Team Pluto
LeaderShape Reflection
The final week of my winter break was a welcome surprise. I knew that I would be going on a retreat called “Leadershape” for the Honors Program, but I assumed that it would be a run of the mill retreat with people I had never met. To be honest, I was not really looking forward to it. However, soon after we arrived at “Camp Higher Ground” I began to change my mind. We broke off into six groups of ten, each group having its own unique name. Our amazing group was called “Team Pluto” because we were stationed furthest from the main building. We took pride in our name because of the long cold walks we had to endure together to get back to the main group, it was a surprising bonding experience. Leadershape is a very well designed retreat. Its activities do not fall short of Leadershape’s name, as these activities are meant to shape you into an effective leader. My favorite activity was one that required the participants to be vulnerable. Being vulnerable in front of a group of people you just met is difficult because they could very easily take advantage. However, when I realized they would not, I began to trust them, and as the activity went on, they began to trust me. That is when I realized that, while being vulnerable is uncomfortable, it is not always a bad thing. Being vulnerable with your peers creates trust that you can use to be an effective leader. If you are asked to lead a group of people, but they do not trust you, how can you expect them not to question your every move? If you have trust and respect, it becomes easier and more enjoyable to lead. That is the biggest thing Leadershape taught me.
The final week of my winter break was a welcome surprise. I knew that I would be going on a retreat called “Leadershape” for the Honors Program, but I assumed that it would be a run of the mill retreat with people I had never met. To be honest, I was not really looking forward to it. However, soon after we arrived at “Camp Higher Ground” I began to change my mind. We broke off into six groups of ten, each group having its own unique name. Our amazing group was called “Team Pluto” because we were stationed furthest from the main building. We took pride in our name because of the long cold walks we had to endure together to get back to the main group, it was a surprising bonding experience. Leadershape is a very well designed retreat. Its activities do not fall short of Leadershape’s name, as these activities are meant to shape you into an effective leader. My favorite activity was one that required the participants to be vulnerable. Being vulnerable in front of a group of people you just met is difficult because they could very easily take advantage. However, when I realized they would not, I began to trust them, and as the activity went on, they began to trust me. That is when I realized that, while being vulnerable is uncomfortable, it is not always a bad thing. Being vulnerable with your peers creates trust that you can use to be an effective leader. If you are asked to lead a group of people, but they do not trust you, how can you expect them not to question your every move? If you have trust and respect, it becomes easier and more enjoyable to lead. That is the biggest thing Leadershape taught me.
During LeaderShape you find a vision that you wish to accomplish. My vision is this: to make mental health concerns more aware around the University of Cincinnati, to it's students, professors, and staff. This is something that I hold near to me, it needs to be addressed and I am making action to change it for our future Bearcats.