A Greater Sense of Understanding

I believe that people are placed in the lives of others for a specific reason. Everyone is there to serve a purpose, and whether that purpose is recognized or not, everyone has the power to make their mark on the life of another. My grandmother has always been a role model to me and I have looked up to her ever since I was a little girl. Over the past few years, I have come to understand the true influence that my grandmother has had on my life. Yes, she is my grandmother and I love and adore her dearly, but she was also the one who helped reveal to me one of my true, life passions. My grandmother was a teacher and principal for many years and through her guidance in reading and writing, she helped me discover my love for teaching and helping others. I have always heard stories about when my grandmother was a teacher, but it wasn’t until my Second Life experience that I actually put myself into my grandmother’s shoes and really experienced what it would have been like to be her. My grandmother has been and always will be one of my most admired role models, and with the help of Second Life, I have been able to gain a greater understanding as to why she was such a powerful leader in my life.

My grandma was actually one of the people who taught me to read. My grandma taught me so many different things, but I know she was the most proud when she helped teach me how to read. From then on, we shared that love of reading. She would always get me books, whether it was for a birthday or for Christmas, or just because she thought I would enjoy a good read. Still to this day, she sends me good books that she thinks I’ll enjoy, and if we ever read a really good book that we think the other would like, we trade books

My grandmother and me sitting on the bridge in front of her house.

Not only do we share a love for books, but we also share a love for music. Just like she taught me to read books, she also helped me learn to read music. I took piano lessons for eight years and Grandma always loved to hear me play. My great-grandmother’s piano sits in the living room at my house. This piano that I learned to play on was the same piano that my grandma learned to play on. When I was little and just beginning to learn how to play, I always loved playing Grandma the new songs I had learned. I would put on “concerts” for the family and she would always praise me and encourage me to keep practicing. No matter how big or how small the accomplishment, she would always praise you and make you feel good about yourself. And if things didn’t go the way you planned, she would encourage you to never give up or settle for anything less than your best. “The grade of course, was not all that important. The lesson that he taught me, however, was invaluable; whatever you do, give it your best shot or don’t do it at all.”[1] This is what made her such a fine and loved teacher. As I got older, Grandma and I would play Christmas duets together when the whole family got together. As I grew, she grew with me. “…Music is a great healer and a great bonder. I got close to people because of the commonality of our interest, the passion of music, the love of it. It just transcends everything.”[2]

“It is not clones of past professors that we should see. Rather, we must keep our eyes fresh enough to see the exceptional new teachers when they appear. Teaching is not all that a university is about. Take it away, however, and the vital spark is gone.”[3] A teacher should be an inspirer, a leader and a helper. A teacher should be a listener, a mentor and an encourager. A teacher should open the eyes of students to a greater understanding of learning that goes beyond the classroom. A teacher should be passionate about what they’re teaching and really have a sense of purpose. In my opinion, my grandma embodied all of these things. She knew what she valued and she was passionate in life and in learning. Because she knew what she valued and because she pursued her passions, she was a great teacher. My grandma was strict, but her students loved her. To this day, if I’m ever at the grocery store with her or somewhere in town, past students of hers, who are now grown adults with families of their own, come up and say hello to her. Grandma always knows their name—she remembers all of her students. I can tell from the way they approach my grandma and talk with her that she truly had an impact on their life. “Still, the spirit of their teaching remains. It is in me, and it is in the

thousands of other students who came their way. They were here when we needed them.”[4]

Here at the University of Texas, I am studying education with the goal of some day becoming a teacher. Through all the many experiences I have had with my grandma teaching me how to read, sharing a love for reading, learning to read music and sharing morals and values that have helped shape me into the person I am today, I can see the spark a teacher can really put into a student’s life. It’s an amazing thing when you can actually see a person grow because of the guidance of a mentor. I can still remember my favorite teachers from elementary school all the way through high school. These were the teachers that not only wanted to teach you the math, literature, science and history, but also wanted to teach you that you could take things outside of the classroom and apply them to the way you live your life. You knew that these teachers truly did care about you and your success in the classroom and in life. I feel very fortunate to have been able to learn from teachers like these, and it is my hope that someday I can be that teacher to other students just like me. It is my hope that I can have a positive impact on children and help them develop a passion for learning.

My motivation has shifted from a strongly academic drive to one of deeper meaning and passion. Through my experiences on Second Life, I became more connected to who my role model truly is. It is my goal to share my experience that has given me this new sense of understanding that motivates me to write this paper.

Here is my avatar on our private island.

My grandmother has always been one of my role models and I have admired her personal character for as long as I can remember. She was so passionate about what she was doing as a teacher. I believe that one of the reasons why she was such a good teacher was because she was following her own passions and dreams while leading others in the same direction. It is my hope that someday become an elementary school teacher and I know that one of the reasons why I truly want to be a teacher is because of the spark my grandmother put in my life in terms of showing me the joys of teaching and leading others. After writing the first phase of our project, I had the chance to experience what it might be like to actually be my grandmother in a program called Second Life. My experiences were difficult at times but they helped open my eyes to a whole new perspective and gave me a whole new outlook on the meaning of this project.

When I began exploring Second Life with my avatar, I was very frustrated and confused. I had never used a program like this before and it was very difficult trying to figure out how everything worked and how you could really make the most of all that Second Life had to offer. I had great difficulty trying to figure out how to navigate my way around Second Life, figuring out how exactly to transport myself from place to place and simply learn how to function properly within Second Life. There were many times when I found myself walking in circles, or flying into trees and buildings or being stranded under water for long periods of time—all of which were frustrating experiences. However, once I began to understand how Second Life operates, my experiences with my avatar became much more engaging and actually enjoyable. I learned how to navigate my way around Second Life much more efficiently and I learned and mastered the correct way to fly. Knowing how to do such simple tasks as navigating and flying made my experience much more enjoyable and entertaining. Being able to just make my avatar sit down or stand up was a huge success. Once I started making small progressions with my avatar, my experience in Second Life became much more interesting and uplifting.

Here she is flying next to the Tower.

After completing our Second Life chats on our private island, I felt proud of myself for being able to accomplish a task like that one. High technology activities do not come easily for me, so being able to say that I created a Second Life avatar and actually managed to utilize just a few of the many tools Second Life offers was a huge success for me. Throughout the chat I was stressed out not because of the conversations that my avatar was having with other Second Life beings, but because I was always making sure that I was at the right place or actually getting there the right way. Once I was sure that I was keeping up with all of the other avatars, I felt much more confident in my work. I feel like I could have been more outgoing during the first discussion sitting, but again, this was a new experience for me so I was still getting used to actually knowing how to use Second Life—to some extent. I was much more confident in my avatar during our second discussion chat because I had a little more control over the situation and felt like I knew what I was doing. Again, after completing my Second Life experience, I felt a sense of success and accomplishment.

Once I finally learned how to fly and move around the world of Second Life without falling into the different bodies of water, or running into buildings or circling the same location multiple times, my experience became a much more positive one. Being stranded under water for long periods of time was probably the thing that frustrated me the most. I would sit on my computer and try over and over again to just get my head above water, but most of the time, my efforts ended in failure. There were many times while I was trying to navigate around Orientation Island when I would just run into different things by accident and it would take so long to maneuver and get my avatar back on track. I would be walking around and thinking that I might actually be making progress when I would realize that I had seen this particular place before. That is when I would realize that I had been walking in a giant circle and making absolutely no progress at all. Mastering the ability to fly and navigate my avatar around Second Life was probably my greatest accomplishment throughout the entire experience, and it made my experience much more enjoyable.

Knowing that I was able to be on our own private island within Second Life was also a pretty good accomplishment. I did receive some help in getting there but even still, I did manage to get there. It was quite annoying knowing that all my other classmate’s avatars were enjoying the securities and exploring the features of our private island while I was treading water out in the middle of nowhere. Once I was accepted into the island and was able to explore our private island and interact with other avatars from my class, my Second Life experience got even more engaging.

I felt like I had very good conversations within both groups during my Second Life experience. Like I said earlier, I felt like we got more to the point of the discussion faster during my second group-conversation, only because I think everyone was still getting used to everything during the first conversation. Don’t be mistaken—my group’s first discussion was very insightful, it just took us a little longer to really get down to the root of our topic. Personal opinions, valid arguments and educated points were shared during both conversations, and I felt like everyone was very engaging and accepting of other people’s opinions and responses. I feel like our class as a whole is pretty open with one another. I feel like it’s easy for people to express their opinions and ideas openly without the fear of anything they say being turned down or rejected. Obviously we know that everyone may not agree with what we say, but we do know that our ideas will be considered respectfully and maturely. I feel like if someone was not comfortable expressing their opinions within our actual classroom that Second Life could have possibly made it easier for them to do so. They didn’t have to use their voice to express their thoughts, they could type them out on the computer where they could visually see what they were about to say to the group and they could revise what they were about to say before they sent it. They also were not expressing their opinions face-to-face. Overall, I thought the conversations were very insightful and interesting. Everyone cooperated and participated with made it more fun, and I felt confident in my answers and opinions throughout the conversations. When I was in high school, I took a class called Teen Teaching: Peer Leadership and Assistance which was a class centered on learning how to become a better leader and our main purpose was to teach the elementary and middle-school students in the Eanes Independent School District the negative effects of drugs and alcohol and to promote a positive image of students who choose not to participate in drugs and alcohol. It was such a great class and I thoroughly enjoyed both of my years of participation in the class. We would do this activity called “circle questions” where we all sat in a circle and Mr. Lasseter, my teacher, would ask a question and we would go around the circle and each share our own personal answer. The questions were all very different, some being more deep and personal while others were more fun and light-hearted, but all of them helped the class become closer as a group. Our Second Life Discussions reminded me in a way of our “circle question” discussions that we had in Teen Teaching because all of our avatars were sitting in a circle-setting, discussing pretty deep topics that stem from personal opinion and experience.

Before getting semi-comfortable with Second Life, I was very frustrated. I know that this project was about discovery by experience rather than discovery by direction, but honestly, it would have been nice to have had some clarity as to what it would actually be like before we got started. I did spend quality time trying to grow accustomed to the tools and tricks involved in Second Life, but when you’re stuck at the bottom of the ocean and you keep clicking the same button that will supposedly help fly you out of water but it never works, it becomes quite irritating. If you ask most people who know me pretty well, I am usually a pretty “technostressed” person. My computer uses consist mainly of e-mail, “facebooking”, web-browsing and I recently learned how to upload pictures from my camera to my computer and then from my computer to my Facebook profile—this was a mind-blowing accomplishment! So, the combination of learning how to use such services as blogger.com and Second Life and Sword has really put my computer skills, (well, my lack of computer skill is more appropriate), and my tolerance for the computer to the test. I usually always have some sort of frustration with computers—it just depends on the task I’m trying to complete. I just don’t have the “computer smarts” that some people have. There were so many times when I would be so frustrated with my computer because I couldn’t figure out how to send an attachment, or I couldn’t figure out how to unfreeze the computer, etc., and then my little sister would sit down coolly and press a couple buttons, click the mouse and “voila”, she cracked the code and made everything go back to working order.

In terms of slow speed of keyboarding versus speaking, I really didn’t find myself getting too frustrated with it except for in situations when someone would pose a question or an opinion and we’d be talking about it as a group. I would think of something really good to say but right as I was about to press enter to put it into the conversation, somebody else maybe decided to then move onto a different topic or question. I would usually just go ahead and submit my statement anyways but then add something to go along with the new question or topic. That was really the only thing that frustrated me about the difference in speed between keyboarding and speaking. It really didn’t happen often in either of my conversations and never hindered my thinking patterns.

In our first Second Life discussion, we talked about what we thought the term leadership meant and tried to describe the many facets of a good leader from our individual perspectives. This discussion not only strengthened my own views on what I thought leadership really meant or who I thought a true leader really was, but it also opened my mind to thinking about these ideas from different points of view as well, thanks to the other avatars in my discussion. We talked as a group about how a leader is someone who channels his special talents of being able to guide those around them in a positive way and never abuses his power as a leader. We have seen past leaders who lose sight of their primary purpose, leading others around them and guiding them to success, achievement and improvement, and end up abusing this special gift by becoming “power-hungry” and demanding. In our first discussion I said, “You must be able to lead but also take into consideration the thoughts and ideas of others and incorporate them into your own plan.” A leader is someone who is able to use his talents in a confident and positive way but is someone who is also willing to listen to his followers and take their thoughts, feelings and ideas into consideration. Just because they are the “leader” doesn’t mean that they are all-knowing. This brings me to another point in our conversation. We agreed that just because some people are our leaders, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have faults. No individual is perfect, not even someone who leads those around him. The thing that sets a leader apart from a follower is that the leader recognizes his weaknesses and never settles for less than his personal best. He discovers ways to overcome his weaknesses and learns how to grow and surpass any obstacles that may stand in his way. The leader is the person who breaks the mold and shows those around him that there is a way to keep growing and get better at anything you

Here I am in class during the Second Life activity.

set your mind to. We all agreed that a leader is not someone to accomplish a certain goal and then be content. They rejoice and celebrate their group’s accomplishments but they also continue to inspire their followers by showing them that there is always more that can be accomplished.

In our second discussion, we tried to connect the idea of leadership with diversity. Although I felt like our group actually started to answer the question earlier in the conversation, I think that this topic took more thought and effort as we weren’t just writing our opinion of one certain idea, but we were trying to link and relate two different ideas. We decided that a leader was someone who tried to introduce diversity to his followers by encouraging them to branch out, try new things and see things from a different point of view. We grow comfortable with what we know and we like the security of surrounding ourselves with the familiar. It is the leader who encourages his followers to broaden their perspectives and seek new horizons. Robert Frost writes, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” We referenced this well-known poem and decided that the leader would be the person to encourage others to take the road less traveled. They have been down one road before, so why not take the one that you have not traveled and in the end, look back down that road and notice how much you

Here we are in our second discussion in Second Life.

grew as an individual. By taking the road less traveled, you open yourself to new and diverse things that will only enrich your life and make it all more worth-while. Here I said, “A leader is someone who doesn't just recognize that there is diversity all around us. The leader actually tries to experience this diversity and actually understand it.”

Our anthology says, “sympathetic imagination is the ability of a person to penetrate the barrier which space puts between him and his object, and, by actually entering into the object, so to speak, to secure a momentary but complete identification with it.” Second Life helped me penetrate the barrier that separated my role model and me by having me actually be my role model. I lost my identity as Lauren Elizabeth Farmer and became my grandmother, Ola Jean Farmer. I feel like I was most successful in the conversations when I was sharing my own beliefs on what a leader truly is because I gained this sense of leadership from my grandmother. Because of this project, I strengthened my ability to utilize sympathetic imagination and new drives of motivation which lead me to gaining a new sense of understanding.

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Appendix:

Discussion #1

[12:01] Edwin Donardson is Online

[12:01] Shakespeare2 Iwish is Online

[12:03] Shakespeare2 Iwish: To be, or not to be: that is the question

[12:04] You: A Penny earned, is a penny saved. If you want to speak in famous lines

[12:04] Shakespeare2 Iwish: All the worlds a stage my friend

[12:04] Shakespeare2 Iwish: We are merely players

[12:05] Jessica8 Iwish: that is true

[12:05] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Fair lady speaks!

[12:05] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Fie! Fie!

[12:05] You: Let us all introduce ourselves formally.

[12:05] You: I am Benjamin Franklin.

[12:05] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Thy name is Shakespeare.

[12:05] CoachJoe Vita: How are You all DOin. I'm Coach Joseph

[12:05] Jessica8 Iwish: I am Jessica

[12:05] Jerome Eponym is Online

[12:05] You: Founding father of this great country. Inventor, scientist, public servant, extradordinair.

[12:06] CoachJoe Vita: I am the Coach of a varsity football team

[12:06] CoachJoe Vita: i have found much success over the years

[12:06] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Tis noble, Tis honorable

[12:06] CoachJoe Vita: bringing 3 junior colleges and a high school team to the championship

[12:06] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Thy writing spans the world

[12:06] Jessica8 Iwish: I am a student at the University of Texas at Arlington

[12:07] Shakespeare2 Iwish: It's not enough to speak, but to speak true

[12:07] You: Congratulations Coach Joseph. Education is a noble thing.

[12:07] Betty Questi: I was a sixth grad teacher and am now the principal of the West Columbia Junior School

[12:07] You: I only went to school for a few years. Arithmatic proved to be my downfall.

[12:07] Basic Chair: Right click me and choose 'Sit Here' to sit down

[12:07] Basic Chair: Right click me and choose 'Sit Here' to sit down

[12:07] Basic Chair: Right click me and choose 'Sit Here' to sit down

[12:07] Basic Chair: Right click me and choose 'Sit Here' to sit down

[12:07] CoachJoe Vita: i was a former linebacker for the university of iowa

[12:07] CoachJoe Vita: and i was well on my way to going to the nfl

[12:07] Edwin Donardson: what is leadership

[12:08] You: Wow this is a full discussion. As full as my belly, and my life.

[12:08] CoachJoe Vita: however, a career ending knee injury prevented me from doing so

[12:08] Betty Questi: very impressive Coach

[12:08] CoachJoe Vita: i still graduated however

[12:08] Jessica8 Iwish: wow that is very amazing Coach Joseph

[12:08] CoachJoe Vita: with a degree in history

[12:08] Betty Questi: I'm sorry for your injury

[12:08] CoachJoe Vita: and now, i teach history as well as coach football

[12:08] CoachJoe Vita: i'm still doing what i love

[12:08] CoachJoe Vita: that's all i care about

[12:09] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't

[12:09] CoachJoe Vita: aint nothin better than seein my boys grow up

[12:09] Betty Questi: As long as you're doing what you love, you'll be fine.

[12:09] You: Whom are our newest additions to this group.

[12:09] You: Good bye Shakespeare. Farewell

[12:10] You: Why hello Betty, who are you?

[12:11] You: Lets begin our discussion, since we are all here now.

[12:11] Jessica8 Iwish: ok

[12:11] CoachJoe Vita: yes let's

[12:11] Betty Questi: I am a teacher. I taught sixth grade and now serve as the principal of my school

[12:11] Betty Questi: yes i agree

[12:11] CoachJoe Vita: so the topic of discussion today is "what is a leader"

[12:11] Jessica8 Iwish: yes that's right

[12:12] CoachJoe Vita: i believe we should all go around and explain what a "leader" is to us

[12:12] You: I learned during my life to apply the Socratic mehtod, so let me ask you all, what makes a leader?

[12:12] CoachJoe Vita: would the ladies like to respond first?

[12:12] Jessica8 Iwish: yes sure

[12:13] Jessica8 Iwish: i think that a leader is someone who guides people but at the time same time can command people.

[12:13] You: Guide people to what?

[12:14] CoachJoe Vita: yes, please elaborate

[12:14] Jessica8 Iwish: a leader needs to be able to take control of a situation but not take advantage of that power

[12:14] CoachJoe Vita: why can't the leader take advantage of that power?

[12:14] Betty Questi: I agree

[12:14] CoachJoe Vita: can't he/she take advantage of it, in a beneficial way?

[12:15] Betty Questi: If you are a leader and you abuse your power, you lose credibility.

[12:15] CoachJoe Vita: who is to judge what "power abuse" is?

[12:15] Jessica8 Iwish: yes it can be beneficial but unfortunately most leaders use it in a negative way

[12:16] You: Why do most leaders abuse their power?

[12:16] Jessica8 Iwish: if you abuse your power as leader then nobody will follow you or listen to you

[12:16] Betty Questi: I think it takes a special person to be a truly great leader because often, abuse of power does happen

[12:16] Betty Questi: I definitely agree

[12:16] CoachJoe Vita: well, if no one follows you, then you are not a leader

[12:16] Jessica8 Iwish: Most leaders abuse their power because they never had that power before and don't know what to do with it

[12:16] Betty Questi: You must be able to lead but also take into consideration the thoughts and ideas of others and incorporate them into your own plan

[12:17] Jessica8 Iwish: exactly. thats why you can't take advantage of your power or you will be unsuccessful as a leader

[12:17] You: I have always said, "He who cannot obey, cannot command."

[12:17] CoachJoe Vita: i believe the definition of a leader is someone whose actions and words are ones to follow and adhere to

[12:17] Jessica8 Iwish: I agree Bruce

[12:17] You: remember, I am Benjamin.

[12:18] You: Benjamin Franklin that is. Founding father, featured on the hundred-dollar bill.

[12:18] Jessica8 Iwish: ok

[12:18] Betty Questi: haha

[12:18] CoachJoe Vita: So, Ben, what's your spin on a leader?

[12:18] Betty Questi: yes, please enlighten us

[12:18] You: But about leadership, I truly believe that a leader must be able to adapt.

[12:18] CoachJoe Vita: Indeed

[12:18] Jessica8 Iwish: yes i think so too

[12:18] Betty Questi: I too agree

[12:18] You: During my life, I continued to change. I was never satisified with myself. No matter how popular or successful I had become.

[12:19] You: At one time I was the most famous person in all of North America. Yet I wasn't satisfied with my position. I continued to try to improve myself.

[12:19] Betty Questi: How so?

[12:19] Jessica8 Iwish: I think it is important for a leader to learn from his or her mistakes and improve

[12:20] You: A leader must never be satisfied. He must know what his strengths are, and at the same time know his own weaknesses. Be able to recognize that in himself, and be able to listen to criticism--take that criticism, and improve.

[12:20] CoachJoe Vita: Doesn't being a leader also imply other people follow?

[12:20] Betty Questi: Yes, even though you are the leader, you too must learn to grow and share that growth with your followers

[12:20] You: Throughout my long life, I was never satisified. I continued to try to grow.

[12:20] Jessica8 Iwish: i agree Betty

[12:21] Betty Questi: They want to grow, and they can only grow as much as you do, because they are your followers

[12:21] You: How I obtained that growth was a never ending curiosity.

[12:21] Betty Questi: Yes, because growth is never ending

[12:21] Betty Questi: especially in this sense....we can grow in more ways than we know possible

[12:22] Jessica8 Iwish: Yes , there is something to learn

[12:22] You: I refused to look at the world and think "I know everything that is going on here." And in that way, a leader can not ever think they truly have it figured out.

[12:22] Jessica8 Iwish: everyday

[12:22] Betty Questi: I think we grow through our experiences, especially experiences that maybe didn't end up the way we wanted to.

[12:22] CoachJoe Vita: So a leader is a person who is able to adapt and also has an insatiable desire for self improvement?

[12:22] Betty Questi: I think we grow more when maybe we make mistakes or overcome challenges, adversity or hardships

[12:22] Jessica8 Iwish: Yes hardships makes us who we are

[12:23] You: Even though I was a successful printer, and writer in my early life, I continued to remain curious through my late life. Thus making my biggest impact on this world, my scientific discoveries, especially that one with the kite, later in my life.

[12:23] Betty Questi: But do leaders really feel the need for self improvement?...in my eyes, a leader is someone who is confident in who they are and their purpose in life

[12:23] Betty Questi: I think this is why people are drawn to them

[12:24] Betty Questi: They look up to the person who is confident and positive in who they are and what they stand for

[12:24] CoachJoe Vita: Well, i believe people can be attracted to a person who is always looking to improve him or herself

[12:24] You: Self-improvement doesn't contradict confidence.

[12:24] CoachJoe Vita: regardless of their current status

[12:24] Betty Questi: I see your point

[12:24] CoachJoe Vita: INSATIABLE desire for betterment

[12:24] You: I have never been accused of having a lack of confidence.

[12:24] CoachJoe Vita: does not imply we are at fault in the present state

[12:25] You: But yet, while I was confident, I was never satisified.

[12:25] CoachJoe Vita: we are simply never satisfied with being stationary

[12:25] Betty Questi: I do agree with that

[12:25] Jessica8 Iwish: I agreet too

[12:25] You: I knew I could do it, because I believed in myself. But just because I could do it, doesn't mean I couldn't do it better.

[12:25] CoachJoe Vita: We gotta keep it pushin

[12:25] Betty Questi: Well, never settling for anything better than the best is the mo st admirable thing

[12:26] Jessica8 Iwish: Leaders have to be confident to know what they are doing so other people can listen to them

[12:26] CoachJoe Vita: Just cause we lose a game this week, doesn't mean we're going to lose next week

[12:26] You: Every morning you wake up, you either choose to get better, or you get worse. In any area.

[12:26] Betty Questi: You must always keep looking up and trying to see how you can make even more of a difference

[12:26] CoachJoe Vita: So let us refer back to the topic "what is a leader"

[12:26] You: Coach Joe doesn't wake up and think, "I hope my team plays likewe did last week."

[12:26] CoachJoe Vita: we have established that a leader is confident in him/herself

[12:26] You: He goes in with a passion for improving.

[12:27] Betty Questi: I guess I really do see your point, because just because we win one game doesn't mean that we can't do better...we still have more games to win and more challenges to overcome

[12:27] CoachJoe Vita: very good

[12:27] CoachJoe Vita: champions dont win just 1 game

[12:27] You: Speaking of champions. I was an amazing swimmer, as you can tell. Haha.

[12:27] Jessica8 Iwish: haha

[12:28] You: I guess I became too busy with statescraft to swim. But I am in the Swimming Hall of Fame

[12:28] Betty Questi: Just because my students finished one book, doesn't mean i want them to satisfy themselves with that one book. I praise them for their great accomplishment and then encourage them to try and read a more challenging book

[12:28] Betty Questi: we must always challenge ourselves....this is how we grow

[12:28] You: George Washington has nothing on me.

[12:28] Betty Questi: Limits only hinder our growth

[12:28] CoachJoe Vita: Haha

[12:28] Betty Questi: Hahah oh Ben

[12:28] CoachJoe Vita: Ok, so a leader must always keep growing

[12:28] You: Plus he is only on the one dollar bill... I am a hundred times better than him.

[12:28] CoachJoe Vita: but isn't also important that leaders affect other people

[12:28] CoachJoe Vita: whether directly or indirectly

[12:28] Jessica8 Iwish: I've had many serious illnesses that could have limited my growth as a leader but I chose to rise above those obstacles

[12:29] You: Exactly Jessica.

[12:29] Betty Questi: Very good, Jessica

[12:29] Betty Questi: I admire your strenth

[12:29] You: A leader uses obstacles to only grow, to get better, to become a better leader.

[12:29] Jessica8 Iwish: Thank Yoy

[12:29] Jessica8 Iwish: You

[12:29] Betty Questi: your welcome

[12:29] Betty Questi: yes i agree

[12:29] You: That is a sign of a true leader, overcoming obstacles.

[12:30] Betty Questi: I think challenges or obstacles make you grow more than victories

[12:30] Jessica8 Iwish: I think so too

[12:30] CoachJoe Vita: Not to belittle the fact that growth is important in being a leader

[12:30] You: I was one of 17 kids, the son of a candlemaker.

[12:30] CoachJoe Vita: but i think we are stressing that factor too much

[12:30] Betty Questi: wow, 16 sibblings

[12:30] You: Well some of them died.

[12:30] CoachJoe Vita: i think what is more important that growth the way we actually interact with other people

[12:30] CoachJoe Vita: the way other people see us

[12:30] Betty Questi: Yes lets explore some other facets to a leader

[12:30] CoachJoe Vita: if we cannot get through to the people, we cannot lead them

[12:31] You: Yes, coach Joe. Communication is key to leadership.

[12:31] Jessica8 Iwish: Exactly. Leaders need to able to relate to people

[12:31] CoachJoe Vita: I believe i am an effective leader mostly because i am about to connect on a personal level with people

[12:31] CoachJoe Vita: i am able to`

[12:31] You: How do you connect?

[12:31] CoachJoe Vita: i become a mentor, a best friend, before i am a coach or teacher

[12:31] Jessica8 Iwish: I plan to be a social worker and communication is the basis of my career

[12:31] CoachJoe Vita: i offer advice and guidance

[12:32] CoachJoe Vita: but more importantly

[12:32] CoachJoe Vita: support

[12:32] CoachJoe Vita: in a time of need

[12:32] You: Well, in my day, communication wasn't as simple. Afterall we didn't have technology, much less electricity, till I came along.

[12:32] CoachJoe Vita: i am in the business of changing the futures of our teenagers

[12:32] You: So communication was even more about personal connections.

[12:32] CoachJoe Vita: and i judge my success on whether or not they leave school with the right state of mind

[12:33] You: I built relationships through personal communication. I had ongoing conversations with many people through letters, which did I mention I was the first PostMaster, creating the post office.

[12:33] You: And when I ran the post office, it was faster than your "email."

[12:33] You: Afterall, email didn't exist.

[12:33] Betty Questi: I developed relationships through teaching my students how to read

[12:34] Jessica8 Iwish: I talk to abused children practically everyday, I offer advice and support. I just try to listen and help them in any way I can

[12:34] You: Listening is key, as you mentioned Jessica.

[12:35] Betty Questi: I think being able to listen to others is a very important attribute to being a leader

[12:35] You: While I was on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence, I had to listen to Jefferson babble all the time... That dreamer.

[12:35] Jessica8 Iwish: It is an important quality of a leader

[12:35] You: But while I jest about him, I listened.

[12:36] You: Even though he was much younger than me, I was able to realize his wisdom could help me grow.

[12:36] You: So I listened. And I grew, even so late in my life.

[12:36] Jessica8 Iwish: We can all learn from other people

[12:37] You: I wasn't stubborn, and didn't refuse to listen to Jefferson just because he was young. I listened, and grew. Why? Because that is a true sign of leadership.

[12:37] You: Did I mention that Beer is proof that God loves us?

[12:38] CoachJoe Vita: Therefore, I conclude a leader is someone who is able to adapt and listen to others. He/she is also a very good communicator and is able to relate with people. He/she is someone other people naturally choose to follow.

[12:38] CoachJoe Vita: Nice talking to you all.

[12:38] Betty Questi: As a teacher, I think it so important to not only teach my students their subjects of math, literature, science and history, but to open their eyes to the power of learning

[12:38] You: Well this was enjoyable. It was like the Continentat Congress, but air conditioned.

Discussion #2

[12:41] Wayne Boozehound: Good day to you all, who might all you be?

[12:41] Pose Ball: Betty Questi, say 'Hide' to hide me, or 'Show' to make me show. Or just right-click and sit on me to use me.

[12:41] You: hello, how are you all?

[12:41] You: my name is Randall

[12:42] Shakespeare2 Iwish: What is thee relationship between diversity and leadership?

[12:42] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Thou are fine

[12:42] Wayne Boozehound: I am Leonardo da Vinci, an artist among many other things

[12:42] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Thy name is Shakespeare

[12:42] Wayne Boozehound: Randall Fizzle, quite an interesting name, who might you be?

[12:43] Betty Questi: Hello everyone. My name is Betty and I am a teacher and principal

[12:43] Betty Questi: Very interesting everyone. Nice to meet you all

[12:43] You: i am a senior and medical humanities major at baylor university.

[12:43] Wayne Boozehound: Ah a teacher, quite impressive I am always in the process of learning and teaching myself.

[12:43] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Thou art a noble persons all

[12:44] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Let us start the conversation

[12:44] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Fie!

[12:44] Wayne Boozehound: yes lets

[12:44] Betty Questi: You can never stop learning or teaching. There is always room to grow

[12:44] Betty Questi: Yes please.

[12:44] Shakespeare2 Iwish: What doth thou thinks the relationships are

[12:44] Shakespeare2 Iwish: ?

[12:44] Wayne Boozehound: First, what to you all is a leader?

[12:45] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Thou art a man or woman that faces a problem and performs great change with solutions

[12:45] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Tis a leader

[12:45] You: a leader, i think, is someone who takes action.

[12:45] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Many definitions, as I am an honorable writer

[12:45] Wayne Boozehound: Yes great change is quite important to a leader.

[12:46] Wayne Boozehound: Action, how so?

[12:46] You: i think it someone who makes a difference in peoples lives.

[12:46] Betty Questi: I believe a leader is someone who leads by their own example. They are confident in themselves and what they do. They overcome challenges and help point others in the right direction. They are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in and they remain true to their values and morals

[12:46] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Great changes is performed by actions

[12:46] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Words

[12:46] Shakespeare2 Iwish: How doth this relate to diversity?

[12:46] Betty Questi: I think great leaders are those who come out of hardships and obstacles with a positive outlook, ready to learn from their previous experience.

[12:46] You: yes action, a person who is willing to do something for others.

[12:47] Wayne Boozehound: I believe a leader is one who takes others down a different path so in a way, this new path can lead to diversity.

[12:47] You: i totally agree with you betty.

[12:47] Betty Questi: why thank you

[12:47] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Da Vinci, what doth thou think this relates to diversity?

[12:47] Wayne Boozehound: Diversity I believe can be many things as can leadership.

[12:48] Betty Questi: Yes I agree with that. A leader is someone who challenges other to "take the road less traveled" because you gain more when put into diverse or different situations

[12:48] Wayne Boozehound: Diversity is all around our complex world and a leader is one who goes forth to discover these things and he takes those interested along with him.

[12:49] Wayne Boozehound: It is the diversity of the things around us that are truly important.

[12:49] You: that is true, wayne, when you lead someone to a place or idea that they are not use to, that is how diversity begins.

[12:49] Wayne Boozehound: Also, a leader i snot afraid of diversity.

[12:49] Betty Questi: Yes I agree. A leader is someone who doesn't just recognize that there is diversity all around us. The leader actually tries to experience this diversity and actually understand it.

[12:49] Wayne Boozehound: please please, call me leonardo, or just leo

[12:49] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Doth a leader must relate to all?

[12:49] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Sirrah! I shall call thee leo

[12:50] Betty Questi: They wish to become a part of the diversity, beecause they weill gain so much more from it instead of just recognizing it

[12:50] Wayne Boozehound: A leader can not reach out to all people because all people find leadership in different things.

[12:50] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Part of diversity?

[12:50] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Tis true

[12:50] Betty Questi: yes I agree leo

[12:50] You: i dont think a leader can relate to all.

[12:50] Wayne Boozehound: Shakespeare, what may I ask, is your connection between the two ideas??

[12:51] Shakespeare2 Iwish: No me thinks not, but thou must relate to a great many people for impacyt

[12:51] Betty Questi: I agree, a leader cannot relate to all, because we must remember that leaders too have views of their own

[12:51] Shakespeare2 Iwish: A voice unheard, doth fall on deaf ears

[12:51] Betty Questi: people follow them because they believe in the same thing

[12:51] Wayne Boozehound: Ah your words are quite intreaguing young Shakespeare.

[12:51] You: that is right betty.

[12:52] Betty Questi: thank you randall

[12:52] Shakespeare2 Iwish: My words are respected through depth, Thou art great also, but a leader must know he knows not all

[12:52] Betty Questi: yes, a leader must be humble

[12:52] Wayne Boozehound: Randall, what do you believe is your way of being a leader and showing diversity?

[12:52] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Words must speak true, or not at all

[12:52] Betty Questi: very wise, very wise

[12:52] You: yes and if a person doesnt believev the same as the leader, the leader cant always change his or her views for a single person

[12:53] Betty Questi: no, because then, they become a follower

[12:53] Wayne Boozehound: Very true young Randall.

[12:53] Shakespeare2 Iwish: By relation to class, the groundlings, aristrocrats, I teach the public through play write

[12:53] Betty Questi: a leader stands strong in his beliefs

[12:53] Wayne Boozehound: Ah, but if a leader changes his belief, which he has a right to do, then what of the follower, what does he do then?

[12:54] Shakespeare2 Iwish: He loses their loyalty

[12:54] You: i believe that a leader can show diversity by simply introducing a group, even a singel person new ideas that they might not know.

[12:54] Wayne Boozehound: One loses loyalty, but all he does is explore the world for new ways and for that he should be penalized, it was diversity which he searches for.

[12:55] You: helping people explore life out of their own habbits.

[12:55] Betty Questi: This is true. A leader can always introduce new ideas and show his followers his reasoning behind this change of view

[12:55] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Me thinks this is true, but to start again, has wasted precious time

[12:55] Betty Questi: exploring new ideas and molding new beliefs signifies growth, and leaders are always growing

[12:56] Wayne Boozehound: Time is not wasted discovering, it is wasted doing what one has no passion in, finding the passion is time well spent.

[12:56] You: yes, i too think that leaders are always growing.

[12:56] Wayne Boozehound: Growing in which way?

[12:56] Betty Questi: Very well written

[12:56] Betty Questi: I agree with that

[12:56] Shakespeare2 Iwish: To die loving what you do, is not wasted time. True, but thou canst be a leader without time