Jennifer Brady

Professor Bump

FS 301

17 October 2006

My Passions and Hopeful Pilgrimage

 

After reading the “Ground Your Leadership Vision in Personal Vision” article, I realized that it continually asked me to “look for patterns… [in order] to bring [my] vision to light.”1 So I did, and began recognizing patterns that seemed to form in my life, without my knowing. For instance, I always got a rush when I succeeded in helping others, I joined numerous volunteer organizations, and had a very close bond with my Grandma, my role model. So, after a thorough talk with myself, I finally realized that my true passion in life is helping people. Throughout high school I joined a variety of clubs that I originally believed would only enhance my transcript that would admit me into The University of Texas. However, I had no idea that these activities would alter my view of the world, and change my outlook on my life completely.

            I have been inspired by many people to care for others and perform selfless acts. For instance, I get goose bumps every time I hear John F. Kennedy’s statement, “Ask not what your country can do for you-- ask what you can do for your country,” and immediately feel a sense of pride. Also, after Mother Theresa’s passing, and hearing of her philanthropic ways, I felt I needed to get myself involved with the community. However, one person in my life has had a greater impact than even the most famous of humanitarians, my Grandmother. She taught me, through her lifetime of wisdom and hardships, that to become a self-fulfilled, earnest individual you must care for others genuinely. Raising nine children and working as a secretary for the

Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta, Georgia, she taught me that in order to satisfy yourself, treat others with greater needs first. It is not that she necessarily taught me that in order to be completely fulfilled I must only focus on others’ needs. But she shared with me that a good balance between self wants and others’ needs can be the perfect formula in life. However, I did not realize my Grandma’s wisdom until this past summer when she passed away.

This is my Grandmother and my family at her house in 2005. 1
 

Yet, still not realizing my Grandmother’s wisdom that helping others would be a life altering experience for me, I decided that my first volunteer activity would be at my local area hospital. Originally, the primary reasons I chose to get involved were to add more extracurricular activities on my college application and spend quality time with my Grandma, who also volunteered there. However, those reasons transformed into something much more profound than my résumé. I chose to dedicate my time and energy to assisting in the fast-paced emergency room. My services included helping nurses treat sick patients, running blood and urine samples to the lab, and cleaning soiled hospital beds. Even though most of my work consisted of menial, and some would call disgusting, duties, I knew that I was making someone’s life (a patient, nurse, or doctor) a lot easier. Knowing this satisfied me incredibly. It is not that I am necessarily a people pleaser, by any means, but I just get a rush that fulfills my need to help others.

I first realized this need to help others on a typical, hot Monday afternoon as I was performing my routine of helping the nurses in the Emergency Room. Suddenly, in rushed the paramedics with an eighteen- year-old male on a gurney with severe trauma to the head, half-dead with brain matter everywhere. Because Ft. Bend is a smaller hospital, the paramedics brought him into the only trauma room we had. The doctors and nurses immediately began working on the young male to bring him back to consciousness. I stood right outside the door trying to observe exactly what the doctors and nurses were doing to the young man, but I could not. However, after only a few minutes, the commotion abruptly halted and I heard the doctor whisper “Time of death: 15:47.” I was shocked! I had seen a dead person before but I had never witnessed someone actually in the process of dying. After my heartbeat slowed down a little, I began to ask questions to the nurses. I discovered that the man was riding his motorcycle when he tried to answer his cell-phone, and while doing so slammed into a brick mailbox. The impact was so powerful that not even his helmet was able to save him. After discussing the horrific accident with the nurses and paramedics, I realized how incredible the staff was in trying to save the young man’s life. Not only did they struggle for minutes to try to save him, but one paramedic courageously waited until the man was pronounced dead to begin draining the gray matter that had sprayed into his own eye during the turbulent ride to the hospital. Even though the boy did not survive, I was still amazed by the courageous effort, teamwork, and passion that all of the staff members possessed. Because of their heroic effort, I realized, a few years later, that I, too, wanted to help others for a living.

This is Ft. Bend Memorial Hospital, the place of my first volunteer activity. 2
 

However, I did not realize how much the hospital had actually affected me until after I recognized my own patterns later on. So, I continued to engage myself into volunteer activities that would only enhance my college application. In fact, I originally joined Key Club, an organization dedicated to community service, in ninth grade in order to catch the attention of my current boyfriend who was already a member. However, after attending meetings and understanding the purpose of the club, I decided to get involved in the assorted projects and services that they had to offer. I volunteered at the local food bank, shelving and distributing food to the needy in my community, attended multiple George R. Brown Convention Center Thanksgiving Feasts to feed the homeless, and raised money for UNICEF in order to improve the lives of children in Africa. Through this community volunteering I was able to remove excessive focus and unnecessary attention from myself and concentrate on helping others with greater needs. I enjoyed volunteering at various community service events because I could forget any problems I had in my life at the time, and realize my troubles were far less severe than the challenges those people faced. I took so much pleasure in this club that I decided to run for secretary and eventually won. As the secretary I was able to organize projects and assist other club members in finding activities that interested them the most, hoping they could feel that same sensation that touched me deeply.

            After experiencing the thrill of helping others with my services, I began to realize how important it was to continue and “follow [this] bliss” in order to satisfy my passion.2 I decided to join Habitat for Humanity. Like the other activities, Habitat was dedicated to serving families with financial instability. However, this service was incredibly meaningful in that I was a part of the entire process of building a house. From organizing marathons to attending overnight fundraisers to raise fifty thousand dollars, I developed a true sense of the word “dedication.” There was no possible way that I could let these families down by not attending a building session because I wanted to sleep in or because I wanted to spend time with friends. Not only did I realize how fortunate I am, I also realized the importance of uniting with others for the sake of the community.

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This is me, in the yellow shirt, caulking the ceiling of a house I helped build for Habitat. 3
 

           

            Even though I participated in other organizations, these particular volunteer activities stood out the most to me because I was not contributing just for the sake of service hours. I enjoyed volunteering because I helped others, rather than myself. Because of this fulfilling achievement I want to continue to help others in need and become a psychologist. Whether that is a clinical or school psychologist I do not know. However, I know that my pilgrimage in life is towards the field of helping others. Daniel Goleman flawlessly articulates my ultimate passion by saying that “emotionally intelligent leaders build resonance by tuning into people’s feelings… and guiding them in the right direction.”3 Yes, this quote can be directed toward a variety of jobs and passions; however, it is especially true for who dedicate their lives to helping others. Not only do psychologists listen, diagnose, and treat patients, but they must also have great “empathy [which] matters most to visionary leadership” and understand to a high degree that most patients rely on them to direct the way.4 Goleman also believes that a true leader has “the ability to sense how others feel … understand their perspectives… [and with that] can articulate a truly inspirational vision.”5 I feel I can be the ultimate leader through my experiences in volunteering and lessons taught by my Grandma. I know that before I became involved with service activities, I was naïve and selfish. I was so focused on getting those new pair of jeans or those designer shoes. However, now I know I can use my former egotistical habits and be an example that could pave a positive route for others. By either becoming a school or even a clinical psychologist, I know I would need to “execute a vision by motivating, guiding, inspiring, listening, [and] persuading.”6 Because my passions have created a positive outlook on my life, I know that I could motivate others. Along with my experience and, of course, education down the road, I feel as though my passion for volunteering could unite with my leadership skills and enable me to help others.

This is me, in the future, as a psychologist, helping someone in need.

 

After realizing that becoming a psychologist is what I want to do with my life, I noticed how incredible Daniel Goleman’s article really is.  The entire article about the power of emotion and intelligence in order to form an ideal leader has grasped me such that I will use his words and logical reasoning as a guideline for my pilgrimage and truths that I will eventually seek. He states impeccably that “by being attuned to how others feel in the moment, a leader can say and do what’s appropriate, whether that means calming fears, assuaging anger, or joining in good spirits.”7 Not only does this apply for my everyday purpose of being a good citizen, but also for my future purpose as a psychologist. In this field, psychologists must continually help others with problems (whether the troubles are mental disorders, drug abuse, or everyday stresses) and must make appropriate decisions in order to treat the patients.

Furthermore, psychologists must always have respect from their patients in order to completely heal the wounds that have harmed the patients mentally. Goleman encapsulates my intentions when becoming a psychologist by stating that by “using inspiration together with… self-confidence, self-awareness, and empathy, visionary leaders articulate a purpose that rings true for themselves and attune it to values shared by the people they lead.”8

 

 

 

  1. Lee, Robert J. 1939. “Discovering the Leader in You: A Guide to Realizing Your Personal Leadership Potential.” In: Explore Texas, edited by Jerome Bump, 82. Austin, 2006. 
  2. Campbell, Joseph. “Know Thyself.” In: Explore Texas, edited by Jerome Bump, 71. Austin, 2006.
  3. Goleman, Daniel. 2002. “Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence.” In: Explore Texas, edited by Jerome Bump, 62. Austin, 2006.
  4. Goleman, Daniel. 2002. “Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence.” In: Explore Texas, edited by Jerome Bump, 65. Austin, 2006.
  5. Goleman, Daniel. 2002. “Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence.” In: Explore Texas, edited by Jerome Bump, 65. Austin, 2006.
  6. Goleman, Daniel. 2002. “Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence.” In: Explore Texas, edited by Jerome Bump, 62. Austin, 2006.
  7. Goleman, Daniel. 2002. “Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence.” In: Explore Texas, edited by Jerome Bump, 64. Austin, 2006.
  8. Goleman, Daniel. 2002. “Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence.” In: Explore Texas, edited by Jerome Bump, 65. Austin, 2006.

* Pictures 1, 2, and 3 are those of the author.

* Picture 4 is from Microsoft Word’s Clip Art.

 

Words: 2032

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