Response to Student Blogs

1. Lead by example, you can't ask someone to do something that you would not do yourself.
2. Right now it impacts me because as a section leader in band, I can tell people to do stuff, but they won't listen or do it if  I am not doing it. This impacts me in the future because this is a life lesson you should know. People won't respect you if they are held to a double standard.
3. Right now I need to stop and look at the things I do. Is everything I do representing a good leader? I have to act like a leader 100% of the time or people may think you are a fake.

Dianna Elrod

Motivation in High School

It seems to me that a lot of people don't seem to care about school or their activities nearly as much as they used to. It is sad to see that attitude decrease. Having this attitude in life isn't going to help you at all. If you want something, you are going to have to work for it. An A+ or a win for the basketball team isn't just given to you. The problem is people having the attitude to work for it. Where can students find their motivation? This is a real question everyone should ask themselves. You don't want students to be bribed into their success. You want them to want it for themselves. I hope people will realize once they get to college, they can't have their high school life back. So do it right the first time because you don't have a second chance. What you put into it is what you will get out of it!

Dianna Elrod

Always a leader

Today in class we were presenting some of our problems to the administration. One of the problems was attendance at school activities and school spirit. A point was brought up that really made me step back and say woah what's going on. Ms. O'Connor made the comment that a parent said to her that no one was standing up and cheering and all of the school leaders are sitting down. If leaders of WHS are sitting down with no school spirit....is anyone else going to stand up? No. Your peers look up to the leaders. If your a true leader, you are going to act like a leader 100% of the time...not just the time your being a leader. People are always going to be looking at you as a leader...whether you are actually leading something or sitting in the at the stands watching a volleyball game. Always be a leader.

Dianna Elrod

High School Drama

Being a high school student, I have been through a lot of drama. I think this year more than any other I have dealt with more drama than any before; this includes my drama and drama from my friends and peers. Recently I have had some things happen in my life that have really made me stop and think. Life isn't always going to go the way you want it to...actually it will rarely go the way you want it to. The thing I have learned from high school drama and hard times at home is that it is not going to go away. So I think the best thing you can do it rise above it all. Live and learn. This past couple of months has really been an eye opener. I have realized that you are only in high school once. I have also really realized how important my friends are to me. I wouldn't be the person I am today without my friends and my high school peers. Even though you might not get want you want or something is going wrong, rise above. Look at everything you already have and are taking advantage of.

Dianna Elrod

Friends

Friends have a huge impact in your life, especially during your high school years. I think it is very important to make sure you are picking the right group of friends to hang with. Find friends that have similar core values and beliefs as you. If you do, then I think you are more likely to get along. You and your friends are not always going to agree though. This is when you have to be a good friend and let things be. You can look out for your friends when they make bad decisions, but you can't make the decisions for them. This is when you let them know that they are your friend and matter what you will stick to their side whether or not you agree with them. Friendships are very important to me. I cherish my friendships everyday!

Dianna Elrod

Mr. Ritchie

Listening to Mr. Ritchie talk was neat because he showed us how we can use our leadership skills in our sports and other activities in high school. You may not realize it, but a high school student can use leadership skills everyday in a sport, even if they are only leading themselves. If you are positively leading yourself then that is awesome....keep it up. But if you look at yourself as an athlete and are unhappy with where you are at then take some initiative and get yourself where you want. Mr. Ritchie really got me thinking about that. I think high school athletes rely on the seniors to lead the team. I don't think this is the right attitude to have. A freshman athlete can lead the team just as well as any other athlete on the team could.

Dianna Elrod

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is time where a person really needs to stop and think about everything they are given in life. People don't think about the little things daily that they should be thankful for. A blanket to cover up with, food on your plate, running water, and education are some things that would fall into that category. So next time you go to school, you should realize there are children out there that don't get an education. Be thankful that you aren't one of them.
Now how does this relate to leadership? A leader needs to make sure they aren't taking the little things people are doing for them for granted. Show your appreciation and your gratitude for the things people are doing to help you reach your goal. Your followers need to know that they are appreciated otherwise they will give up on you. They need to know what they are doing is making just as much as a difference as what the leader is doing!

Dianna Elrod