The most importatnt thing that I've learned in class is that it's not so much as to how you start in life but how you finish. You see in everything that I do, ranging from relational leadership to goals to discovering what my purpose is in life, comes with a response to success or failure and back to a response that determines how you finish in life.
For the last several years I’ve pretty much been on auto pilot without truly giving any serious thought as to what I really need or desire that will bring me joy, contentment, satisfaction, peace, accomplishment, and fulfillment. I’ve had steady employment but with no inner fulfillment. My family and friends have been supportive and good to me. There was a time when I use to hear those words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” At this point in my life I’m not hearing those words. There are times that I feel that I’ve missed my season and now I’m in the season of hurry up mixed with fickle feelings of hope and discouragement. But I truly believe that’s about to change.
After doing an inventory of my life and reflecting on the assignments that I’ve written in the last three months in the Leadership for Change class, I realize that I love knowledge and wisdom and I like to be engaged in activities and issues that affect us as an individual and a community as whole with solutions. I’ve learned that here are times where I do talk entirely too much when I need to be allowing others the opportunity to express their thoughts and perspectives on issues. Not that my way is the only way, for I am an open minded person, but just out of respect of giving them the floor. It is through this class that I’ve come to learn that inclusiveness and interdependency are stepping stones to building healthy relationships. I’ve learned to stop trying to please and take care of everyone else while neglecting my own personal and family needs but to find balance along the journey of life. I learned not to take on multiple activities that cause harm to self, family and friends. But most importantly I’ve learned that whatever I do in this life, ranging from relationships to goals, success or failure is inevitable but it’s how I respond to the success, failures, and the ups and downs in life that determines the manifestation of my life. I can either allow the situation to defeat me or I can defeat it. The choice is mine to finish strong!
What 3 things would you suggest to improve Leadership for Change next semester?
• Leadership requires interpersonal communication. Have an assignment that requires students to give some type of speech in front of the class.
• Spend More Time Emphasizing the Importance of Relational Leadership(specifically inclusiveness and interdependency)
• At the very onset of class have students start working on their Touchstones ASAP!
I can’t think of anything, at the present moment, that I liked least about the Leadership for Change class but I can say that I am truly inspired by the Spirit, Love, Inclusiveness, and Teaching of Professor Rockquemore. I like her teaching style. I like how she engages the class. I like her passion for what she does/do. She first makes the class come alive and then the topic or subject.
I’ve learned by observation that you may have all the knowledge and understanding of a particular topic or subject but that doesn’t do you any good if you don’t know how to convey that knowledge, wisdom, experience, and understanding that you posse to your students in order for them to come away enlightened, alive, and inspired.
Professor Rockquemore is truly a remarkable woman, wife, and Professor that is vibrant with much life and color. It has truly been a blessing and a privileged to be in her class but I personally understand that with that privileged comes a challenge and a responsibility that she has so eloquently passed along to all of us that I look forward to picking up and carrying, only to someday pass it along in the Spirit of Truth and Love.
Well done, good, and faithful servant Professor Kerry Ann Rockquemore, Ph.D.
For the first time I will be involved in two research projects and two hands on experience that I expect to be done in a year. Thank you Professor Rock!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
ASSIGNMENT #13: WORK THE PLAN/PLEASE READ THE PROCESS
Exercise #1: First Steps
1.) I’ve already started preparing for GRE 4 weeks ago. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is my days to study at minimum 2 to 3 hours a day.
2.) Crisis Counseling/In-Touch Paraprofessional Training Program. Filled out an application & went on interview. (See Outcome Below Under the Process)
3.) Liberal Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Initiative. Filled out an application & went on interview.(See Outcome Below Under the Process)
Exercise #2: Business Meeting
I spoke with my buddy about my desire to receive my Ph.D/Psy.D in Clinical Psychology. When applying to Grad School I was very naive concerning the process. Yes, I knew that you had to take a placement exam and I also knew that you would have to submit your official transcripts. My plan was to enter grad school in the fall of 2010, seeing that I will be graduating in the Fall of 2009. In the process of doing research on Schools that offer a Ph.D or Psy.D in Clinical Psychology, I found out that:
1.) Applications due in December of 2009 for the Fall 2010 semester.
2.) Prepare for GRE yesterday in order to take exam in September or October.
3.) Schools require research experience as well as hands on
experience. This is just as important as your GRE and GPA score.
4.) Gather reference/recommendation letters (3)
The question that was presented to me “is this what your really want to do” and “do you believe that this is your purpose in life?” My response I don’t know about my purpose in life but I do know that this is a desire that gives me peace, joy, and since of contentment. Her desire is to finish up on her Bachelor’s Degree. She is currently working as Respiratory Therapist. Because her scheduled changes from week to week we decided to meet on Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday for about an hour to see where we are and where we’re going in our pursuit of success. The phone lines are open 24 hours day for encouragements, breakthroughs and hard times.
.
Exercise #3: Sunday Meeting
My Sunday night was a night of inventory to see what I did through-out last week and the plans for the upcoming week. I went to three interviews and one of them I know I did poorly but the other two I truly rocked. Now it’s a matter of waiting but I’m still looking for other opportunities in case the research and hands on experience do not come through. At times I felt excited, nervous, worried, and a bit discourage about the whole process of applying to Grad school. Why, there are criteria’s that I’m currently lacking at this present moment but hopefully things will work out for the Good. If I’m not able to meet the deadlines then I will apply in the Fall of 2010.
1.) I’ve already started preparing for GRE 4 weeks ago. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is my days to study at minimum 2 to 3 hours a day.
2.) Crisis Counseling/In-Touch Paraprofessional Training Program. Filled out an application & went on interview. (See Outcome Below Under the Process)
3.) Liberal Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Initiative. Filled out an application & went on interview.(See Outcome Below Under the Process)
Exercise #2: Business Meeting
I spoke with my buddy about my desire to receive my Ph.D/Psy.D in Clinical Psychology. When applying to Grad School I was very naive concerning the process. Yes, I knew that you had to take a placement exam and I also knew that you would have to submit your official transcripts. My plan was to enter grad school in the fall of 2010, seeing that I will be graduating in the Fall of 2009. In the process of doing research on Schools that offer a Ph.D or Psy.D in Clinical Psychology, I found out that:
1.) Applications due in December of 2009 for the Fall 2010 semester.
2.) Prepare for GRE yesterday in order to take exam in September or October.
3.) Schools require research experience as well as hands on
experience. This is just as important as your GRE and GPA score.
4.) Gather reference/recommendation letters (3)
The question that was presented to me “is this what your really want to do” and “do you believe that this is your purpose in life?” My response I don’t know about my purpose in life but I do know that this is a desire that gives me peace, joy, and since of contentment. Her desire is to finish up on her Bachelor’s Degree. She is currently working as Respiratory Therapist. Because her scheduled changes from week to week we decided to meet on Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday for about an hour to see where we are and where we’re going in our pursuit of success. The phone lines are open 24 hours day for encouragements, breakthroughs and hard times.
.
Exercise #3: Sunday Meeting
My Sunday night was a night of inventory to see what I did through-out last week and the plans for the upcoming week. I went to three interviews and one of them I know I did poorly but the other two I truly rocked. Now it’s a matter of waiting but I’m still looking for other opportunities in case the research and hands on experience do not come through. At times I felt excited, nervous, worried, and a bit discourage about the whole process of applying to Grad school. Why, there are criteria’s that I’m currently lacking at this present moment but hopefully things will work out for the Good. If I’m not able to meet the deadlines then I will apply in the Fall of 2010.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
ASSIGNMENT #12: THE BUDDY SYSTEM
Exercise #1: First Steps
You have a series of next steps outlined on your planning wall. Pick one, complete it, and blog about it.
My only step at this point is to prepare to take the GRE. As I’ve stated last week I’ve already bought the GRE Kaplan and the Princeton Review study guides three weeks ago. I’ve set aside time to study for the GRE. I also attend a Kaplan free GRE Class Courses on Tuesday, April 7, 2009. I still have mixed feelings during this whole process. I’m excited but I’m also fearful, discouraged, and disappointed. Right now I’m just focus on preparing for the GRE until I take the exam in September or October.
Exercise #2: The Buddy System
Barbara Sher suggests that you use the buddy system to keep moving forward towards your dream. This week, I want you to do the following:
1. Find a buddy
2. Hold your first Weekly Business Meeting (according to the rules described in the book), and
3. Blog about it by including a description of each of the steps in your meeting
My buddy and I will not be able to sit down until Thursday, April 16, 2009 due to her work schedule and the holidays. I’ve already given her the details as to what the Weekly Business Meeting will entail. Currently she is a respiratory therapist who is looking to complete her undergrad degree as well. I choose her as my buddy because there are certain things she must do in order to complete her degree. At this particular stage she has not been accepted yet at St. Xavier University.
You have a series of next steps outlined on your planning wall. Pick one, complete it, and blog about it.
My only step at this point is to prepare to take the GRE. As I’ve stated last week I’ve already bought the GRE Kaplan and the Princeton Review study guides three weeks ago. I’ve set aside time to study for the GRE. I also attend a Kaplan free GRE Class Courses on Tuesday, April 7, 2009. I still have mixed feelings during this whole process. I’m excited but I’m also fearful, discouraged, and disappointed. Right now I’m just focus on preparing for the GRE until I take the exam in September or October.
Exercise #2: The Buddy System
Barbara Sher suggests that you use the buddy system to keep moving forward towards your dream. This week, I want you to do the following:
1. Find a buddy
2. Hold your first Weekly Business Meeting (according to the rules described in the book), and
3. Blog about it by including a description of each of the steps in your meeting
My buddy and I will not be able to sit down until Thursday, April 16, 2009 due to her work schedule and the holidays. I’ve already given her the details as to what the Weekly Business Meeting will entail. Currently she is a respiratory therapist who is looking to complete her undergrad degree as well. I choose her as my buddy because there are certain things she must do in order to complete her degree. At this particular stage she has not been accepted yet at St. Xavier University.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
ASSIGNMENT #11: MOVING AND SHAKING
Exercise #1: First Steps
You have a series of next steps outlined on your planning wall. Pick one, complete it, and blog about it.
At this stage I have to prepare myself to take the GRE. As I’ve stated last week I’ve already bought the GRE Kaplan and the Princeton Review study guides three weeks ago. I’ve set aside lot’s of time to study for the GRE. There have been times when I did not want to study but I did. I also signed up to take various free GRE Class Courses and Practice test throughout the city of Chicago. I have mixed feeling during this whole process. I’m excited but I’m also fearful, discouraged, and disappointed.
Exercise #2: Reflecting on Fear
Barbara Sher argues that when you start moving, you start shaking! This week, I want you to notice when you experience resistance. Write a blog entry that describes the following:
What type of resistance you experience,
How it manifests for you,
What type of fear it reveals (stage fright or survival fear),
What are the underlying messages
How you moved through or around it
As I’ve stated, I’m excited but I’m also fearful, discouraged, and disappointed. In 2005 I strongly wanted to be a psychologist and I still do. So in 2006 I enrolled here at U.I.C. What I’m disappointed about is that I did not seek out a psychologists to get advise from he/she. I feel that I have not taken the right course to pursue a Ph.D in psychology. At first my major was applied psychology but I changed to general psychology last year in the hopes of graduating this year. The reason why I changed had to do with my job at the time and of course my family which became a strain on everyone associated with me. It got to the point that my job, family, and schooling were only receiving 50% of my time not to mention that I was giving myself 50% as well. So I rearranged everything around them. This year I graduated in the fall of 2009 feeling discouraged and disappointed. Why, so many reasons but while I was researching various grad schools I found out that:
1. At all the Major Universities in order to enroll in the fall of 2010 you have to submit your applications by the end of the this year . (Pressure!)
2. I have to take the GRE before I can submit any applications. That means I have start preparing ASAP (which I have) in order to take the GRE in September and October. The GRE is my biggest fear at the moment because If I don’t get an above score I may not be able to attend the Grad schools that I have chosen. (Pressure!)
3.) I was so focus on just Graduating that I allowed my associates, who’ve already have their Masters and Ph.D ,to persuade me in to not focus so much on getting A’s & B’s but to just graduate (Bad Advice). All Grad schools require that you have a certain minimum GPA in order to meet qualification, which I don’t think I’m their. (Pressure!)
The GRE is my biggest fear at the moment because If I don’t get an above score I may not be able to attend the Grad schools that I have chosen.
Even though I’m discouraged, disappointed, and fearful I’m still moving forward. I bought the GRE Kaplan and the Princeton Review study guides three weeks ago. I’ve set aside lot’s of time to study for the GRE. There have been times when I did not want to study the but I did. I also signed up to take various free GRE Class Courses and Practice test throughout the city of Chicago. The Underlying message through all this is that I feel that I’m not prepared and that I may not get accepted at a Major University for Grad School.
You have a series of next steps outlined on your planning wall. Pick one, complete it, and blog about it.
At this stage I have to prepare myself to take the GRE. As I’ve stated last week I’ve already bought the GRE Kaplan and the Princeton Review study guides three weeks ago. I’ve set aside lot’s of time to study for the GRE. There have been times when I did not want to study but I did. I also signed up to take various free GRE Class Courses and Practice test throughout the city of Chicago. I have mixed feeling during this whole process. I’m excited but I’m also fearful, discouraged, and disappointed.
Exercise #2: Reflecting on Fear
Barbara Sher argues that when you start moving, you start shaking! This week, I want you to notice when you experience resistance. Write a blog entry that describes the following:
What type of resistance you experience,
How it manifests for you,
What type of fear it reveals (stage fright or survival fear),
What are the underlying messages
How you moved through or around it
As I’ve stated, I’m excited but I’m also fearful, discouraged, and disappointed. In 2005 I strongly wanted to be a psychologist and I still do. So in 2006 I enrolled here at U.I.C. What I’m disappointed about is that I did not seek out a psychologists to get advise from he/she. I feel that I have not taken the right course to pursue a Ph.D in psychology. At first my major was applied psychology but I changed to general psychology last year in the hopes of graduating this year. The reason why I changed had to do with my job at the time and of course my family which became a strain on everyone associated with me. It got to the point that my job, family, and schooling were only receiving 50% of my time not to mention that I was giving myself 50% as well. So I rearranged everything around them. This year I graduated in the fall of 2009 feeling discouraged and disappointed. Why, so many reasons but while I was researching various grad schools I found out that:
1. At all the Major Universities in order to enroll in the fall of 2010 you have to submit your applications by the end of the this year . (Pressure!)
2. I have to take the GRE before I can submit any applications. That means I have start preparing ASAP (which I have) in order to take the GRE in September and October. The GRE is my biggest fear at the moment because If I don’t get an above score I may not be able to attend the Grad schools that I have chosen. (Pressure!)
3.) I was so focus on just Graduating that I allowed my associates, who’ve already have their Masters and Ph.D ,to persuade me in to not focus so much on getting A’s & B’s but to just graduate (Bad Advice). All Grad schools require that you have a certain minimum GPA in order to meet qualification, which I don’t think I’m their. (Pressure!)
The GRE is my biggest fear at the moment because If I don’t get an above score I may not be able to attend the Grad schools that I have chosen.
Even though I’m discouraged, disappointed, and fearful I’m still moving forward. I bought the GRE Kaplan and the Princeton Review study guides three weeks ago. I’ve set aside lot’s of time to study for the GRE. There have been times when I did not want to study the but I did. I also signed up to take various free GRE Class Courses and Practice test throughout the city of Chicago. The Underlying message through all this is that I feel that I’m not prepared and that I may not get accepted at a Major University for Grad School.
Monday, March 30, 2009
ASSIGNMENT #10: GET INTO ACTION
Exercise #1: First Steps
Today in class, you documented your next steps for this week and next week. Specifically, you have written down two tasks that you need to complete to start working towards your goal. DO THEM and blog about it.
1)Originally my goal was to obtain my Master’s Degree in Psychology but after soul searching I’ve decided to pursue my Ph.D or Psy.D in Psychology.
2)I quick my State Job to pursue my goals.
3)I felt both excited and discouraged about this whole process. Excited because I saw it as an embryonic prelude to a new spiritual awakening. Discouraged, after researching various schools and their requirements, many require that you submit your applications in December in order to enroll for the 2010 fall semester therefore I only have 6 months to study for the GRE. If I don’t receive the GRE score I’m looking for, I’ll just have to apply next year for the 2011 fall semester. I pray that I do above on the GRE.
4.) Last week I purchased the following materials to prepare for the GRE. (See Below)
5.)I also signed up for the free Kaplan/ Princeton Review GRE classes and Practice test starting in April throughout the year. I have already begun studying for the GRE. Will take test in October.
Reference Materials via Library & Internet
Graduate Study in Psychology, 2009 Edition is the best source of information related to graduate programs in psychology and provides information related to approximately 600 graduate programs in psychology in the U.S. and Canada (My Focus, Chicago). Graduate Study in Psychology contains information about
• number of applications received by a program
• number of individuals accepted in each program
• dates for applications and admission
• types of information required for an application (GRE scores, letters of recommendation, documentation concerning volunteer or clinical experience, etc.)
• in-state and out-of-state tuition costs
• availability of internships and scholarships
• employment information of graduates
• orientation and emphasis of departments and programs
• plus other relevant information
Gradschools.com (The Most Comprehensive online resource of graduate school information.)
Study Guides (Last week I purchased the following materials to prepare for the GRE.)
1.) Kaplan GRE Exam 2009 Premier Program (w/ CD-ROM)
2.) Cracking the GRE with DVD, 2009 Edition (Graduate School Test Preparation) by Princeton Review (Author)
School Choices (I’ve requested information to be sent to me)
Chicago School of Professional Psychology(2nd Choice – Will Apply)
DePaul University (6th)
Illinois Institute of Technology (4th Choice – Will Apply)
Loyola University of Chicago (5th Choice)
Midwestern University – Downers Grove (7th Choice)
Northwestern University (3rd Choice – Will Apply)
University of Illinois at Chicago (1st Choice – Will Apply)
Today in class, you documented your next steps for this week and next week. Specifically, you have written down two tasks that you need to complete to start working towards your goal. DO THEM and blog about it.
1)Originally my goal was to obtain my Master’s Degree in Psychology but after soul searching I’ve decided to pursue my Ph.D or Psy.D in Psychology.
2)I quick my State Job to pursue my goals.
3)I felt both excited and discouraged about this whole process. Excited because I saw it as an embryonic prelude to a new spiritual awakening. Discouraged, after researching various schools and their requirements, many require that you submit your applications in December in order to enroll for the 2010 fall semester therefore I only have 6 months to study for the GRE. If I don’t receive the GRE score I’m looking for, I’ll just have to apply next year for the 2011 fall semester. I pray that I do above on the GRE.
4.) Last week I purchased the following materials to prepare for the GRE. (See Below)
5.)I also signed up for the free Kaplan/ Princeton Review GRE classes and Practice test starting in April throughout the year. I have already begun studying for the GRE. Will take test in October.
Reference Materials via Library & Internet
Graduate Study in Psychology, 2009 Edition is the best source of information related to graduate programs in psychology and provides information related to approximately 600 graduate programs in psychology in the U.S. and Canada (My Focus, Chicago). Graduate Study in Psychology contains information about
• number of applications received by a program
• number of individuals accepted in each program
• dates for applications and admission
• types of information required for an application (GRE scores, letters of recommendation, documentation concerning volunteer or clinical experience, etc.)
• in-state and out-of-state tuition costs
• availability of internships and scholarships
• employment information of graduates
• orientation and emphasis of departments and programs
• plus other relevant information
Gradschools.com (The Most Comprehensive online resource of graduate school information.)
Study Guides (Last week I purchased the following materials to prepare for the GRE.)
1.) Kaplan GRE Exam 2009 Premier Program (w/ CD-ROM)
2.) Cracking the GRE with DVD, 2009 Edition (Graduate School Test Preparation) by Princeton Review (Author)
School Choices (I’ve requested information to be sent to me)
Chicago School of Professional Psychology(2nd Choice – Will Apply)
DePaul University (6th)
Illinois Institute of Technology (4th Choice – Will Apply)
Loyola University of Chicago (5th Choice)
Midwestern University – Downers Grove (7th Choice)
Northwestern University (3rd Choice – Will Apply)
University of Illinois at Chicago (1st Choice – Will Apply)
Monday, March 2, 2009
ASSIGNMENT #7: REACHING OUT
As Long as I’ve been knowing Randy Crumpton his goal was to become a lawyer first and the run for office. He has had his share of set backs but he continue to press on. His passion for culture for service and service for humanity and the political and legal profession always peek his interest. He became involve in the political process at a very early age with certain relatives who were involved in the political process as well as activist. Only when Harold Washington came on the scene did Randy finally made his career goal to become a lawyer first and then run for office. The lost of his mother while he was college took a toil on him but with the help of God, close friends and a deep down desire to see it through he was able to overcome. He has gone without food at times, his rent has been late, and bills became a burden but with a deep seated desire he rose to fulfill his dream to become a lawyer. God and close friends have helped him to achieve his goal. Randy has been a lawyer for over 15 years.
Illinois State Representative Ken Dunkin goal was not so much as to be a lawyer but to be an elected official. Born and raised in Cabrini Green Housing Development he has seen it all. Shootings, addictions, evictions, sexually assaults, gang violence and so on. But he venture outside of his environment and discovered life beyond the confines of Good Times (Cabrini Green) He owes his success to God and a desire to live an excellent life. As a youth he was influenced by Jesse White, who is now Secretary of State. During the time of his teenage and young adult years politics struck a flame within him, so he sat out with determination to achieve his goal despite his economic and environment situation. He started off volunteering in the 27th ward where he made a name for himself. He has been a State Representative for the 5th District for 7 years. For him it’s by the Grace of God that he stands tall.
Illinois State Representative Ken Dunkin goal was not so much as to be a lawyer but to be an elected official. Born and raised in Cabrini Green Housing Development he has seen it all. Shootings, addictions, evictions, sexually assaults, gang violence and so on. But he venture outside of his environment and discovered life beyond the confines of Good Times (Cabrini Green) He owes his success to God and a desire to live an excellent life. As a youth he was influenced by Jesse White, who is now Secretary of State. During the time of his teenage and young adult years politics struck a flame within him, so he sat out with determination to achieve his goal despite his economic and environment situation. He started off volunteering in the 27th ward where he made a name for himself. He has been a State Representative for the 5th District for 7 years. For him it’s by the Grace of God that he stands tall.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
ASSIGNMENT #6: PLOTTING A PATH
Five Lives
Lawyer
Randy Crumpton
Attorney at Law
(312) 435-1102
Elected Official
Ill. State Rep. Ken Dunkin
5th District
(312) 266-0340
Pastor & Inspirational/Motivational Speaker
Bishop T.D. Jakes
(214) 331-0954
Joyce Meyer Ministries
1-800-727-9673
Professor/Teacher
Professor Barry S. Greenwald
Dept. of Psychology
Adjunct Lecturer (UIC)
Phone: (312) 413-8564
E-mail: bsgreenw@uic.edu
Professor: Kerry Ann Rockquemore, Ph.D.
Associate Professor (UIC)
Phone: 312-996-4694
E-mail: rockquem@uic.edu
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