Jennifer Brady

Professor Bump

FS 301

28 November 2006

 

Leadership Goal

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”1 I feel she completely grasped my understanding of what a leader is: a leader must take a risk, a leader must feel fear when taking this risk, and a leader must overcome that fear by achieving that risk. It may sound simple and effortless, but, in reality, becoming a leader is more difficult than it seems. Because of the danger in taking a risk, a leader must understand that there are positive and negative outcomes and take chances in order to succeed. Because I will take many risks, I hope to become her idea of a leader in the process of becoming a psychologist. In fact, being a leader in the medical profession community is a continuous cycle of risk taking that involves true dedication and perseverance. So, in order to accomplish my long-term goal of becoming a psychologist, I will need to achieve my smaller goals such as being a leader in Habitat for Humanity and an active volunteer at Brackenridge Hospital. These minor yet significant leadership positions will enable me to gain the communication and professional skills necessary to become and maintain my future profession as a psychologist.

Before I could possibly become a clinical psychologist, however, I will need to achieve smaller, more manageable goals throughout my years of college and beyond. Because becoming a clinical psychologist requires a bachelor and doctorate degree in psychology, I am going to have to eventually apply to medical school. So, I will need to make good grades and also participate in various extracurricular activities, throughout college, in order to get into medical school and pursue my life-long dream. These smaller goals include becoming an active member in Habitat for Humanity and, ultimately, a successful officer. In order to become an officer, I would need to be passionate about Habitat for Humanity.

Logo produced by official Habitat website.

 

 

Beginning a Habitat house after the  destructive tsunami that hit Sri Lanka. 1
 

 Because I was involved in Habitat for Humanity throughout my years of high school, I feel as though I can expand an already successful club. Specifically, I will manage more fundraising projects so that more houses could be built. I will host a “Build-a-thon,” an overnight fundraiser, much like my high school did, which would involve student and corporate participation. In order for the students to attend the all-night party complete with entertainment, they would have had to raise $100. Because I would help in getting corporate sponsors to pay for the entertainment and food at the party, all of the money the students raised would be directly deposited into the Habitat for Humanity fund. Due to the success of the fundraiser, the students will feel that they can make a difference in the club and will become more active, attending more fundraising activities and build dates. This increased participation will energize the club to help those who are in desperate need of a home. Because I will be helping someone in great need, Habitat will enable me to look beyond myself and focus on becoming the genuine, caring psychologist I have always wanted to be. I believe that Habitat for Humanity, by providing me with opportunities to share my ideas about expanding the club, will allow me to gain the proper communication skills necessary when becoming a psychologist. In fact, Ross Perot, a corporate leader ranked in Forbes Magazine as the 57th richest person in America, said, “[l]ead and inspire people. Don't try to manage and manipulate people. Inventories can be managed but people must be led.”2 Not only do I plan to lead people to overcome mental sickness, but I also will hopefully become an inspiration, through my hard work and dedication, to others.

           

Even though Habitat for Humanity would enable me to become a leader here at UT, I would also like to get involved in community service outside of the university. I would like to volunteer at Brackenridge Hospital’s Emergency Room, helping the understaffed team of professionals in the only trauma center in the city. Because I also volunteered at an emergency room in high school, I feel that I can use my previous experience to help the doctors and nurses at Brackenridge, the only hospital in Austin that allows patients to enter without insurance. In fact, most of the overworked staff could use my simple yet necessary help of running labs, completing paperwork, and performing other odd jobs.

Doctors and nurses that would help me develop leadership responsibilities. 4
 

 Although these services may not necessarily seem like typical leadership responsibilities, I see them as important in improving time-management at the fast-paced hospital. Because the hospital is in desperate need of help, I believe I can make a small difference through my menial duties by extending the crucial time that is given to the patient. Instead of the doctors and nurses completing these simple tasks, I can finish them so that they can care for the patients in serious need. With the experience of working in the emergency room environment, I believe it will create a strong leadership background that would ease my struggle when becoming a clinical psychologist. Because I will be working in a professional setting, I know I will gain the professional skills and knowledge necessary to be a well-rounded psychologist.

 In order to become a clinical psychologist, education is key. Because I am at The University of Texas (The best research university for a thousand miles around), I know I am receiving quality education from the best professors. In only two months of attending this university, as Max DePree states, I have learned that “[l]eadership is much more an art, a belief, a condition of the heart, than a set of things to do. The visible signs of artful leadership are expressed, ultimately, in its practice.”3 Not only do many of my professors possess great knowledge of the world, but they also possess great leadership skills. For example, my psychology teacher, Dr. Deborah Stote, seems to be my role model because of her career in psychology. However, she is more than just a smart woman with a job in my future field of study. She is a leader. Her specific research in gender differences in drug relapse and addiction has been key in the field of neurological studies. In fact, James Fisher’s quote describes Professor Stote as having “[t]he main characteristics of effective leadership [which] are intelligence, integrity [and] loyalty, mystique, humor, discipline, courage, self sufficiency and confidence.”4 All of these qualities are necessary in her profession as a clinical psychologist and researcher. However, these traits are not essential as a professor. But she somehow brings them into the classroom, which enables me and other students to appreciate her as a leading professor.

Professor Stote is a leader not only because of her work ethic, reliability, and bravery but also her extensive educational background. In fact, the education needed to become a clinician is such an intensive process that becoming a psychologist is my stretch goal in life. Because a master’s degree, along with a doctorate degree is required, I know I cannot give up on myself during the long journey of pursuing my goal. I must complete my undergraduate degree here at UT knowing I gave all of my effort in becoming a well-rounded student. I must believe in myself when I apply to medical school, knowing that, in my heart, I have developed an exceptional résumé that will stand out from the competition. And, when I finally complete medical school, I must have absolutely no doubt that I have made the right choice in my career of helping others. My future education concerns me so much, however, that I feel it might stand in the way of my dream. Theodore M. Hesburgh believes that “[t]he very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet.”5 So, if I fulfill my dream and obtain a license for a private practice,  I see myself in about twenty years opening a psychological clinic with other respected practitioners. Our treatment center would focus mainly on treating those with psychological disorders of the mind and body, specifically schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is such a widespread disease that it affects about two million adults each year, and only one in five of those adults recover completely.7 Due to this significant statistic, I want to be a psychologist that helps research and identify the cause of this chronic and disabling disease. Not only are schizophrenia sufferers often stigmatized by their brain disease, but they also have numerous side effects when taking medications that help with the hallucinations and other symptoms of the illness. I want to discover a medication that will enable schizophrenic patients to lead a normal lifestyle and recover completely from their severe disease. I want there to be a world where we no longer have to treat people with this psychological disorder that distorts the perception of reality of those with the disorder. Because of my prospective visions as a researcher of innovative medicine, I feel I can also be a leader in the future of psychological drugs.

Even though my small leadership goals in Habitat and at Brackenridge Hospital, along with future education, lead into my ultimate purpose as a psychologist ( a renowned researcher), I feel as though it takes more than just willpower to accomplish my aspiration. It takes compassion. Lance Secretan states:

Leadership is not so much about technique and methods as it is about opening the heart. Leadership is about inspiration—of oneself and of others. Great leadership is about human experiences, not processes. Leadership is not a formula or a program, it is a human activity that comes from the heart and considers the hearts of others. It is an attitude, not a routine.                     

My future leadership roles in Habitat for Humanity and at Brackenridge Hospital will not only open my heart to helping others, but will also enhance my determination to become a psychologist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Word Count: 1854

 

  1. Photo provided by official Habitat website http://www.habitat.org/.
  2. Photo provided by official Habitat website http://www.habitat.org/.
  3. Photo provided by official Habitat website http://www.habitat.org/.
  4. Photo provided by Microsoft Clip Art.

1 Donald Clark, “Big Dog’s Leadership Quotes,” http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadqot.html.  

2 Donald Clark, “Big Dog’s Leadership Quotes,” http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadqot.html.

3 HeartMath LLC, “Heart Quotes Center,” http://www.heartquotes.net/Leadership.html.

4 HeartMath LLC, “Heart Quotes Center,” http://www.heartquotes.net/Leadership.html.

5 Jim and Audri Lanford, “Famous Quotes and Quotations,” http://www.famous-quotes-and quotations.com/leadership-quotes.html.

6HeartMath LLC, “Heart Quotes Center,” http://www.heartquotes.net/Leadership.html.

7 National Institute of Mental Health, “Schizophrenia.com” http://www.schizophrenia.com/family/sz.overview.htm.