Nicole Stolle

Professor Bump

FS 301

The Importance of Leadership

As I made my way through school it seemed as if every day there was someone pressuring me to become involved in a leadership activity. Whether it was becoming an officer in our 4-H group in elementary, the captain of our junior high basketball team, or president of the Boling High School Student Council, teachers and parents constantly stressed that being a leader is what helps people achieve their life goals. I am, however, grateful that I was put in situations where I could learn that I have the ability to be a leader in the Boling community. Being a leader is what I believe sparked my passion to be a good person. While being a leader in the past, I have learned that “emotionally intelligent leaders build resonance by tuning into people’s feelings – their own and others’ – and guiding them in the right direction.” ¹ If I want to be a good person I must help others in bad or strenuous situations and guide them to a successful path in life. By becoming active in blood drives or cancer awareness organizations, I can put my goal of being a good person to use like my hero Lance Armstrong did. I would also like to accomplish my long term goal of becoming a physical therapist to help many individuals feel comfortable with their daily activities.

Although my free time seems limited as I start my journey through college, I would like to make an effort to be a leader in an organization that could fulfill my desire to be a good person. When I was a senior in high school, I was in charge of the blood drives our school hosted. I would organize groups of people to advertise around the community for our future blood drives. We would call members of the community, put up signs around the town, and put ads in the newspaper to let everyone know when the blood drive would be held. I would also attend classes in Houston where we would learn why giving blood is important. When hosting the blood drives I enjoyed every minute of doing so because I knew I was doing something good for others. We were one of the only schools that hosted four blood drives a year which is a great accomplishment. I learned to appreciate the efforts of blood drive workers and the importance of giving blood.

As I walked through campus not very long ago, I noticed many buses advertising a blood drive. I was excited to see that I could once again give blood and take part in saving the lives of others. When I went to talk to the workers, however, I was sadly disappointed to be turned down because of the recent surgery I had a few months ago. Although I was not able to help, I realized that in the future I would like to help organize events that would advertise why donating blood is needed to save lives. I will not necessarily have to volunteer

on campus, but rather somewhere in the Austin area. Although I would like to start helping right away, I do not think it would be fair for me to do so because of how busy and uncomfortable I am with my new college lifestyle. I would like to help properly with the blood drives and not just when it is convenient for me. By attaining this manageable goal in college I can help save lives, gain respect for myself, and build my sense of confidence all at once.

Besides helping with blood drives I would also like to exercise my leadership skills by becoming more involved in cancer awareness. I not only want to help others, but also to be more aware of the facts associated with the fight to find a cure for this disease. Many family members and friends have been diagnosed with cancer. Watching them battle their cancers made me realize that I should never take life for granted. I should take time out of my healthy life to be a leader and help as much as possible. The thought of cancer was never a big concern of mine until my Grandmother and younger cousin Hayley were both diagnosed with the disease in the same month. I feared the concept of cancer because all my life the only thing I associated with the disease was death. I was frightened by the fact that people so close to me could be burdened with this problem. Around the same time my family members were starting treatments for their cancer, Lance Armstrong was becoming involved in the fight to find a cure with his LIVESTRONG Foundation. My family members and I, consisting of around thirty people, supported his foundation by wearing the LIVESTRONG yellow bracelets. Not only were we donating to the foundation by purchasing the armbands, but also were wearing them to inspire my Grandmother and Hayley. We had faith that they would do what the bracelets said, LIVESTRONG, and wanted them to know we would always be there for our family. It was an emotional time in our lives and I am grateful that my Grandmother and Hayley are both still with us today.

After that serious moment in my life, Lance Armstrong immediately became a role model to me. He uses his fame for the good of society and inspires many people with cancer not to lose hope for life. He not only provides encouragement for the ones diagnosed but is efficient in recruiting healthy people to get involved. When I have time in college, I would like to get involved with the LAF, the Lance Armstrong Foundation. By helping with an LAF event or just being a weekend volunteer I can be a leader in the fight for a cure and use my passion to be a good person. Just recently there was an organized event here in Austin that I would have loved to be part of. The LIVESTRONG Summit, “a three-day event to organize, inspire and direct the efforts of cancer survivors” would be a way for me to help the cancer foundation. ² I would like for people diagnosed with any type of cancer to stay motivated about cancer research and know that people believe in them and are willing to give their support. When I walk through the main mall at lunch, I am always giving money to the breast cancer booth so that I can be part of supporting the research for a cure.

When I graduate from the University of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in general kinesiology and continue on to get my master’s degree in physical therapy, I hope to become a physical therapist. Physical therapy is a career I have always had an interest in, and just like hosting a blood drive or LAF event, it helps inspire others to get their lives back in order. Although I will be in college for what seems to be forever, I know it will be an accomplishment to be proud of. I would like to perform physical therapy on people who have experienced a life-threatening surgery, or were involved in a car or work related accident. Being physically capable is important not just for working purposes, but also to be comfortable in performing daily activities such as driving or simply trying to relax. I am excited and passionate about this career decision because I know I will enjoy helping others not only become strong physically but also mentally. I want to lead people in the right direction by helping them with their discomfort so they can once again have confidence to do the things they love.

In the future, after working under a more experienced physical therapist, I would love to own and run my own physical therapy office. It would not just be any ordinary office, however. I would like to create a relaxed center where people can come to give blood, receive physical therapy, and have counselors to support those who have had a traumatic experience in their lives and need someone to talk to. I want to be a physical therapist for those who have experienced major surgery or have come out of a bad accident. Having a relaxed office would benefit them and make healing from a traumatic accident less stressful. Accident victims who understand the importance of giving or receiving blood sometimes need someone to talk to about their traumatic experiences and could find counselors at my office who could offer advice on how to live their lives. Besides receiving physical therapy or talking to a counselor, patients could encourage family and friends to come with them occasionally to donate blood they once had to receive for their surgeries.

Although my long term goal is a challenge, I know I have the leadership abilities to achieve it. By combining college volunteer services with my future career, I can “cultivate an atmosphere of cooperation and trust.” ³ Leadership is important in my passion to be a good person and without that ability I would not be able to feel that happiness in my life. After starting my pilgrimage through college I have come to realize that “various parts of [my] life intersected, and how crafting a plan to make this dream a reality could be not only motivating but inspiring.” ⁴ When thinking of all the opportunities I have in my future to be a leader, I know that life is going to have meaning and that my passion to be a good person has a strong possibility of being fulfilled.

New Word Count: 1,692

Old Word Count: 1,420

Words Omitted: 129

Author’s own photos

1. Daniel Goleman, “Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence” in Explore Texas FS301 course anthology, ed. Jerome Bump (Austin: Jenn’s Copying and Binding, 2006), 62.
2. Mitch Stoller, “LIVESTRONG Summit Round-Up,” Lance Armstrong Foundation, 2006, http://www.livestrong.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=jvKZLbMRIsG&b=2192101&ct=3201633.
3. Daniel Goleman, “Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence” in Explore Texas FS301 course anthology, ed. Jerome Bump (Austin: Jenn’s Copying and Binding, 2006), 64.
4. Daniel Goleman, “ Primal Leadership: Making Leaders” in Explore Texas FS301 course anthology, ed. Jerome Bump (Austin: Jenn’s Copying and Binding, 2006), 66.