My mind has been opened up a lot more here at Baylor. I recognize the opportunities available to me and some things I actually wanna pursue later in life. As said before in a previous reflection, I want to start investing in the stock market and develop that as a skill to help others. I also do wanna start an athletic training business if being a doctor or dentist doesn’t work out completely. I wanna be able to train people and exercise  to help them achieve their body through hard work. I also love to work out and lift weights. Either way, I have no developed back up plans for my life to be the most successful I can make it be. If all else fails, I will join the military and make a career through that. Only time will tell though and all I need right now is drive and ambition to make my goals reality.

Looking back at the course I have developed lots of friends in this class more than any other. I loved the ideas of discussing in class and within groups as we gained new knowledge while also developing friendships and breaking the ice. I love that the most about the class, however, I was not a huge fan of the blogs as they were a little tedious but they did allow us to reflect on the content of the week. I will take away the traits, models, and ideas throughout my leadership journey and hopefully develop more as a person through my life. This class was one of my favorites as we bonded more but I was not a fan of the hour and 15 minute long period in the morning. Overall, I was satisfied with the class and would recommend to other peers.

Through the readings and movie this week, I have gained more insight as to life being unfair. As much as we want life to go our way most of the time it does not. However, we can fail or get beat down 1000 times or more, but all it takes is one breakthrough to put you over the top. I have always knew to be diverse in anything you do wether it is skills, friendships, means of income, etc. Diversity is an important aspect to have within someone’s life which is why you do not put all your eggs in one basket.  Tolerance is also a great trait to have. Being able to cope with people and stomach some bad news can keep you going towards your goal. As a kid I was not as tolerant to somethings but as I grew older my tolerance has expanded a lot except for tolerating stupidity. As for inclusion, I have always been an includer no matter what group I am in. I know what is is like to be left out and not included and I would hate to make anyone feel that horrible feeling. These hot topics are things we need to learn about to help people rather than just blowing it off. I honestly have matured a lot quickly at a young age because of these things.

1.) First I have selected Kenneth Crespo. I have selected Kenneth because he is my suite mate who I developed a friendship with and I am interested to learn about his journey as a person who was not living in the U.S during his childhood. I liked his as it was organized and concise as he put a lot of thought into his timeline. I am interested by how his leadership journey has been so far.
2.) The next person I chose is Anthony Rodriguez. I chose his portfolio as he quickly became one of my great friends here at Baylor. His portfolio demonstrates his heavily religious background which I have also noticed in person. He is a kind person who guides his life through God which is something I really wanna work on throughout my life.
3.) Last but not least is Gerardo Martinez. I chose Gerardo’s portfolio as he is extremely respectful and kind. He also quickly became one of my friends and his timeline portrays the journey and experiences he’s had. He discusses the class concepts well and I really like the aesthetic of his portfolio.

B.) 1. I want to start expressing my religion more heavily like Anthony. To give thanks where it is due is something that can help a leader in the long run. I can start attending church more as well as discussion with fellow church members.
2. I also want to implement more perseverance such as Kenneth. He kept pushing no matter the odds stacked against him and I believe that is a phenomenal  trait to have.
3. Finally, I also need to work on being more kind to people even when I disagree with them or find annoyance with them. Gerardo was always kind to anyone which in return earns respect of not only followers, but anyone else as well.

C.) 1. My first goal as a leader is to start investing at a young age and teaching my friends the same so we can all be financially stable as we grow up. I looked into the stock market, mutual funds, etc and wanna guide people to a potential side hustle.
2. I also want to start a training business if becoming a doctor or what not doesn’t work out. I love to exercise and lift so I want to train others as well to achieve the changes they want to make.

3. Lastly, I want to give back to my community and charities. Specifically cancer research and drug abuse rehabilitation centers for personal reasons. I believe a change starts with a great leader. Realistically, I hope to achieve all these goals, or at least one, within the next 5 to 10 years.

Chapter 15: Throughout my years of young leadership I have never paid much attention to those three aspects of strengths of gender gaps. As I grew older I realized these aspects more and more. For example, human capital consists of the amount of skills and knowledge one has. So therefore, the person with the most skills will be in the the position of leadership rather than based of being a man or woman. Secondly, I believe gender gap has died down. In history, of course men, specifically white men who owned property, could be in positions of power and ran the country. Overtime woman have become just as eligible and just as deserving to get such positions if they have tried knowledge for it. This concept is similar to prejudice. Where people get positions just because of what they are and not what they can do. These negatives were mostly apparent before the baby boomers and slowly came to adapt and change as the millennials and gen z came around.

2.) honestly, I do believe men do have certain advantages over woman when it comes to certain things. That’s not to say woman are any less capable or deserving though. For example, from the beginning of history until now all presidents have been men. The first woman to be Vice President changed this year as change slowly reforms the country, but male presidents throughout these years backs the argument for men’s advantages in leadership.

Chapter 16: a leader can acknowledge and respect the cultures and beliefs of others. However, when it comes down to it, the leader must make clear the intentions and notices of the goal in the first place to make sure the followers can go through the plan without any conflict between cultures.

2.) Of the universal traits, I think I am trustworthy,  reliable, and confident. However, I believe I can work on being more social, as I do not really talk to people in a group and prefer to be a lone wolf. I can also work on being positive because honestly when things go bad sometimes I do start to think negative which needs to be changed. Lastly, I think I could be more organized because sometimes I am all over the place. The universal traits are traits that can make a great leader and what every person in power should have.

A.) My group struggled to meet, however, I did discuss the prompts with another group via zoom on November 23th,  2020 with Anthony Rodriguez around 1: pm and talked in the my dorm room with Kenneth Crespo.

1,) We first talked about question 2 when Walter states that black people are “guilty the moment they are born.” We concluded that racism was so prevalent in the southern U.S that the innocence of a black person was non-existent. They go to jail, get killed, treated horribly, etc just for being born of the color of their skin. I, thankfully, have not heard any similar phrases growing up but I do know thoughts and actions like this still exist today.

2.) We then moved on to question four when Walter’s family feels like they are punished as well. For example, one of the family members or friends is able to provide a testimony which could potentially open up Walter’s case again. However, we soon learn that he is threatened to be killed or worse if he does give the testimony. We can inference that the actions of Walter’s arrest has made the whole community scared and no one will step up in fear that they will be punished for trying to help an innocent man.

3.) The next question we discussed was 10. No one in the group has ever seen the movie before which made the movie that much more interesting. It made a good impression at first and I wanted to finish it almost immediately. The story being based on real life portrays how unfair life can be, but there is always that one person that goes against the odds despite the unpopular opinion. I can take that idea and implement it in my leadership journey whenever someone who has all odds against them has at least one person they can count on to hopefully bring about change.

4.) The last question we went over is 11. The rights we have in the United States are a blessing compared to other countries. We have more freedom and decision making power than most people think. We have rights, a democracy, and more these days that make American the way it is. However, at the time, people of color like Walter were not viewed or treated as American. They were property at first and the fight to be seen as an American has been a long, effortful one.

B.) I learned from Anthony that he is a big person of faith. He is very religious which drives his motive to treat everyone with the utmost respect. He also believes that he does not see differences, instead, we are all made the same and equal in the eyes of God which I thought was an amazing way to think daily. Anthony is going home for thanksgiving in Dallas to spend time with family.

• I also discussed with Kenneth which was my suitemate coincidently. I learned from him that he also struggled growing up with some sort of equality. His first language was Spanish and he had a hard time learning to speak English thus explaining his accent today. However, he did experience some discomfort as people would look at him different for not knowing English that well in America. He learned to keep going and block the negativity while pursuing amazing opportunities in America. Kenneth will also be going home for thanksgiving in Fort Worth and studying for finals almost immediately after.

One of the most common a popular notions of integrity that I can think of is doing the right thing even when no one is looking. The concept goes hand in hand with leadership as a leader should do what is right for his followers and the community. However, that is not the true intention of all leaders. Some leaders are great but do not have true integrity or ethics compared to everyone else. Their purpose is not for the right reasons and contribute to selfish actions. That is when integrity is challenged. In that case, it is up to the followers to speak up against a leader who does not show integrity or exhibit the characteristic upon the followers and community. Although integrity is good to have all the time, there are instances when even the most great, caring people fall victim to conflicts with integrity. For example, there are students who get the answers from other students all over the place. The teachers even know this action occurs. Therefore, it is up to the students at the end of the day to ultimately decide on their integrity and receive free answers or not. In the end, the morals, ethics, values, and integrity all fall upon the leader to make the best decisions for the most people to be satisfied overall.

1.) Guest Speaker: Jim Dunham

A.) Dr. Dunham explained very passionately how he believes everything happens for a reason. From almost being arrested to running in an election race, he explains to just keep going with the flow because these experiences may lead to something new.

B.) Using his daughter as an example, he also explained that the goals we have now may not be what is planned out for us long term. Dr. Dunham explained how his daughter failed an important Spanish exam and was devastated, however, she ended up working for a great organization known as Venture for America which is a great company that provides amazing opportunities for students.

C.) Last but not least, he provided insight on the political terms and legal actions within Texas. He explained his role as a lawyer and politician and provided some knowledge on what to think about when we vote. Also coming from a family of lawyers can get you a nice 2020 cherry red corvette that he had parked outside as well.

2.) Leadership Questionnaires

A.) Ethical Leadership

• I scored the highest on utilitarian ethics which does not surprise me as I try to make decisions that benefit everyone  instead of just myself. However, if it really came down to it I would admit I would be a little selfish and choose my self.
• My 2nd highest score was justice ethics. As stated before, I try my best to do what is in the best interest for others in most circumstances. These results do no surprise me.
• My lowest score was virtue ethics. Although I have me beliefs and views on what is right and wrong, sometimes my interests are not the best for everyone.
• My 2nd lowest score was egoism ethics. I am not terribly selfish but I can be honest and admit that when the time seems necessary I will do what I need to do for myself first.
• Honestly, I feel like my egoism ethics should be slightly higher. I realize that I will not be able to please everyone and therefore I have to do what is beneficial to me and my success. I will still try to bring as much people up with me though.

B.)Team Leadership

• I sometimes prefer to work alone and every now and then view myself as a lone wolf type of person. However, I do enjoy working in teams when everyone is contributing to work cooperatively and collaboratively.
• The results indicate that I value competent team members. With competent team members, working together flows easier without any complications. There is a clear, concise goal to be reached as a team.
• The least team attribute I value is demonstrating sufficient technical knowledge. Although this concept is important, I feel like team members can be taught and do not need to come with prior knowledge even though it is helpful and convenient.
• Overall, my scorings interpret that I am a well rounded team member and I can work in team settings. I work fine both alone and in groups as long as everyone is doing their part and we have the same goals.
• Over the break, I can keep in touch with many of my Baylor friends and communicate with them. Just because the class I had with most of them is over does not mean I have to forget about them and lose potential networking connections. I can keep my team and build the team by keeping in touch.

Teamwork is one of the most important attributes to be successful in life in my opinion.  I usually love working with a team as it makes work easier and takes the load off of an individual. However, most of the time I am a lone wolf as I can work to my own pace, do things the way I want to, and get the satisfaction of doing it on my own. If I do have the opportunity to work with a team though I will take it. Team work is most apparent in sports. My favorite sport is baseball and I was a catcher for the sport. Without the other 8 postilions filled by my teammates I would not be able to handle it all by myself. Working together leads to state titles, strong relationships, and memorable experiences. On the other hand, working with a team can sometimes not be the best. For example, I also played other sports such as volleyball. If you had a team who did not know what they were doing the chances of winning were non existent. The team must be compatible and work together. Everyone should have their own jobs and do their job to the best of their ability which ultimately allows the team to work cooperatively and collaboratively.

Furthermore,  an effective team should have effective leadership. From all of the different styles we have talked about to the different characteristics and skills each individual has, everyone’s leadership ability differs from one another. I never knew there was more to leadership than just being a leader. A lot goes into such a position of power and the needs of the followers must always be met. Followers are also very diverse and it is sometimes hard to satisfy each one. That is one of the reasons why being a leader is so difficulty. However, leaders stand out and want what is  best for everyone including his or herself. Overall a leader should do what is best for everyone, lead the followers through tough obstacles towards a common goal, and be the last to take credit and the first to take criticism.

1,) Ethical Dilemmas

I. An ethical dilemma I thought of before class was assisted suicide. The taking of another life is morally wrong even if it is what the person wants. It is ultimately a hard decision to make.

II. Kitchener’s model regarding “do no harm” is the most significant aspect that makes assisted suicide unethical. Although it is what the person may want, another human life is still being taken.

III. “Respect autonomy” and “do no harm” heavily conflict. The individual has the right to life their own life and make their decisions, however, if the decisions involve another individual doing something that is not right then it is unethical.

IV. A decision would ultimately be hard to come to. If anything, a vote can be taken by very close members to that individual and if everyone agrees to the situation then a decision can be made.

V. Manifesting honesty could possibly conflict with the ethics of a leader. A leader most likely wants to protect his or her followers despite any circumstance. If a hard decision were to be made, it would take the group as a whole rather than a leader.

2.) Ethical Leadership

I. Being a servant leadership could possibly make a leader go through with what the individual wants. Servant leaders want the best for their followers and do what they need to do for the best interest of the followers. On the other hand, an authentic leader or transformational leader may not go through with the decision as they do not solely focus on their followers.

II. Pseudo transformational leadership could emerge as this type of leadership is sort of a “fake” type of leadership. They are more selfish than others and usually use their leadership skills for personal advantage. A pseudo transformational leader could have negative life themes, low maturity, and lack checks and balances which overall allows a rash decision tp be made without any regard of the feelings of others.

3.) Leadership Questionnaire

I. Adaptive Leadership

A.)  * Get on the Balcony is the highest I scored on which allows me to step back and view the situation in a whole. I am then able to make well informed decisions.

• My lowest score is Give Work Back to the People as I try to help everyone and do not want people to feel left out and feel alone.
• My second highest score was Protect Leadership Voices from Below. I do not find this surprising as I usually always try to stick up for the little guy as I have been there myself multiples times.
• Last but not least, I find all of these scorings to be accurate in the way the describe different types of adaptive leadership.

B.) One action step I can use is to continue to stick up for the little guy. They usually have the it the hardest and go through a low due to disadvantages. Therefore, I can relate to them and help bring those types of followers up with me.

II. Followership

A.) * Based off of the questionnaire, I fall into the alienated follower category as I have a high independent thinking score but a low active engagement score which does not surprise me.

• I did not know of there being different types of followers. Diving this deep on the concept provides new insight as not everyone likes or is good at being a follower.
• From experience, sometimes the passive followers are not truly passive. They just need a little motivation and time to get comfortable which then can transition them into a conformist or alienated leader.
• The type of followers are also influenced by the type of leader they have. A bad leader could have many passive followers whole a great leader can have exemplary followers.

B.) One action step I can take for followership is being a follower more often. I usually like to lead or be a lone wolf most of the time. Maybe being in a group and just following is something that can benefit me and something I would like in the long run overall.