helped me get accustomed to the area and feel more comfortable with my surroundings. Typically, I now work with Ms. Carmen with Friendship Kitchens, which is a catering business that earns revenue for Friendship Trays. I am also in the process of doing research to help the staff with the process of creating a culinary school for women with an impediment to employment. I believe this process will have a powerful and positive impact, not only on the women’s lives but on the community as a whole. My experience as a Bonner Leader has resulted in me re-examining my personal, ethical, and political values. For the main part, my personal and ethical values have remained the same. On the contrary, my political values are completely different. This is due to the fact that I never really had any political values prior to my involvement in Bonner Leaders. Originally, my mindset was similar to “I am not particularly fond of the candidates and my vote doesn’t really matter, so I’m not going to vote.” However, I now understand how important my vote is. I still do not feel the need to talk about politics all the time, but I do comprehend that it is important that I am aware of what is going on politically. Throughout my first semester as a Bonner Leader, I have developed a personal philosophy of ethical leadership and community engagement. I believe others and myself will get the most out of an experience when hands-on learning is included. I must then lead others to serve the needs of other individuals. When I was younger, my youth director told me that service to others is the purest form of leadership - I still find this to be true. I believe my identity as a Bonner Leader has given me multiple opportunities to be active and helpful in the Charlotte area as a Charlottean and as a Forty-Niner, and I am very thankful for that.
I can relate this book to my life in many ways; it was easier for me to relate to this book because were both 18 year old girls who want to live life the right way. Also I don’t want to live life trying to be like everyone else, so this was really encouraging to me. A part that helped me was the part about confidence and how important that is. Its important to have confidence in your faith because say you get in a situation you can protect your faith and stand up for what you believe. Another part that I can really apply to my life was how when people were talking about her she didn’t even beg to know. Personally whenever I hear that someone was talking about me, I really want to know what they said! This helped me to learn that why fill my brain with negativity sinful gossip, because that’s not what Jesus would do.
Throughout the years of being a student at Council Rock, I have come to the realization of what a true leader is. A leader is not someone that just plans events, collects money, or shows up to meetings. Rather, this is someone that has a true connection with their peers, and has unmatched passion for what they do. With this, I can confidently say that since seventh grade, as a young adult, I have been shaped into an individual that fits these traits. Since that time, I have been involved in student government,
In my junior year of high school, I joined the leadership program called ASB, also known as associated student body. I had the honor and role of being the school’s unofficial videographer to promote events with videos and short films posted on our social media sites because of my passion for video editing and artistic abilities. I also became responsible as being chairman for one of our committees to organize special recognition events for our senior athletes. ASB made my work stressful and challenging, but it was a good way to connect with others.
Despite not being a part of over 20 different organizations, as some claim to be, being a part of a smaller number of groups has allowed me to focus on developing my leadership skills more thoroughly than I could otherwise. Not spreading myself too thin has made me much more committed and involved in the organizations that I am a part of, making my influences so much stronger. I firmly believe that I am trying my absolute best not only in school, but in leaving my comfort zone and being an active member in our community. I am honored that I have been considered for such a prestigious invitation as
Finally, as a member of the Student Leadership Council, I have developed meaningful relationships with peers, advisors and community leaders, some who share my views and others whose views are utterly different from mine. I have been able to grow tremendously from my association with Students Against Destructive Decisions. Thus, it is my desire to continue volunteering for the Students Against Destructive Decisions Student Leadership Council, even after I graduate from high school, because it has been such a meaningful and rewarding experience. It is my hopes that I will be able to some day facilitate a Students Against Destructive Decisions Program in my community, as there is an urgent need for positive adult mentors.
I can relate to chapter one which introduces some the many influences that the author encountered. Here in college there are many influences both good and bad. With me being a Christian growing up in church all my life, basically being a PK (Preacher’s Kid) it is difficult to maintain that part of me when there are influences similar to the ones the author encountered. I’m learning chapter 2 reminds me of two things such as when I left to go to California for an education summit, and how my little sister clung to me since she didn’t want me to leave. It also reminds me of when I was packing to leave for college and how my family all came to sit with me that night. Chapter 3 was an amazing chapter, but I didn’t find it relatable much like chapters 1 and 2 did. This was an overall good book and I would recommend it for anyone to
While he was nervous to land in the unknown ambiance of a Catholic school in Versailles, this time he was excited to know better his classmates during Booth’s Leadership Orientation Retreat (LOR). His past taught him how to trust his ability to positively contribute in a group’s life. And the low rope course summed up quite how he will positively influence Booth’s community. As always, he started by taking a step back and evaluating the group’s potential by debating the different outcomes with his teammates. He then suggested a strategy that made everyone contribute in the way they wanted to without losing sight of the “race”. While he exchanges perspectives with others easily given his multicultural background, Othmane is confident enough in his ability to positively influence a group of people to avoid overselling achievements. This way the debate is always moving forward and he naturally evolves in a coordinator role even in groups of
As a byproduct of the change in college culture, it will create a “friendlier” environment for first generation. Students need to feel safe rather than out of place. Additionally, prestigious institutions need to take initiative to create new programs that will make college a painless transition for first generation students by implementing new policies such as mentors or clubs. As many colleges and universities have not taken the initiative to help first-generation students, North Carolina State University is one of the few exceptions. As a fellow first generation college student at North Carolina State University, I have reaped many benefits from the different organizations they have around campus. In the Poole College of Management, I was assigned a professional mentor in my future line of work that made the transition into college a better experience for me. After listening to his forums, I was able to use the skills I had learnt from my parents and apply it to college and my study habits benefiting me in countless possibilities. Additionally, the sociology department at North Carolina State University has created a program that guides first-generations students throughout all four years of college making the transition as
UNC Asheville’s vision of a diverse and inclusive community excites me. One of my main expectations of college is the opportunity to reach beyond my comfort zone, make new connections and broaden my view of the world. I can’t wait to join a college community emphasizing tolerance, respect for others and diversity in addition to providing a quality education. In high school, I was involved in a broad range of extra-curricular activities not to build a resume but to get the most of out every day. I am bringing that same passion to college. My interests and hobbies include the arts and politics. I expect to continue those interests and activities in college, performing on stage and participating in student government organizations. In
There is an African Proverb quoted “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This quote resonates with much of my life and parallels my experience with Duke’s Team Fuqua culture. From the time I started my business school journey, I have experienced the community and support of Fuqua students through countless interactions. Sidney McLaurin coached me through applying to Management Leadership for Tomorrow’s (MLT) MBA Preparation Program. Erika Hines (’17) graciously opened her home to me during a school visit, and Noelle Kelly (’17) has spent many hours enlightening me on the HSM program and Durham. These three individuals helped shape my definition of Team Fuqua through their communal spirit, authenticity, and sacrificial nature. Among the many
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When we were first given this assignment I had not put much consideration into it. I thought we were to ask a couple of questions, it would all work itself out and I would be done. But this was not the case. The thought and reflection put into interview questions really surprised me. There was far more factors other than the questions you were asking, because you were also dealing with people, people who are giving you there free time, their attention and opening themselves up to you a stranger, so there were far more responsibilities then what were initially at hand.
Besides academics, fine arts and sports in school, I have attained leading roles in different groups. This year, I am the Spirit Leader of Student Council encouraging monthly goals and themes and assisting in school events. From creating a student council with a group of peers three years ago we have had success in many events and have found new ways to spread spirit, gather important information and assist with financial groups. Recently, I stepped up to be the leader of the fundraising committee for our ...