A500.3.4.RB- Explore the Hunt Library

I recently was able to experience using the Hunt Library for the first time. My initial reaction was that of resistance, to which I assumed using the Hunt Library would be yet another learning obstacle to get through. Both the initial two weeks of the Master of Science in Leadership program and becoming an online student for the first time have made me feel like I have been put through the paces of properly using all of the technology and programs required, which has made me feel a little bogged down. I was pleasantly surprised upon entering the Hunt Library and using it to find a journal article. The database format was very user friendly and easy to use. I was able to quickly find what I was looking for, which I was appreciative of because it made me feel like I had more time to properly focus on the assignment. As MSLD 500 is my first class within the leadership program and any leadership study, I was nervous about being able to select an appropriate leadership topic. One of my favorite features is that a list of suggestions will appear upon typing in and searching for your search query. This allowed me to carefully consider, narrow down and select a more on-point topic. I felt confidence in the articles and materials provided that they came from scholarly sources.

It is clear from my first use of the Hunt Library that the quality is absolutely greater than that offered by Google or other search engines. I do have to mention that I, maybe more so than the average individual, have a passion for searching the internet and rely heavily on Google. Each week I review the modules prior to beginning my assignments and determine what to look forward to during the week. At first glance of being required to compare the scholarly information found through the library and how it differs from the typical information yielded when searching leadership topics on Google, I was concerned my feelings for Google would interfere with having an unbiased opinion. Without hesitation I can say that my preference for searching for scholarly material is now placed with the Hunt Library. I think the main issue with Google in that it is such a generic search that pulls from anything and everything put on the internet. Just because you can pull it up in a search does not make it reliable or scholarly. My time searching was greatly decreased because I did not have to personally cull through sources and determine the legitimacy. Another feature that I was impressed by was how current the material was when I received my search results. The topic that I chose, leadership development, offers as a key concept that one must be up to date with the information and practices.

I believe that using the library will allow me to move forward with that ability in all areas and topics. I feel that it is in my best interest to incorporate regular use of the library into my search routine. I have not had a chance by utilizing the library for one assignment to fully break the surface and delve into all that is possible through this excellent resource. I am looking forward to obtaining better research, relevant to that needed for Masters level synthesis. Something that was unexpected through my experience is how great it is, as an online student particularly, to have such a tremendous resource that allows me to feel connected to my educational institute, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Overall, I was glad that the assignments during this module encouraged stretching beyond common comforts and gently nudged me to learn about the Hunt Library. I look forward to frequent visits in the future.

A500.2.3.RB- Tell your story

I hold myself to a standard of courage and responsibility. Those are two standards that have been undertones throughout my life and also define what I hold to be important. My mom named me Casey when other girls my age had, in my opinion, much more feminine and interesting names. It has been very difficult for me to find cups with my name on it when I go on vacation. Sometimes I get asked if I am a boy, I am not, and very frequently I get compared to: Casey at the bat, Casey Jones or Casey Kasem.  Obviously it took me a while to warm to my name. I asked why I was named Casey and my mom simply responded that she liked the name. I told my mom I wanted to be a rock star named Shelly. What neither of us could ever have known is how important my name would be to who I am. Casey means brave, valorous and vigilant/watchful. I would not say I am necessarily brave. In fact, I think I am generally afraid of most things, sometimes irrationally, and would rather run away if it is an available option. But at a young age I was faced with two very large, life changing events that I could not hide from or avoid, my mother died when I was eight and my father died when I was thirteen. Being a Casey might be a talisman and a gift that allowed me to adopt courage and out of necessity I found responsibility.

Who I am and how I acquired those standards was shaped by the enormity of losing a parent, in my case both parents. I do not think there was any way not to be changed from it. It made me see life and the world in such a blinding way that I could no longer be shielded at an age where conciliation was still an acceptable part of growing up. There has not been a day of my life that I do not continue to feel the affects of being without my parents. It seems that courage is the ability to do something that frightens people and responsibility is the duty to deal with something. Courage was such a theme in my life because I had to face the truth of loss. I lost my natural support system, part of my childhood and part of my future. Instead of being incapacitated with grief, it took courage to understand life and to allow myself to heal. You become faced with a choice of how to respond to such devastation. I had the courage to choose to wake up every day and try to live my life to the best of my ability, to become a whole person that would make my parents proud. I felt an overwhelming since of responsibility from my circumstance, as well.

I think early on I felt like I had to be responsible for myself in almost every way because my parents were not physically present to shoulder the responsibility for me. I felt as if I had to do well so that the adults around me wouldn’t attribute any areas with problems as a side effect to my loss. I also felt deeply and personally that I did not want people to know of my loss from my actions because I did not want to be pitied, appear weak or ever use it as an excuse. I realize now from reading the course text (Nosich 2012) I was afraid of other people’s assumptions so I did not want my behavior or personal performance in anything to give way to cause to make an assumption about me. I made sure that from the beginning of my day to the end of my night, from home to school, that I took care of myself. I was sure to be clean, groomed, dressed, homework finished, well-behaved, sociable, and involved with activities; day in and day out. It sounds weird to say, but I felt like it was my job to survive. I also felt it was not enough to merely go on existing, but also to thrive.

Over time, I see that those standards are still omnipresent but as I have changed and grown as a person and into my adult life that they serve me differently. I was curious about these standards that I have purported to be present through my actions, so I actually contacted three of my friends that I have been the closest with and known the longest so that I could acquire a different point of view, which was inspired by the text Learning to think things through.  I was curious what standards they might identify through my actions and wanted an unbiased response, free of the standards I had already chosen. So I posed the question, “If you had to identify standards that I hold myself to, does anything come to mind?” Upon receiving the answers, I was relieved that I was on an accurate path in identifying these standards. Though I was not out right told “courage” and “responsibility”, I was reminded that I am always true to myself and never feel that I need to give in to any type of peer pressure. I will also share that I was euphemistically told I do not take “anything” off of anyone.  Although I am aware that I hold myself to standards of responsibility and courage, it was a great reinforcement to have that feedback. It takes courage, even as an adult, to decline participating in office gossip, refrain from fruitlessly complaining about office policy changes, proudly be who I am when it is maybe a little offbeat from those around me, to recognize when I have been wrong, I stand up for myself and stand up and tell friends not to drive when it is in their best interest not to take the wheel.

Reflecting on my standard of responsibility, I think is a bit of a two sided coin. In one instance, I am conscientious and aware of what is asked of me when undertaking tasks and the necessity of being thorough, that excuses are not an acceptable part of completion of my work. I do what is expected without having to be looked after. Conversely, I often find myself dismayed at others for not adhering to the same standard of being responsible for themselves, their actions, their words and their work.  If anything, I would like to think of myself as a living example of courage and responsibility to inspire those around me to be the best versions of themselves and to also to look within and see that they can be those things, too.

Reference: Nosich, G. M. (2012). Learning to think things through: A guide to critical thinking across the curriculum (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

A500.1.5.RB Intellectual Perseverance

The Critical Thinking Community definition of intellectual perseverance is “Having a consciousness of the need to use intellectual insights and truths in spite of difficulties, obstacles, and frustrations; firm adherence to rational principles despite the irrational opposition of others; a sense of the need to struggle with confusion and unsettled questions over an extended period of time to achieve deeper understanding or insight.” (Valuable Intellectual Virtues, 1996)

If you were to slice into my brain to attempt to extract my thoughts on intellectual perseverance you would see my mind churning up concepts of perseverance in general; trying to grasp at putting my finger on what intellectual perseverance is. I pictured myself running, strong and steadfast on my fifth mile and realized, well, that is not me. I kept mulling over what it means and wondered, “Do I even have a relationship with intellectual perseverance?” So, what is a girl to do? Obviously the answer is turn on the song “The Climb” sung by the nearly infamous Miley Cyrus and spend some time pontificating upon this concept. 

Then I realized maybe I was on my own journey to living out intellectual perseverance.  Sometimes the only way to truly understand something is to live it. I got to that point where I just kept saying: “I cannot do it. I cannot go on. I will never figure this out.” As the incapability crept in I coolly summoned my imagery mental sword and said to my frustrations “I can do this. I will do this. I will figure this out.”  I sliced through doubt and slayed my fear, and although I did not share my struggle with a group of people who became my naysayers, I was my own irrational opposition. I tied those intellectual shoe laces tight and set out to declare I was in it for the long haul and spent today observing this theme. I told my friends at work that today is intellectual perseverance day and it is wonderful, that is full of wonder. 

I felt the need to explore this for an entire day and speak about it to others as encouragement and reassurance to those around me who may be periodically facing difficulty, too. I reminded myself that as I advance through this program and the things I want to accomplish in the future that I am going to need to remember this day and practice often. I feel like perseverance in any form needs be developed like a muscle. I am certain that I will face the unknown and become restless, overwrought with anxiety, but consternation when your faith crumbles to pieces is like trying to build a house of cards in front of oscillating fan. It is important to me to face small moments of confusion with fortitude so that I may meet my goals, find an answer and carry on. 

To me, this is something I would favor in a good leader and upon growing into a position of leadership; I would desire to have intellectual perseverance in my skill toolbox. I have seen people call themselves leaders, I have seen people try to be leaders and I have seen leaders in action.  Almost anyone could stand in the front row cheering when everything is easy, but when you do not know what to do; can you muster to dig down with true grit? It is readily identifiable to see what works and what does not. Success can often be quantifiable with results and answers. But as you work with others you can see their methods of problem solving. I have seen people slam files and throw papers, disgusted with themselves and the people in their team. I have also been privileged to see intellectual perseverance first hand. The best leader I have encountered thus far was able to break down the issues, tackle them one at a time, research the unknown and communicate the process while accepting feedback. The poise under pressure and the endurance that ensued gained my respect and if I had to put intellectual perseverance in a particular place, I would venture that it could very well be the keystone that holds up all the other qualities essential to noteworthy leadership.

reference:

Valuable Intellectual Virtues (June 1996). Foundation For Critical Thinking

website link: www.criticalthinking.org or http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/valuable-intellectual-traits/528