Visions...what are they really?

We have been talking in class about figuring out what your vision is....what is this vision? How do you know if you have set the right vision for yourself?
Why do we have a vision? We have a vision so we know what we want in life. Visions are good for making a pathway toward your goal in life. These visions give you something to work for, a life long goal to achieve. A vision represents who you are and what you, as an individual, stand for.
When you are figuring out your vision in life, you have a lot of questions to ask yourself and figure out before you can know your vision....
-Who do you want to be as a person? As a leader?
-What do you want to accomplish?
-What do you want to change? How?
-What's really important to you?
-What concerns you?
To get anywhere in life, you need a vision to direct yourself. You have to start with figuring out that vision, and then figure out your path getting there. This requires a lot of thought and learning about yourself. You really have to know what you want and what is important to you. Don't let others opinions change the way you think...it is your vision on your own life!

Dianna Elrod

What's your color?

       Are you red, blue, white, or yellow? And what does that mean? We took a personality test in our leadership development class. I am definitely a blue.
       What is a blue? To be a blue says you are very intimate. This is true. Relationships with other people are very important to me. If there is a problem with one of my relationships it will very much bother me. I have to make it right. I think that is important for a leader, so then your have a good relationship and understand others and their feelings as you are leading then toward something.
       Being a blue, I am said to be good morally. This is very much true. I always have to do the right thing. If I don't I will lay in bed regretting my decision. I also have to feel accepted and appreciated in order for me to feel I am doing a good job. This could be hard as a leader because you are never going to make everyone happy....so someone won't accept or appreciate what you are doing. This could bother me if a large number of people thought that.
       Quality is also very important to me. When we answer the question "what do you think your biggest strength is" I answer diligent. I feel useful and unwanted when I don't do good quality work. I believe do something right or don't do it at all. Now I have to say there are plenty of times that I don't do as good of a job as I could...so maybe that is something I could work on more as a leader. I believe getting the color blue matched my personality style very well.

Dianna Elrod

The first step....goal setting

       When I was looking for a fifth period class, I came across leadership development. I had always heard this was a fun class...so why not! And it was a Mr. Fritz class so I knew I would enjoy the teacher! So I put it on my schedule not really knowing what to expect and hoping I would enjoy it.      
       Then I had a leadership conference this summer. It was held here at the high school for the marching band drum major and section leaders. Alan Feirer, from Group Dynamic, gave us our leadership training. I was dreading going to this all day long leadership thing, but boy did I have fun! I learned so much about myself and my fellow band members. I learned that you have to have a big picture painted and work on the little details first. For example, we were trying to figure out how to get everyone in the band to be on time. Well we are only starting with early morning band days. Once they are on time we go from there. We also wrote down all of our personal goals as section leaders. Now that band has started I am really seeing that it is a long process....just like becoming a leader is. You can't just write something down on paper and expect it to happen. It takes a lot of work, effort , and commitment to make make those goals come true by a lot of work on the way.
       Leaving that leadership training I thought I would come out a leader and a better person....but to be completely honest. I am the same person I was the day before that leadership training. This has really put a perspective on the amount of work it takes for goals to be achieved. But I know I can make it happen if I set my mind to it.
       After having this super fun leadership training, I was really looking forward to this class. I knew it would be a lot of learning about me and my classmates, and I enjoy that.
       So where am I at with being a leader in band? I had a list of six goals for myself to achieve/work on throughout the marching band season.

• Leave 10 minutes earlier for band related activities so I am on time.
• Thinking of things that need to be done for the band when all of my things are done.
• Inspire others to make the band better by showing these things in myself...showing others by example.
• Listen to others in the section/band and be patient with them.
• Listen to their ideas and discuss with them to come to a conclusion.
• Not using the word "but" because it leaves the individual remembering the negative.

Well...the first goal has come a long way, and that has been the one i have been focusing on. I have not been late to band once! Now I just hope to keep these other goals in mind and hopefully I will be able to see some progress in them as well. I am sure this list will even tie into concert band and next year....because leadership is one step at a time!

Dianna Elrod