Darwin T. Turner Ambassador
This past year, I was a Darwin T. Turner Ambassador. I, along with about forty other selected Turner Ambassadors, were “the faces” of the Darwin T. Turner Scholarship program. It was our responsibility to represent Turner in a positive manner, promoting academic excellence, and diversity. Prior to the beginning of the school year, we had a retreat where we go to know each other and learned our purpose as ambassadors. Throughout the year, we helped organize and run different Turner events. For example, in the fall we had to organize and run the Turner Fall Induction Ceremony, which formally inducts all of the new Turner Scholars into the program. Another event that we were responsible for was the annual Student Leadership Conference in the spring. Although the event was postponed, we were responsible of helping plan, setup, and run this event for students that may be required or choose to attend. This year, we were also responsible to help with WorldFest.
We were divided into different committees. We were able to be part of either the Community Service Committee, Diversity Committee, or Social Committee. I was a member of the Community Service Committee. Within this committee, we were responsible for finding different service opportunities for Scholars to participate in. The vice president of community service was responsible for contacting each service site, researching the details, getting the site approved by my advisor, and then getting the information out to fellow Turner Scholars. In addition to being the spokespeople of Turner, we were also mentors to incoming freshman scholars. I was responsible of meeting with, and staying in contact with my mentee. I made sure I checked up on my mentee often and was there if she needed me.
This experience was everything I expected. Going in, I knew that it would not be a very time consuming role. Our biweekly meetings would not last an hour at the most.
As a Turner Ambassador, I was given the opportunity to build and develop my leadership skills. It gave me the chance to show initiative and set an example for my peers. I learned how to be more assertive, and take initiative. This role helped me develop and mature as a person. Throughout my experience, I was able to relate, communicate, and work effectively with my peers. In our biweekly meetings, I listened to the opinions and ideas of my peers and responded in an appropriate manner. Also, I acknowledged the impact my decisions and the decisions of others made on the ambassador program. I knew that if I did not play my role, it would have a negative effect on the organization. I made sure I was at every meeting and offered my input. I made sure that I was physically present, as well as mentally present.
My experience as a Turner ambassador helped me further my personal and professional goals. I was able to improve my leadership skills by becoming bolder and more assertive than I was at the beginning of the school year. It has also helped me become more responsible and mature. Professionally, I have learned that when it comes to accomplishing a purpose effectively, it is important to separate what is going on in my personal life from my professional life. I know that sometimes things are going to come up, but I have been reminded to focus on the things that I can control, such as finishing my work on time and having a positive attitude. Also, I have learned that it is important to know the working styles of the people I work with. Everyone’s work ethic and style is different and being aware of how my colleagues work, helps me respect them and understand how I am to work with them.
The material I referred to for this experience includes David Goleman’s, Leadership That Gets Results and Barry Z. Kouzes and James M. Posner’s, The Leadership Challenge. Leadership That Gets Results taught me the different leadership styles and what combination of those leadership styles will yield the best results for any given situation. Out of the six different leadership styles, I noticed that I took on authoritative, democratic, affiliative, and coaching styles. I have learned that the best results occur when people are happy or content with what they are doing. These four leadership styles usually produce positive results when working with others because they focus on working in unity and making sure everyone is on one accord. The four styles focus on effective communication and servant leadership. I notice that I usually take on democratic and coaching styles the most. I want to make sure that the people that I am leading/working with are able and willing to work together.
Barry Z. Kouzes and James M. Posner’s, The Leadership Challenge, taught me the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership, which includes modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act, and encouraging the heart. It taught me what causes people to follow a leader, what leaders must be committed to, and how effective leaders must lead by example. This book reiterated the characteristics of a servant leader. It reminds me that the best type of leader is a leader that leads by example. An exceptional leader shares his/her vision and leads the way to accomplish it. He/She also encourages others to do their part and to work hard to accomplish the vision in mind.
If I was an ambassador again, I would definitely speak up more in meetings. At the meetings I would say something every now and then, but I would definitely speak up more and provide suggestions, comments, and ideas, as opposed to listening to what everyone else has to say and simply agreeing with them. My advice to anyone who is considering being an ambassador is to make sure that they are doing it for the right reasons. If they are passionate about being an ambassador, then they should go ahead and do it, but if not they should not. I would let them know that the position is not very time consuming but it is important to be present mentally and physically at meetings and events. The year will go by smoothly if each person is dedicated to his/her role and does not make promises he/she cannot keep. As in everything, you will only get out what you put in.
There are many lessons I have learned from this experience. I have learned the importance of being present mentally and physically, dedication, and responsibility. I have been reminded that I cannot control everything, but I can do my best to only control the things that I can. I have learned that I have to be the change that I want to see. I need to fire up a go getter attitude and not draw weary during the process. As a leader, I cannot to be afraid to be bold and courageous. I cannot expect to be accepted by everyone all the time because people are not always going to agree with what I say. I am in the process of learning that it is important to stand up for the right thing in every situation, even if I might be standing alone. I have learned that I in life I am not always going to be comfortable in every given situation. Matter of fact, I have learned that people grow and learn more when they are in an uncomfortable situation. This experience has truly taught me to stretch out and not be afraid to be in the forefront.
As a member of the community service committee, I did not feel like I was able to contribute in the way I expected to. There was a vice president for the committee who took on all the work by himself. There were multiple times when I would ask him what I could do to help or offer solutions and suggestions, but he would not always listen or take heed. I have through this experience to be more assertive and not wait for people to ask me to do something, but to take initiative.
This year, I learned how to truly lead by example. I made sure to reach out to my mentee regularly to make sure her first year was going well. I knew her prior to being chosen as her mentor, so it was a little bit easier for me to connect with her as opposed to meeting someone new and getting to know them. I made sure that I made myself available to her and did what I could to help her. Also, it reminded me to be mindful of what I say and do because there is someone always watching me whether I recognize it or not.
I have shared this experience with my fellow Turner Ambassadors and Turner Scholars by sharing what I have learned as an ambassador. As a result, they have learned more about the program and how blessed we are to be members of it. After each event, I reflected on my personal performance and the performance of the ambassadors collectively. We would follow up with each other and debrief. Through sharing my experience, I have become aware of some of the leadership qualities I need to work on, as well as walking boldly. Overall, being a Turner Ambassador was truly a learning and growth experience and I am glad I was able to experience it.
We were divided into different committees. We were able to be part of either the Community Service Committee, Diversity Committee, or Social Committee. I was a member of the Community Service Committee. Within this committee, we were responsible for finding different service opportunities for Scholars to participate in. The vice president of community service was responsible for contacting each service site, researching the details, getting the site approved by my advisor, and then getting the information out to fellow Turner Scholars. In addition to being the spokespeople of Turner, we were also mentors to incoming freshman scholars. I was responsible of meeting with, and staying in contact with my mentee. I made sure I checked up on my mentee often and was there if she needed me.
This experience was everything I expected. Going in, I knew that it would not be a very time consuming role. Our biweekly meetings would not last an hour at the most.
As a Turner Ambassador, I was given the opportunity to build and develop my leadership skills. It gave me the chance to show initiative and set an example for my peers. I learned how to be more assertive, and take initiative. This role helped me develop and mature as a person. Throughout my experience, I was able to relate, communicate, and work effectively with my peers. In our biweekly meetings, I listened to the opinions and ideas of my peers and responded in an appropriate manner. Also, I acknowledged the impact my decisions and the decisions of others made on the ambassador program. I knew that if I did not play my role, it would have a negative effect on the organization. I made sure I was at every meeting and offered my input. I made sure that I was physically present, as well as mentally present.
My experience as a Turner ambassador helped me further my personal and professional goals. I was able to improve my leadership skills by becoming bolder and more assertive than I was at the beginning of the school year. It has also helped me become more responsible and mature. Professionally, I have learned that when it comes to accomplishing a purpose effectively, it is important to separate what is going on in my personal life from my professional life. I know that sometimes things are going to come up, but I have been reminded to focus on the things that I can control, such as finishing my work on time and having a positive attitude. Also, I have learned that it is important to know the working styles of the people I work with. Everyone’s work ethic and style is different and being aware of how my colleagues work, helps me respect them and understand how I am to work with them.
The material I referred to for this experience includes David Goleman’s, Leadership That Gets Results and Barry Z. Kouzes and James M. Posner’s, The Leadership Challenge. Leadership That Gets Results taught me the different leadership styles and what combination of those leadership styles will yield the best results for any given situation. Out of the six different leadership styles, I noticed that I took on authoritative, democratic, affiliative, and coaching styles. I have learned that the best results occur when people are happy or content with what they are doing. These four leadership styles usually produce positive results when working with others because they focus on working in unity and making sure everyone is on one accord. The four styles focus on effective communication and servant leadership. I notice that I usually take on democratic and coaching styles the most. I want to make sure that the people that I am leading/working with are able and willing to work together.
Barry Z. Kouzes and James M. Posner’s, The Leadership Challenge, taught me the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership, which includes modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act, and encouraging the heart. It taught me what causes people to follow a leader, what leaders must be committed to, and how effective leaders must lead by example. This book reiterated the characteristics of a servant leader. It reminds me that the best type of leader is a leader that leads by example. An exceptional leader shares his/her vision and leads the way to accomplish it. He/She also encourages others to do their part and to work hard to accomplish the vision in mind.
If I was an ambassador again, I would definitely speak up more in meetings. At the meetings I would say something every now and then, but I would definitely speak up more and provide suggestions, comments, and ideas, as opposed to listening to what everyone else has to say and simply agreeing with them. My advice to anyone who is considering being an ambassador is to make sure that they are doing it for the right reasons. If they are passionate about being an ambassador, then they should go ahead and do it, but if not they should not. I would let them know that the position is not very time consuming but it is important to be present mentally and physically at meetings and events. The year will go by smoothly if each person is dedicated to his/her role and does not make promises he/she cannot keep. As in everything, you will only get out what you put in.
There are many lessons I have learned from this experience. I have learned the importance of being present mentally and physically, dedication, and responsibility. I have been reminded that I cannot control everything, but I can do my best to only control the things that I can. I have learned that I have to be the change that I want to see. I need to fire up a go getter attitude and not draw weary during the process. As a leader, I cannot to be afraid to be bold and courageous. I cannot expect to be accepted by everyone all the time because people are not always going to agree with what I say. I am in the process of learning that it is important to stand up for the right thing in every situation, even if I might be standing alone. I have learned that I in life I am not always going to be comfortable in every given situation. Matter of fact, I have learned that people grow and learn more when they are in an uncomfortable situation. This experience has truly taught me to stretch out and not be afraid to be in the forefront.
As a member of the community service committee, I did not feel like I was able to contribute in the way I expected to. There was a vice president for the committee who took on all the work by himself. There were multiple times when I would ask him what I could do to help or offer solutions and suggestions, but he would not always listen or take heed. I have through this experience to be more assertive and not wait for people to ask me to do something, but to take initiative.
This year, I learned how to truly lead by example. I made sure to reach out to my mentee regularly to make sure her first year was going well. I knew her prior to being chosen as her mentor, so it was a little bit easier for me to connect with her as opposed to meeting someone new and getting to know them. I made sure that I made myself available to her and did what I could to help her. Also, it reminded me to be mindful of what I say and do because there is someone always watching me whether I recognize it or not.
I have shared this experience with my fellow Turner Ambassadors and Turner Scholars by sharing what I have learned as an ambassador. As a result, they have learned more about the program and how blessed we are to be members of it. After each event, I reflected on my personal performance and the performance of the ambassadors collectively. We would follow up with each other and debrief. Through sharing my experience, I have become aware of some of the leadership qualities I need to work on, as well as walking boldly. Overall, being a Turner Ambassador was truly a learning and growth experience and I am glad I was able to experience it.