Formal Paper #1 - Leadership

Leadership

ISM 6th Period

Amita Raj

9/8/2010

            Eric Hoffer (a philosopher) once said, “The leader has to be practical and a realist, yet must talk the language of the visionary and the idealist.” [1]

            It is important for one to know the limitations of the circumstances or situations. However, it is within these refines that success can thrive and flourish. The Independent Study Mentorship (ISM) course allows students to realize these limitations earlier in their lives. This is essential to having a productive future because changing one’s mind, especially during the final years of college, can be a reality shock.

            Leaders know exactly what they want, and they know the means they need to achieve their goals. This is especially important when interacting with a mentor. Mentors would have more confident in a protégé if the latter exhibited an understanding of material they learn in the field and are able to apply these facets of knowledge elsewhere. For example, a cardiologist would teach his or her student about the basic functioning of a heart during an arrhythmia. Although this may be theoretical at first, the student would be able to apply this information in such a way that if there were three clinical cases of different conditions, the student should (after being observing and monitoring the patient) be able to identify the patient with arrhythmia.

            This example highlights the fact that success and knowledge should be the top priorities to a leader, particularly in an environment in which the display of maturity and level-headedness is involved. As a human being, it is rewarding to teach someone specialized skills and have them be self-sufficient and independent with the new knowledge.

            Confidence is another fact that should be displayed by leaders, and subsequently ISM students. Being weak and vulnerable shows the mentor that the student is not comfortable with the circumstances. If this is a case that might happen again in the future, the mentor might feel that this field of study might not be the best choice for the student to carry out, and will see that his or her efforts were in vain. For example, if a student gets queasy around blood and panics at the sight of it, surgery might not be the best career path unless it is possible to overcome this fear and embrace the benefits that performing surgery has on the patient and on the surgeon.

            Showing leadership traits such as honesty, competency and intelligence [2] allows the leader to display the perfect ‘model example’ that others would strive to follow. “Simply possessing each trait is not enough; you have to display it in a way that people notice.” [2] Merely possessing these traits would not provide the mentor with much information about the student unless the characteristics were displayed efficiently in the work environment. In the classroom, the student who portrays this confidence and maturity will be valued among his or her peers. These qualities will inspire others to succeed in their own limitations and set idealistic but realistic goals for themselves.

            Although many think it may not seem important in high school, appearance is a key factor of judgment in the working world. Unbeknownst to many, we evaluate and judge people based on their first appearance. Although over time some of the initial assumptions we made may fade, there is always the inklings of the first introduction that sits in the back of our minds. Being groomed, well manicured and properly dressed, not only when first interacting with the mentor, is essential even in future meetings. Speaking articulately and clearly with the mentor, his or her peers in the establishment, and in the classroom allows everyone to see that the student is prospering in his or her learning environment and reaping the benefits that ISM has to provide. Showing all of these characteristics allows the mentor, the teacher and the student to see that they can handle responsibility and respect efficiently and maturely. It is important to be thought of as a valuable asset and/or peer than a child and a burden.

ISM challenges students and prepares them for decisions they may have to make towards colleges and careers. Through extensive research and writing assignments, the student is able to prepare themselves for the world outside high school—a world that is very complicated.

Bibliography:

"Definition of a Leader." Virtual Teacher Aide. Web. 05 Sept. 2010.

<http://www.vtaide.com/gleanings/leader.htm>.

Shead, Mark. "Leadership Traits: The Five Most Important Leadership Qualities." Web log post. Leadership501:Examining the Gears of Leadership. Web. 05 Sept. 2010.

<http://www.leadership501.com/five-most-important-leadership-traits/27/>.