Kouzes 6 & 7

Chapter 6
Generate power
It was my sophomore year in high school and I was the Sports Editor of our school newspaper, the Salishian. It was the end of the year and school elections were coming up soon for the following year, as well as applications for top news positions. My advisor, Ms. Woodhouse always made sure that I felt that I was valued and a key member to our team and to the school. She was very adamant about encouraging me to run for class president and to take on the job of Yearbook Editor for the following year.
I was very hesitant and didn't believe I was capable enough to accomplish the high demands that these positions required, yet with her encouragement and tenacious bothering, I completed both applications and passed with flying colors, gaining a large majority vote for student body president and a "shoo-in" for Yearbook Editor, according to Woodhouse. 

The time that I felt so incredibly without any power or direction was during the week of national signing day, a time in the first week of February where high school seniors politically commit to a collegiate athletic team. At this time I had my MSU Letter of Intent hanging over my head as well as very drawn out wait to hear from University of Oregon as far as my prospects to run for the team there. I felt so out of control and that my life was up to the higher powers who only needed to check a simple box to make or break my future. I felt like Icarus flying too close to the sun and not by my own accord. It was easily one of the worst and stressful weeks I've experienced yet. 

Thanks to the persistent encouragement from the beloved Ms. Woodhouse, I continued to climb the ladder of leadership in Journalism. By senior year, I had gained the position of Editor for the school newspaper and was even writing pieces for the local papers as well. I had an incredible team behind me and an ever supportive mentor. Our advisor was new to the program so I really was in charge of everything and everyone. It wasn't a power trip though. It was a give and take of a large pool of talents and creative minds and great leadership all around. I was so blessed to have such an incredible team eager to learn, and even more eager to write. 

Reflecting, I can continue to be a catalyst to others and their individual greatness and successes. I can continue to be full of inspiration and passion and most importantly encouragement. By pushing others to step outside their comfort zones and keep striving forward, greatness and dreams really can be achieved! 

The paradox that is...
Leaders turn their followers into leaders. Wait...but do they?
Many leaders, including myself, struggle with the art of delegation. 
Many battle with this because in their minds they believe they can do it better, faster, nicer and they understand what is needed to be done so they just do it. 
Also many, I believe have a degree of personal fallacy- an idea that they truly are the best. 
You should delegate because non of these ideas are actually true. You have a team. Use them. Each of these individuals have a unique perspective and set of ideas to bring to the table. By using them you can further propel yourself and your creativity as well as the entire team, company, branch, or what have you. It's more efficient, sensible, and delegation really does work when you remember that you aren't god. 

1.Trust
2.Encouragement
3. Confidence
4. Inspiration

1. Thoughts? GO!
2.  How do we start?
3. How do we change this up to be different from the last
4. What are your visions for this particular task?
5. What sections are you most interested/ passionate about?
6. When is our deadline? 

Chapter 7.
I. After being team captain and MVP for my sophomore and junior year in both cross-country and track, I was awarded a plaque that meant even more to me; and my coaches I believe. At my last ever team award banquet for cross- country I was given the coaches award. My two coaches, Matt Seeley and Jenny Brown made a very moving speech about how over the years I had demonstrated the most leadership, sportsmanship, team-spirit and skill. I remember them touching on the fact that I also not only been just an athlete but a good friend to both of them as well as the team and was always one to go to to double check training plans, workouts, race plans, dinner events..yada yada yada. 
I have never felt so appreciated and loved in my life. In addition, all of the younger girls had put together a personal present on top of the plaque and gifts from the coaches. They were all little inside jokes and little things that touched on things that I would do or say. I cried. A lot. There was just so much love and appreciation! 

II. Her name was Lucy. Its the first day of 3G at Camp Warren and Meghan Cosgrove, my incredibly inspiring boss had just finished screaming out the cabin list to mine and Marisa's cabin full of first-time boundary water warriors. Seven girls total, Lucy was immediately the most confident and least shy out of the group. This little twelve year old was oozing with spunk and excitement. 
We went through the first day getting to know one another and you could see the carefree way Lucy would carry herself just put the rest of the girls at ease. We spend the first night setting out our trail gear in preparation for our early morning departure and by this point Lucy has singlehandedly psyched up the entire cabin for our five day adventure in the Boundary Waters, including my co, Marisa and I -a nd this definitely hasn't been our first rodeo in tripping, but there was something about how Lucy and the rest of the girls were talking that made this one seem even more special. Turns out special was an understatement. 
Never have I ever enjoyed myself more, gotten so close with my campers, laughed so much, and been so proud. 
These trips aren't the easiest things in the world, yet because they are the shortest ones Warren offers and because both of the trip leaders, Marisa and I, have quite a bit experience on trail it was possible to make it a bit easier if needed. But was that what our girls wanted? Absolutely not! They asked to be pushed and challenged. And they received! 
As a trip leader, you always focus on pushing your campers past their mental, physical, and emotional boundaries. But with limits of course. Our main focus is for them to feel in power and confident in their abilities and their work with a team and experience being a personal leader. 
We gave them the opportunity to do it all and I don't think there was a single time that Lucy did not offer to try something new, take a canoe on her back in a known to be hard portage or paddle in the wind. Her eagerness to do and try anything rubbed off on the other girls quickly! By the second day Marisa and I weren't even paddling and rarely took a canoe or pack on portages. We only assisted in navigation and by the end of the trip they even had experience cooking trail food! We were basically there to make sure non of them got hurt and keep the group moving but ultimately, it was the girls who did it all. 
The most inspiring thing of it all was that whenever the going got tough, it was Lucy who would be out in the canoe singing or screaming words of encouragement to the rest of the paddlers, or just laughing and telling ridiculous jokes to lighten everyone's mood and keep us all moving. She really was a natural born leader. 
The last night at camp we have a tradition called firewalk. Among other things, it is a chance we as a camp take to recognize exemplary campers, one from each of the three sections. The award is called "firestarter" where they actually physically start the fire at the front of the room and ultimately kick of the night's festivities. When our intermediate section was called together to nominate a camper Marisa and I were jumping with excitement and determination. Lucy HAD to get this award. There just wasn't any other person that we saw that was anywhere near her level. Luckly, the rest of the intermediate section agreed with our statements and by consensus, Lucy had it. 
On the last night, as Marisa and I were describing Lucy we both burst into tears. Tears of pride. This little girl had made such a difference on us and the group as a whole. I was taught so from her and even learned more about myself from her. I will never forget this little Orono hockey player with enough spunk to save the world.  

The time that got us kicked out of Safeway. Hour 6&7

There was a week about three weeks ago that was crazy busy, full of my volunteering.

On that week we were learning in class to grow from our challengers. To learn from them. To respect them and to not hold them in a place of anger. 

Boy was I ready to go out and practice it too! Although, maybe creator was listening to me too closely when I excitedly said I was ready for the challenge. 

On a friday afternoon I was set up at my little card table outside of the entrance to Safeway. As I like to say I, in the most cordial way possible, pestered every individual who walked through the doors asking, "Is your voter registration up to date?" And always asking how their day was, or just simply saying hello. 

Most individuals are an easy judge of character. Either they are interested or they are not. You can feel the vibe and I like to think I'm pretty good at judging whether I should ask a followup question of whether they would be interested in a free, non- partisan voters guide or would like to register for an absentee ballot. 

This particular day was; in sum, bizarre. 

In an earlier post I talked about how I registered an ex-felon for the first time. By this time in my experience working for Montana Women Vote I had registered multiple ex-felons as well as a few homeless individuals. Some of which fell in both categories. 

In the shift before mine, my mentor- Jan Strout was telling me how she did just that thing only an hour before I came to relieve her. When we accomplish something like this, we see it as an achievement and something to be celebrated and the individuals should commended for their efforts. 

On my shift this day; however, I did not encounter this.

But I did encounter, and came to find out in the last sentence this man said to me, that he was a cop. 

This is what happened. 

As he was walking into the building I greeted him the same way as I had done to every other individual. He was tall, with short silver hair and wearing a black leather jacket. I'm saying this because usually it's not the hardest to pin point why an individual says that they can't register to vote. In any case, when he hurriedly said that he could not vote because he was a felon, I said "Okay, well what would you say if I told you that in Montana you can register to vote?" The man responded by saying that he would talk to me on his way out. 

I happened to catch his eye as he was leaving and he made a bee line towards me. 

He kept asking how it was possible and I continued to hand him pamphlet after pamphlet explaining the rights of ex-felons in Montana. After he seemed satisfied and I once again asked him if he would like to register to vote, he quickly turned on his heels and stated matter-of-factly, "I'm a cop, thanks though."

I was pretty upset to be honest. 

In a way, I felt played. Played out of my time to potentially reach out to other individuals who were walking into Safeway. Played out of my credibility as a person who is actually trying to help an ex-fellon, not belittle them. I also felt disappointed in the man. I was shocked that he was unaware of this clause saying that ex-felons were allowed to vote here in the state of Montana. I expect the average citizen on the street to not recognize the existence of it but a cop? Come on. 

Anyways. That was just the start of my day. 

The hard part was to come at the end of my shift. 

Again, there was a man walking through the doors of Safeway. And once again, I greeted this man the way I greet every individual, with a smile and honest interest in the person. The man did not seem to be interested and continued on his way. 

However, as he walked out and I nicely said to him, "have a good day sir," he made his way towards my table. He quickly started shooting me questions about the organization and what we were doing. I responded by telling him that we were a non-profit organization canvassing the local area to register individuals to vote. 

He responded by saying, "But I am not a woman, why did you ask me in the first place."

I told him that although our name is "Montana Woman Vote" we are here for anyone and everyone. I explained to him how our focus was to educate and mobilize low-income women and their allies to participate in the democratic process as informed voters, policy advocates, and leaders within the community. 

Then came the harassment. 

The man started asking me why we are pushing women to become engaged. 

I cooly responded it was because there are many issues regarding the rights of women especially when it came to reproductive health care that are on the chopping block in the ballot initiatives this year. 

He then started shooting me question after question, trying to get me to point fingers and name individuals and parties. Asking why I thought he as a tax payer should be paying for a teenagers, and I quote, "fuck up." Why it was him who should be paying nine dollars for birth control. -For the record, it's about three times that amount for the average teen to get birth control. 

I continued to say that I was simply out to get the vote and by no means to point fingers or to push my political views on anyone else.

But the man wouldn't stop. 

He continued to harass me trying to pull out words that knew would upset him. He started saying things like, "you might want to learn a thing or two before you go out preaching about shit you don't know." and "sounds like you need to get your facts straight."

By this time I had shut down. I am not one to give up on a fight, especially when it is something I believe in, but I knew there was no winning or even compromise with this man.

Yet, he continued to belittle, attack, talk down, and stand over me. He would not stop trying to pry out words that I knew would only make him more upset. 

Never did I talk down about a party. Never did I say anything bad about a specific politician. 

Ultimately, I stopped talking. Partly because I had nothing to say, partly because I was doing my best to hold back the soon to come tears. And let me point out, i'm not one to cry. 

It was at this point that he started asking for names and numbers. My supervisor and our branch...yada yada yada. I was happy to give it to him because I knew he would soon be on his way and I also knew that I didn't do a single thing wrong. 

Finally he, oddly enough, wished me a good day and turned away. 

I had about five more minutes left of my shift and was the last one for the day so I packed up all of my papers, table, and chairs and rushed over to by boss's house.

I broke down almost immediately. She could tell there was something wrong and as I sputtered out the events she couldn't believe it. 

After I had calmed down a little we talked it out. 

We talked about how she has run into individuals with the same motives as this man; to belittle, degrade, and talk down to women. His motive was not to learn about the organization, it was to stomp on it and myself. 

I learned quite a lot from this experience. I recognize that not all individuals are open to social change, even a change that has been around for a few decades now. I recognize that not all are happy about young people, young women, becoming involved in things that matter. Becoming involved in the white man's world. I also recognize that there are, and will always be people who will remain stuck in their ways. Its the way one chooses to react to that person that may make a difference. 

As a result of this day, Safeway forbade our organization from ever coming to work there again, thanks to his frivolous complaint. My boss told me that she encouraged the Safeway CEO to further investigate the man who complained. It may give her some insight to the events. 

I also made some decisions that day. I decided that it is my job, and my right to be out doing the kind of work I am doing. This day did not stop me in the slightest bit, rather, it further propelled me with a newfound passion and sense of meaning. He did not do what he came there that day to do- to stop me in my tracks. I would be lying if I said I wasn't traumatized or hurt. Because I sure was. But it made me value my rights and my privileges and to stand up for what I believe in. No matter how hard the hits may be. 

Kouzes chapter 4

My past as prologue to my future

1. Studying abroad in New Zealand for a year: First experience of travel and independence. Also where I found my love for running
2. Camp Warren: Gave me sense of self, leadership, and confidence.
3. Meeting Greg Mortenson and interviewing him on this efforts for bringing schools to Pakistan.
4. Mission trip to Israel: Continued to broaden my world view, became increasingly involved in politics.
5. Journalist/ editor of newspaper: Became involved in rights of women and children in Africa and the middle east.
6. Wilderness First Responder course: Inspired my love for emergency medicine and want for medical training. 

I find a theme in culture involvement and the passion for discovering new worlds. I find that my love for writing can and has been translated into giving those who may not have a voice, a story. I also find my love for emergency and back country care translate into my current degree in Nursing. 

What I am struggling with now is how could I bring these two passions and meanings into one? 

II. Imagine the Possibilities 
My vision is to empower women through the means of education.
I believe many individuals around the world have begun the campaign for women's rights and if I could get the ball rolling somehow, in a larger way, that if I were gone others could step up and continue my work. I believe other people can become inspired by the work that I hope to be doing someday. I can see others wanting to do their part in providing women with the basic needs of education and saying that this is also a project that they want to become committed to. 

My project is like growing a heart out of stem cells. It's tedious. It takes time. It may not always work, but it is possible. 

One land, two stories

With justice served as of Osama Bin Laden's daring capture and execution, one might wonder what was his beef with the U.S.A. in the first place? The multiple branches of his hatred, and others in the Arab world, can be reduced to one seed: Our nearly unconditional support of Israel.

            The modern nation of Israel was created following World War II despite the fact that Palestinian Arabs had been living there, pretty much for as long as homosapiens have been on two legs. So, if the United Nations determined that a group of people had the right to move into Montana, kill many of us in the process, and treat the remaining people as dirt, you might not be endeared to them either. For our Native American elders, this is more than an exercise in empathy.

            But back to the Israeli conflict. There was a time, not too long ago, when Israel and their neighbor Egypt signed a momentous peace accord. This occurred after decades of bloodshed between two Arabian nations, Egypt and Israel, and just a mere 5 years following the peril of the Yom Kippur War. Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian president Muhammad Anwar al-Sadat met at the U.S. presidential retreat, Camp David, in 1978. Brokered with President Jimmy Carter, the two signed the first peace agreement ever drafted between these two powers.

Prior to this agreement, Egypt and Israel had been enemies for nearly three decades and were in disputed combat at least four times in thirty years. At these tense Camp David negotiations, each party refused to negotiate directly, using Carter as mediator. Throughout the thirteen days of an ultimate game of quid-pro-quo, both parties endured much pressure and an immense amount of gridlock. For example, on the 11^th day, Sadat declared he would unilaterally terminate the negotiation proceedings and leave Camp David without signing any agreement.

            Within the text of the Camp David Accords, Israel and Egypt recognized and accepted that the recent visits combined with the “peace proposals made my both leaders, as well as the warm reception of these missions by the peoples of both countries have created an unprecedented opportunity for peace which must not be lost if this generation and future generations are to be spared in the tragedies of war.” [source 1]

          One of the most crucial aspects in which to keep in mind while studying the Camp David Accords, and with the Israeli, Palestinian conflict in general is the fact that the state of Israel is known as the “cradle of civilization” in the Middle East and, most importantly, is the birthplace of three prominent religions. Since the creation of Israel, people of the Middle East have not had the luxury of peace. In efforts to reconcile, and pursue peace in the region Sadat and Begin joined together to sign one of the greatest peace documents of its time, and furthered the Middle East one major step forward in the peace process.

Peace requires respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every state in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force. Progress toward that goal can accelerate movement toward a new era of reconciliation in the Middle East marked by cooperation in promoting economic development, in maintaining stability and in assuring security.


Shaul Gabbay, a Jew born in Israel, and Amin Kazak, a muslim born in Palestine, came to Montana State University to speak about how they learned to work together, despite their deeply rooted disagreements. Although these two men and their histories have shed far too much blood over the decades they believe that together they can work to find a peaceful solution. 

It is apparent that although they agree to work together, they still do not - and probably never will agree on the terms such as "who's land is it anyway?" But this fortuitous friendship led to a very inspiring night. 

Each began by introducing their individual background and connection to their homeland. I have been interested and involved in many talks, discussions and even arguments over the sticky subject of who deserves the land, who should be there, and how in the heck do we fix it such deep animosity? I greatly appreciated the form of respect each held for the other and their poise while listening to one's claims. It almost felt like a court hearing. Where the defense states their evidence and claim then comes the states evidence and claims. Each are required to listen with respect and poise yet hold their one credibility by each own's rebuttals. 

I was very impressed at was excited about gaining yet another window into each of Gabbay and Kazak's world the kind of work that these two men are doing may even one day be compared with Carter's efforts of peace in the late 70's with the Camp David Accords. 

Ultimately, upon the signing of the Camp David Accords on September 17, 1978 was one of the greatest peace negotiations and examples of diplomacy of our time. By the efforts of three diplomats joining together to come to a single answer to one of the most difficult questions in the book- what to do about the perpetual conflicts within the Middle East, these men displayed poise and respect and showed an alternative to negotiations besides fighting and bloodshed. President Carter praised Begin and Sadat in their resolution saying that it is “a great step forward, and sure proof of the tremendous courage of Prime Minister Begin and Sadat.” For a time, hope of a some-day peaceful Middle East was renewed. The stimulated debates between all three men will be remembered as one of the largest steps made towards peace, in a place where conflict will most likely never cease. Sadat and Begin were later awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1978 for their bilateral efforts at peace. Former President Jimmy Carter was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, in 2002 for what presenters claimed “his decades of work seeking peaceful solutions and promoting social and economic justice.”

I do believe that Kazak and Gabbay will be able to glue together the broken land and it's people one day. There's a quote that I have always followed, "start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. These men are on their way to doing and modeling the way for mending the impossible. 

Source 1: Original Document of Camp David Accords

Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West

While a number of empowered US women have crashed through the glass ceiling of leadership, odds are that few women in underdeveloped countries will ever get a seat at any table of leadership. So, how did our socially oppressive and backward “frenemy,” Pakistan, produce and twice elect a female leader, Benazir Bhutto, years ago, and ahead of a woman becoming president of the United States? 

Bhutto, assassinated five years ago when campaigning for a third term, was well connected as the oldest child of a former prime minister. But, Pakistan is not a monarchy. Undeniably, it was the character of ‘the iron lady,’ as she was known, and her interpersonal and political savvy that made her appealing to both the uneducated masses and intellectual elite of the typically repressive country.

For me, that Bhutto led within an oppressive, male dominant society is something to be celebrated. That she ultimately made the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ fearlessly hammering against the ruling regime’s glass ceiling, made her a heroine for women and lovers of liberty, worldwide.

While her courage inspires, her leadership qualities inform. Friend, speechwriter, and advisor Mark Siegel produced the documentary "BHUTTO" in his way of teaching the world about this fantastic woman and friend of his. Siegel received a 2012 Peabody award as well as receiving nominations for an Emmy from his efforts in producing this film.

I was incredibly moved by the showing of this documentary and was further inspired by the personal connection I was able to make with Dr. Siegel. This man has moved mountains in and of itself. He is not only an exemplary foreign policy advisor and political consultant, but teacher as well. By his ability to move out of his personal loss to help others gain their own knowledge is awe-inspiring. 

There is so much of Bhutto and Siegel’s work that I have used as a guide in efforts of achieving my personal life goals. My big, hairy, audacious goal of empowering women through the means of education seems just a little more attainable thanks to these two incredible individuals. 

Kouzes Chapter 5

I. Check for limiting assumptions
1. I can't do this because lack of funding (+) find sponsors
2. I can't do this because I can't take time off from nursing school (-)
3. I don't have the time and commitment for such a project (-) 
4. I can't do this because its too far away (+) buck up, write letters
5. I can't do this because it is too big of an immersion (+) again, buck up

II. Look outside
1. Find a mentor/ advisor
2. Begin making contacts with organizations/ individuals who are doing similar projects
3. Start brainstorming with individuals with a variety of perspectives to get a vast amount of ideas. 

III. Get started in small ways
I have been dying to spend a year in Patagonia through NOLS- National Outdoor Leadership School. My goal is to gain a large amount of clinical experience throughout this year-long. Not only does this course offers 27 credit hours in biology, environmental studies, leadership techniques, skills practicum, risk management, expedition planning, and cultural studies and is based off a skill building curricullum. There I would be gaining an increased expertise in mountaineering, fly fishing, sea kayaking, backpacking, and rock climbing, as well as participating in a local service project and gaining increased knowledge of the culture over the course of 135 days. In addition, I would gain my WEMT-wilderness EMT certification over the course of the semester. 
My first step in possibly making this dream a reality is to research possible scholarships and grants. NOLS is the best of the best, and the best certainly doesn't not mean cheap. The largest obstacle right now is funding. The course itself is 27, 500 for the 2013-2014 year. 

What would that bring you?

While reading Peter Senge and Dave Meldahl's articles on vision based leadership and the power of looking into your future, I found myself repeating the last lines of the poem, Invictus by William Ernest Henley; "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."

Thinking forward into my future scares the crap out of me. And using declarative present tense sentences about my future life...well I may have just pooped my pants. However, at the same time it gives me a crazy sense of exhilaration and excitement.Knowing that you have the power to control your destiny with some hard work and your blood, sweat and tears is pretty dang inspiring. The notion of the world being your oyster is almost overwhelming. 

But what do I really want? 

In Senge's exercise of discovering our personal vision, finding the end result was not as nearly as easy as I thought. 

The first time I only made it through the first three steps of the exercise. 

First, we went about determining the way we want to exist in our future selves. That alone was just a little frightening. Next came the reflection on the vision component. When I chose my declarative statement of what I would be doing I was a little stuck. The way I envision my future is through a series of steps. I complete one step then envision the next. I'm a one-step-at-a-time kind of girl. Envisioning that final stepping stone was slightly difficult because I also recognize that just like the "Goosebumps" books I read in elementary school, our final result could change with just a simple decision to go to page 54 rather than 72. 

But that's not to say I don't make goals. Before I dive into anything whether it be athletics, school or work I always take the time to write out goals. I have immediate, mid-term, and long term goals. This has been especially crucial in my athletics career.  I have a special journal that I carry with me almost always. This journal is filled with every past season's goals and times for every race I've ever competed in. When I was attempting to break five minutes in the mile last year not only did I write my finish time of 4:58 in my journal for my season peak, but I had sticky notes posted EVERYWHERE. In my dorm, on my mirror, in my locker, on my desktop, my screen saver on my phone...when I say everywhere, I mean it. 

Not only did I have my mile time goal, but I had the splits calculated as to how I would achieve it. Every 400 was calculated down to the second, every 200 was broken down to milliseconds. I had a goal and a plan as to how I was going to achieve it. The hard part was over right? Ha! If only it were that easy...this is just the beginning...

Anyone can write down times on a neon post-it, but not everyone can follow through with them. 

It takes courage, perseverance, determination and a hell of a lot of dedication. You cannot be afraid of the inevitable pain. As an athlete you know that pain will come, it's just your choice of whether you want to cross that threshold and embrace it. 

The same goes with being a leader. In my experience I always have goals. I think calling them goals rather than a "vision" is less scary to me. In my position as a leader I also break it down in the immediate, mid-term and long-term goals. Additionally, not only do I write the goals, but I verbalize them and make them known. When working with a team, the goals are formulated as a group and everyone is on the same page. I make sure to re-visit the goals in meetings and revise them when needed. Meldahl recounts a womans newfound leadership taking on a "struggling territory," she, "led her team through a process to develop their region's values and chart their direction for the next year and beyond." When the time to make a decision, the company evaluated the decisions refrencing off of this chart. 

When one has a grounded base in values, goals, or a vision- whichever you prefer to call them, the success rate of the individual, team, or company thrives almost exponentially. After all, we are the masters of our ships, the captain of our souls. It's up to us as to how we want to command it.