Summer Reflection Essay

I have been thinking about my reflection paper for quite some time. What did I really learn this summer? Have a grown? This year in BYUSA has been a completely different experience for me than last year. I often feel like an observer as I watch others learn and experience the same things that I did this past year, but I think that is what makes this year important for me. I am really going to be able to learn and grow as a leader this year as I help others to be successful.

I have decided to split this paper into two sections. First, I wanted to focus on some of the main lessons I have learned throughout the summer from other people. Secondly, I have organized those lessons into characteristics I have tried to develop more this summer.

The main lesson I have learned repeatedly this summer comes from Elder Oaks’ talk. He said, “The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming.” I need to work every day to become the leader I want to be. Elder Robbins reemphasized this when he said, “May your efforts to develop Christlike attributes be successful so that His image may be engraven in your countenance and His attributes manifest in your behavior. Then, when your children or others feel of your love and see your behavior, it will remind them of the Savior and draw them to Him.” The leader I want to be is one who causes others to be reminded of the Savior and draw them to Him.

Most of my learning in BYUSA comes directly from those I associate with on a regular basis. I decided one of the best ways to reflect this year would be to record some of the lessons I have learned form each individual. I am so grateful for each of them. My biggest hope is that I am able to make an impact on their lives as they have on mine.

· Brother Cox – We always need to make time for the individual because people are more important than programs and work.

· Brother Ward – It is so important to teach principles and allow people to then learn through action. I have learned so much knowing I can trust Brother Ward with anything and that I have his trust and support.

· Brother Klemme – Preparation is crucial. I was always impressed by his preparation for all of his lessons and for all crucial conversations with me, or others.

· Sister Gray – It is important to always stand for our values and expect the best. Almost always people will pull through when we set high standards for them. I also love that Tamara is willing to laugh!

· Sister Blomquist – Everyone comes from a different background, but that is what makes working with people so great. We are able to learn from the experiences of others.

· Sister Shewfelt – A quiet heart can sometimes inspire more than anything else. I need to be sure to listen as well as Val does.

· Ryan Greenburg – I’m not sure if I can put everything I have learned from Ryan in a sentence or two. J He has taught me that people are often striving to be their best. We should always assume the best, work hard, and communicate with open hearts.

· Brandon Hatch – I love it when Brandon speaks from his heart about spiritual things. He has increased my gratitude for sincere reverence.

· Samantha Crane – We should get to know the individuals we are serving and think about them often. That is how we can be inspired as to what they need.

· Phil Schwartz – We need to spend time with people outside of the workplace to increase trust. Phil wrote me the nicest card this past month. I know he is trying to recognize the good in everyone. It is inspiring.

· Kylie Cobb – There is so much power in joy and optimism. I have never seen Kylie sad or stressed. She always wears here trials with a smile. I think that is where she finds the greatest strength.

· Devin Singh – He is a great example of quiet strength. He never leads from a throne, but has taught me that it is important to lead with humility and love while working with the people we lead.

· Joshua Matson – We have something to learn from every individual because every individual has something to contribute.

· Christina Westover – She has taught me to have passion for service. She shows me every day in the office that she has sincere passion for her work because of her excitement and love for the individuals her programs will serve.

· Amber Kent – She has taught me that as leaders we need to offer constructive criticism. I need to be better at helping those I work with develop as leaders in the ways they want to develop.

· Jeffrey Whitlock – He has taught me the importance of having knowledge. I need to be willing to learn from everyone and everything so I can make a greater contribution to the world.

· Jake Evans – We can really help others to feel love for a vision by the way we communicate about it.

· Kelsey Page – If we have excitement everyday, the energy will be contagious and people will want to be around you.

· Abraham Kim – We need to be ourselves because that is the only true way to find success.

· Ashley Blair Alexander – I need to keep my priorities straight all the time. That is the only way I will be able to keep my life in balance. We seem to have this same struggle sometimes.

· Olivia Gallegos – I need to always be willing to be innovative with my ‘green’ hat on.

· Sarah Carrigan – Leaders need to earn respect. It isn’t just inherent.

· Mallory Brugger – People respect sweet, hard workers. I have so much love and respect for this girl because of her willingness to always do her best!

· Karen Kleinman – We need to always be looking for new ways to improve. I have been impressed by her willingness to seek them out.

· Andrew Grisson – Be happy and meet everyone! A smile, kind word, or other small act of service is bound to brighten everyone’s day.

· Shawn Crawley – Be inclusive! Shawn is always talking to a new person on the outside and looking to help people get involved.

· Miranda Steed – Don’t be afraid to show some personality. I am so grateful that whenever I talk to Miranda, I know I am getting the real Miranda.

· Haley Walker – It is ok to be vulnerable sometimes. I am so grateful for this girl and her consistent friendship. I know I will have her as my friend for life.

· Steven Fortney – We should work hard, keeping the right vision, and our efforts will not be missed. He is an amazing example of this.

· Jennifer Gordon – She has a certain light in her eyes all the time. It is so evident by the actions she takes that she has a sincere love for people. For that, I will always be grateful.

· Chelsea Chen – Chels has so much energy! She has shown me that it is important to have fun.

· Jessica Godfrey – It is always ok to blow your leader’s expectations out of the water.

· Eric Cecil – Sometimes an organization needs people that will always do things right and can always be trusted. Eric is that guy. He is great! Honestly, he has taught me the importance of consistency. I can trust him, and I know Phil can, to be consistent with his level of excellence.

· Rachel Smith – We should strive to be excellent in everything we do, because we can be excellent. Rachel’s internal drive is inspiring.

These individuals are why I am here. The cool thing about BYUSA is that each of these people are able to touch my life, and hundreds of other lives through their service here. I am so grateful for a school that recognizes the importance of education outside of the classroom.

I also decided to think through some of the specific leadership qualities I have tried to improve over the last few months. I have experienced a lot of growth, but I still have a ways to go!

· Communication – it is crucial to keep everyone on the same page. Sometimes I may feel like I am doing this, but I can never really be sure until I have followed up with all individuals. Ryan and I are going to start meeting with each of the coordinators once a month to make sure this is happening.

· Delegation – I need to delegate and then trust those I am leading to accomplish the work. The reality with delegating though is that some people are not quite ready for full delegation – it is all about situational leadership. I realized this summer that Brandon might need more coaching than I thought. I also learned that Josh will thrive as I allow him to take control of his responsibilities, but I need to be clear on my expectations first.

· Confidence – often people will look up to you even when you don’t feel you deserve it. I need to be sure to be confident that my actions are the best I can do so I can be assured that others in the office are following the best Brittanie.

· Knowledge – In order to be an effective leader for the people I am leading, I need to be an expert on the area I have been charged with. When I do not know all the answers, I need to be sure to say that I don’t know all the answer and work with the volunteer to find them. It isn’t bad to make a mistake, or not know something; a good leader is always willing to find out.

· Perspective – a good leader is able to see the big picture and help those he or she leads to slowly see more as they are prepared for it. I realized how grateful I am for the perspective that I have as a divine-centered leader. That is what gives me the strength to be who I want to be.

· Integrity – I need be able to stand for what I know is right all the time. The part that I struggle with most is my ability to communicate how I really feel in a situation of conflict without letting my emotions control my actions. Sometimes I chicken out and don’t allow myself to express my true feelings. A part of integrity is being willing to be vulnerable.

· Adaptability – I recognized over and over again this summer that things were not always going to go as I planned, but if I am able to adapt to my situations, I can still be an effective leader. One way that I learned this lesson was in seeing the different submissions that my EDs gave me for the program descriptions. It was my job to accept them at the level they were at and help them to improve from where they are. Everyone we lead will begin at a different level. Hopefully we will all end this next year having become better leaders.

· Decision-making – I have realized with both of my teams that it is sometimes necessary to have a leader that will just make a choice. I am grateful that I am decisive and able to do so. In my SAC team, we could debate for hours, but if I was never willing to make a final decision, I don’t know if anything would actually happen. This has become effective because of the trust we all have in each other.

These characteristics and skills are all things I have learned with more emphasis this summer and hope to continue working on throughout this next year.

Spring Reflection Essay

Service is really about the individuals. This lesson has hit home repeatedly over the past few months. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve in BYUSA so I can come to better understand myself and how I can impact those around me. More than anything, I have come to better understand that BYUSA is about serving the students here at BYU, but it is also about preparing leaders to serve later in their lives. This experience has really refined me and the person that I am so that I am more able to go forth to serve. I guess I am here this year to help others to learn how to be better leaders. Every individual here at BYU has something to offer, here at school, and in society. The Savior was perfect at this. He always left people better than he found them. I want to be able to better follow his example. Throughout my reflection, I want to focus on the major lessons this term has taught me and provide some evidence of experience.

Perspective is everything.

It has been really hard for me to be a member of the presidency for a second round, working under a president who does lack the experience that I have. I do have full confidence in Ryan’s ability to be a leader, but sometimes I have a hard time watching him make the same mistakes I learned this past year. I have said many prayers in my office during the times of frustration and trials. Honestly, at times I have felt that I am not able to be my best self when I am around Ryan. That really worries me. What I have learned this term from Ryan is that we need to remember that perspective is everything. I can make it through anything by remembering who I am and what I stand for. I need to be a leader of integrity. When we are among the people in the office, Ryan and I need to be completely unified. When I am in a closed room with him, those are the times that I need to be honest and upfront so as to create the unity that we will need to live by. As I have taken the council of my mom and Brother Ward, I have realized that often working with other people is all about how we communicate with them so we can have the same perspective about a situation.

Moving forward, I want to be a leader who never says anything bad about anyone around me. I want to have the eternal perspective about the individuals we will encounter and have the opportunity to serve. I need to remember the power that each person has to impact BYU for good and serve in the kingdom. My perspective will be everything as I go throughout this year of service. This is how I will be able to learn and grow from this experience.

Charity is the greatest quality I could have as a leader.

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about my past leaders and the impact they have made on my life. I think the greatest quality they have shown me is that of love. They have been willing to accept me for who I am and help me to become a better person. I want to be known as a kind leader. I want to lead by example and be a leader people can look up to. I often think back on the leadership of Elise May and the kindness she showed those around her. She was able to meet an individual and help them to feel invaluable right away. I want to develop this skill over the next year. In reflecting on many of the experiences I have had this term, being more loving could have helped me to be more successful. If I had been able to love Julie for the girl that she was, I probably would have handled myself better when things went poorly. If I were more loving toward Ryan, I would have been a better support to him as he learned about the leader he wanted to become. If I would have been a better friend to Brandon, he may have come to understand this organization for what it is at a faster speed. Love has the power to change hearts and an immense power to lead people if applied in the right way. As I go throughout this next year, I want to be the leader that those around me need. I want to make people feel like they can do great things. I want to be the friend others can count on. Mostly, I want others to think of me as a sweet leader. No longer will I pride myself on my ability to by bold as a leader, but rather I will strive to help others improve with my love.

Where is my heart?

I would have never been able to participate in this experience if it weren’t for my motive to serve people. I want to help other individuals grow as leaders and become better tools for our Father in the kingdom. I know that I have the right motive in BYUSA, but I think I need to remember it throughout the next year. My motive will keep me going, but it also has the power to help me be better at my other goals. To be able to serve with the right motive, I need to be sure to keep a steady routine this next year. When I am focusing on a good schedule, I am more likely to have good scripture study and do the other things that I think is important. I will also want to keep myself healthy, with proper sleeping habits. If I am able to get enough sleep, I will be a better leader. Motive is at the roots of all of my actions. I need to have a weekly check with myself to ensure that my motive is staying pure.

I am so grateful for this term and for the challenges we have had and the lessons I have learned. Everything truly happens for a reason. As Tommy mentioned in our class, “Love is a lifestyle.” I want to make love my lifestyle. This is the only way I will be able to increase my power as a leader.

Honor - Val Shewfelt

What does honor mean to me?

To me, living with honor means that I am a person who lives with integrity and respect. It isn't hard to make a good decision once, but it is hard to make many good decisions over and over again. If I am able to have consistent integrity, I will be that much closer to living a life of honor. The Savior was the perfect example of this. He loved everyone, all the time. All of his decisions to do good were consistently made. I want to be consistent in my actions of integrity. By doing so, I will be more honorable. I love what Faust said of honor, "But if you live so as to know the Lord’s will, you will find peace in your soul and great happiness. You will be among those who will enjoy 'the highest place of honor in human life.'" I hope to live worthy to be considered honorable after this life.

My cookie experience...

I gave my cookie to my roommate Noelle and her boyfriend Andrew. It was actually a great experience. I explained that the honor code is about a lot more than the rules. The honor code is really about honorable living and how well we are able to live the principles of the code in our daily lives. We had a great discussion about living at a higher standard. That is what sets us apart as Latter-Day Saints. We are expected to hold ourselves at a higher standard and by so doing we become better disciples of Christ.

Branding - Tamara Gray

What does the BYUSA brand really mean to me?

To me the BYUSA brand is all about fun, people, service, laughter, busy lives, and friendship. When I see the BYUSA logo, I have feelings of love for the people up there. I guess that's what it's all about for me.

What can I do to take ownership of the brand in my area?

I think I need to be sure that everyone in my area is willing to live the BYUSA vision. That is the only way we will be able to take ownership for the BYUSA brand. By simply loving people when we first meet them, by being organized in our events and executing them well, and by being a friend to everyone. I need to be willing to plan our events with the BYUSA vision in mind. That is what we want to be the brand.

How will I explain the brand to others?

I will explain the brand to others by using the BYUSA vision. I normally focus on my favorite parts, or the key words. When people have more questions about BYUSA, I normally go into a description of the 6 areas of BYUSA. I will focus on the ones that the individual would be most interested in. I will explain the brand after first getting to know an individual, then explain the parts that are pertinent to them.

Working with Volunteers - Brother Cox

What advantages are there in working with volunteers?

There are many advantages to working with volunteers. In general volunteers are excited, passionate, and whole-hearted. Most of all, I love the pure motive that volunteers have. In general, a volunteer is much more willing to serve because they believe in the cause they are working toward. This is why I love BYUSA so much. I almost always encounter volunteers who are excited about the prospect of serving in BYUSA because it is fun, enjoyable, and even more so, the BYUSA vision inspires those who serve with us.

What disadvantages are there in working with volunteers?

Volunteers sometimes lack commitment, expertise, and dependability. These problems only seem to exist when the volunteer does not have the proper motive.

How will you select and place volunteers?

I plan to select and place volunteers by first establishing detailed job descriptions so the volunteer will know exactly what they are getting themselves into. I will then seek out volunteers and get them set up with certain volunteer opportunities that match their interests and passions. Upon finding the perfect match, we will begin!

How will you train volunteers?

I plan to train my volunteers on a schedule. First, I will focus on the vision. By understanding the vision, we will be able to encourage that students be excited about service and the opportunities that BYUSA gives them to bless lives. I will then work to unify my team. After finishing those two duties, I will strive to teach the principles behind what we do in our area.

How will we reward and retain volunteers?

I really like rewarding volunteers with sincere thanks. I am a note-writing girl. I like to write notes and let individual's know of my love for them that way. I want to be better this year at finding out what I can do to recognize my team in the ways that they most like to be appreciated. I'm not sure what those ways are, but I am soon to find out. :)

Situational Leadership - Adrian Klemme

Identify your own unique capabilities (as was explained in class) that will help you to identify what specific leadership style to use when in different situations. Explain how those inherent capabilities will benefit you and your leadership responsibilities for this upcoming year of service.

My unique capabilities? Good question... I think I am able to accurately perceive what the needs of others are. I am able to judge their responses to my behavior and make an appropriate decision from there. This has really helped me to see what I can do for others. Since I am grounded in my own life, I am not swayed as much by the actions of others and I am able to expect certain principles. As a leader, I will need to remember to be forgiving when I need to be forgiving, but stern when life calls for stern actions.

Identify in your roles some of the Directive Behaviors and Selective Behaviors you will implement as you work with your ED teams. Categorize them into specific situations where you will use these behaviors and provide a brief explanation about how and why each behavior will be used in that capacity (example: Selective Behavior – Listening, Stewardship Meetings, to let my ED know that I value their feedback and input on matters relating to ……). You can do this in a list or matrix format.

Directive Behavior - Authoritative - Conducting Meetings - I will choose the format of our area meetings and expect that the executive directors follow my outlined structure. That way, our meetings will always be productive and they will stay consistent in their content as a meeting.

Directive Behavior - Driven - Delegation - I am determined about my ambitions and where I want to see them go, so I will ensure that when the actions of my EDs aren't moving in the right direction, I will help them to change.

Selective Behavior - Motivation - Middle of Fall - I feel the like the middle of fall is going to be the next time that I will really need to be the motivating leader on our team to help them be excited about what they are doing.

Selective Behavior - Listening - stewardships - I will listen to my EDs during stewardships because I really do want to know how they are feeling about life and what they are striving to accomplish.

Selective Behavior - Delegating - programs - I will trust my executive directors with the day to day decisions on their programs because that is how they will be able to grow as leaders.

Take a current assessment of the development level of your incoming ED team and identify which leadership style they will initially require from you when they begin in a few weeks. Provide a brief explanation of specific things you will do to help them know you are "relating" to and understanding their development level.

Josh - I don't know if this is possible, but I feel like Josh is currently in the Directing area, but somewhat in the delegating area. Josh has a very high level of commitment, but his competency is very high in somethings and low in other things. I am going to have to work to ensure that he is kept in check to know that he is not always right. Maybe humble him a little bit. :) I know there will be times that I will need to let him go with his ideas, but other times that I will need to ensure that he is properly following the vision.

Christina - I would trust this girl with my life. She is extremely competent and committed! I am so excited to see her as a part of my area. I would expect her to be similar to Josh in her levels of leadership needs. She is very competent in some programs, but less so in some other programs. I will need to be sure to let Christina know that I do love and appreciate her. She will probably need some coaching to feel like she is making a significant impact on SAC.

Amber - Amber needs a friend. I would say that she is probably in the same stages as the others as well, but my actions will probably be a little different. My hope is that I can be her support in life, but remember that I need to be the leader who can hold her accountable as an ED. The cool thing with Amber is that we have a certain level of trust already, so I am just going to let her fly and remember to keep her guided toward the group vision.

Jeff - He is probably the least competent coming into this position. I want to help Jeff to understand that he can make a significant impact on BYUSA by being diligent with his learning curve. I need to be sure to educate him on the proper ways to carry out his programs, and keep his motivation high!

Team - Logan Mann

Where in the cycle do you feel the presidency currently is?

Honestly, this kind of feels like a hard question. Since our presidency has been somewhat dysfunctional lately with so many people gone, it is kind of hard to put a title on our presidency as a whole. I guess with that analysis, I would say our presidency is currently somewhere in the storming ... or maybe that's not giving us enough credit. As a whole, that is where we are, but as the current presidency in the office, we belong more in the norming stage. I think that is fairly normal for the time of year we are at. We are starting to get our bearings and see where we are going forward to. I am so thankful for the opportunities this office can give us to progress as a group!

How can you help make the presidency perform?

Honestly, I think I need to begin by being more charitable. I need to be more willing to accept the presidency members for who they are and understand that I need to be a situational leader. Sometimes, I get too caught up in the rules of the game, and forget that there are people on our team. I could learn a lot from remembering Brother Cox's example in my life.

I also need to be better at following up with the presidency members on their areas and how they are individually progressing. If I can accomplish this, I will help to increase my trust in them as I see their competence. I will also be able to help them to trust me as their leader.

I need to be a friend. I need to have fun and laugh with them. If I can accomplish these things, we will have a better relationship base and be able to remember the joy of the 'norming' stage.

I want to hold people accountable, with love. I really need to focus on holding them accountable, but having increased love afterward, as the scripture teaches.

Describe your plan to get you area team to performing stage.

I am so excited for my area to get here!! Seriously, my E.D.s are amazing and I am excited to see their contagious passion and where it is going to lead them. I want to first help them through the forming stage on adventure experience. I have a number of getting to know you activities that I want to help them out with. I then want to study a book together during summer term. I'm not sure yet what that book is going to be, but I know it is going to be great. :) By establishing a vision upfront together, I think we can be prepared to effectively make it through the storming stage. Throughout summer term, I will be training them on the 'norms' of SAC and how I expect things to go. Hopefully, this preparation will effectively get us to the performing stage.