Forging Connections

Vulnerability is one of the more difficult character traits that we as humans possess. Some people find it hard to open themselves up and to be susceptible to being hurt. To fully embrace vulnerability can be a tough, yet very rewarding experience. It allows one to fully embrace who they are and to let the people around them in and show them who they are and what they have been through. Brene Brown said being vulnerable is necessary and I would agree with her. For me being vulnerable has been uncomfortable, but they say when you go outside of your comfort zone you truly experience growth and learning. In my close relationships I have seen that these people around me who care about me want me to be vulnerable with them because it shows a sense of trust and security with who I am with them and what they mean to me. I have found that opening up is good and it feels great to let ourselves be deeply seen by others and I think for that reason that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. There is always going to be a chance that we will get hurt or we will be betrayed, but that is a risk we are willing to take to share in these moments of true intimacy and closeness. Brene Brown said being vulnerable is “to do something where there are no guarantees” and this is a reason why being vulnerable can be challenging for people. A lot of people are scared of uncertainty and lack of guarantees; they are afraid of the grey area.  

The Essence of Who We Are

We try to live each day by a set of values that define who we are as a person, and sometimes it isn’t always apparent what exactly these values. Assessments such as the VIA Character Assessment show us how our actions or thoughts align with these values. These values are the core of who we are and how we act and it is eye opening when you can answer some questions and they generate of list of your values.  I think my top character strengths aligned with who I am and the way I approach each day. Honesty was my first strength and I think it is a very important characteristic to possess because it is important to be someone that people can trust and to be able to trust that you yourself will live by your set of values and ideals. Hope was another one that was pretty high up for me and I really liked seeing this value up high. I find it important to always be able to find the positive in all situations and to always be able to look through tough situation to see what awaits you on the other side.

One value that I sometimes struggling with is the Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence. It can be easy to get into a routine with classes, studying, work, and other daily tasks that we forget to be thankful for everything around us. Every so often it is important to just stop and be thankful for everything that we have and the opportunities that are all around us. We are lucky to be attending such a great university and it feels good when I am walking to class or running to just thank about how fortunate we are to have what we have.

The Ingenuity of Introversion

In today’s society, qualities of introversion are often associated with a lack of understanding or confidence and in group settings these are often undesirable qualities. When working in groups there is always the push for everyone to voice their opinion or provide their input, while some people work better with supporting or improving upon ideas. These qualities of introversion play supportive roles in group dynamics and allow for greater depth of ideas and understanding.

In the group dynamic with both introverts and extroverts, introverts are able to process and reflect upon ideas that are put forth but more extroverted members in the group. Ideas become vetted and refined through this additional layer of thought processing. The push for all group members to be leaders discourages the contemplative nature of true introverts.

Groups that are lacking introversion maybe present ideas that isn't as comprehensive or as thought out. Ideas may come about easily, but expanding on those ideas will be harder. There is a synergy brought about when merging these two personality styles effectively that can push groups into the performing development stages.

Many of the points seen about are clear indications of what a group will miss out on when suppressing introversion. One part of the storming phase that introverts could excel at would be the focus and clarity of the group’s purpose. The nature of the introvert is to reflect and take time to act and that can be beneficial because of their focus. The norming and performing stages benefit from the refining of ideas and the emphasis put on the groups goals and plan of action. 

Broken Silence

Dead Poets Society shows the affect that one man can have on a group of young minds. Mr. Keating’s teaching style was so different because instead of drilling ideas into the student’s heads he gave them the chance to think for themselves and they felt free.

One instance where I noticed a lack of integrity was when Neil was talking to Todd about trying out for the play. Todd asked him if his father would punish him for not telling him. Neil responded with something along the lines of “I am not deceiving him if he doesn’t know,” and while he was deceiving his father I couldn’t help but agree with his decision. I felt for him because his life was already planned out for him and dictated by his father. He was doing something he was passionate and although he went about it in a less ethical way I did not blame him for doing so.

Another part of the movie that stuck out with me was when Richard Cameron came back into the room where all the boys were and admitted that he gave up Mr. Keating and encouraged the other students to do the same. He put the blame on him to keep himself out of trouble. Even though it was not true, he was willing to give up his teacher to save himself. It is harder for someone at that age to develop strong moral principles, but it was unethical for him to lie about Mr. Keating’s involvement with the Dead Poets Society even when a lot was at stake.

The final scene of the movie, however, shows the integrity of Todd when he stands on the decks and addresses Mr. Keating by saying “O Captain, my Captain.” It was powerful to see how Todd, who was afraid to speak out in Mr. Keating’s class, disobey the teacher and standup for what he believed.  This set an example for the rest of the class and Todd’s action started a movement. He gave the other students the courage to stand on their desks and stand behind Mr. Keating.  

To Protect and Serve

These single stories and the lasting impressions they put on us really hinder our ability to open up or to want to associate with those that fall within the stories. For me it is easier to just stick to the assumptions than it is to go outside of my comfort zone to attempt to either dismiss or confirm them. I think one of the bigger single stories that are associated with being on a college campus is the stigma behind Greek life. There are so many stories around fraternity and sorority life that get scrutinized and bashed, but the mission and the people behind these organizations are passionate, motivated, and want to make a difference.  I have plenty of friends and classmates in Greek organizations and they don’t fall into this single story. My personal impression of the dangers of a single story has to do with a cop and this is a story that I think has become larger in society in the past weeks with all the police brutality seen in the news. Less and less people believe they are able to trust cops and that is becoming a problem.

About five years ago a friend of mine told me that his mom was dating a cop. There are always assumptions made when it comes to people of authority, but the assumption I made about this cop was because of what city he was a cop for.  In Akron there is a city called Fairlawn and there aren't many good stories associated with cops of this city. All my life I heard about how callous, devious, and relentless these cops were so I obviously felt like I couldn't trust this man. When I was around him I felt uneasy and I felt as if I had to watch what I said or how I acted. After I spent some time around him my assumptions were soon dispelled. I came to find that he was a very entertaining, adventurous and caring individual. I saw how he treated the kids and was interested in what we were doing. As I said earlier it would have been easier to just assume he was like all the cops that I hear about, but that would not have been fair. I am glad I got to know him and I think it is funny looking back at how I perceived him to be. 

Cleveland's Leader

“I have a responsibility to lead, in more ways than one, and I take that very seriously. My presence can make a difference in Miami, but I think it can mean more where I’m from.”

For this week’s blog post I am going to write about a man that is from my hometown.  He is just a kid from Northeast Ohio and he made the decision to bring his talents back to Ohio over the summer. I chose Lebron James not only because I think he is a very talented athlete, but also because I’ve had the chance to actually experience and see the changes that he has made in the lives of thousands of students.

In his letter stating his return to Cleveland Lebron said, “I see myself as a mentor now and I’m excited to lead some of these talented young guys.” LeBron has proved himself as a leader on the court and I had the opportunity to attend his welcome home event where he showed himself as leader in the Northeast Ohio community.   

Through the LeBron James Family Foundation and his Wheels for Education program LeBron has supported hundreds of students who  have made the pledge to LeBron to go to school, respect their teachers and parents, and to do all their work. LeBron is a passionate and charismatic leader that all these kids in the community look up to. Even during his time in Miami he made frequent visits to his students and was always in touch with them through writing and videos.

LeBron is determined to make a difference in his community and he has gone above and beyond his calling and will continue to do so. 

Introduction

My name is Matthew Kinley and I am currently in my junior year here at Ohio State. Besides Columbus, the other city that I call home is Akron, which after this summer many know it as the place where LeBron James is from. I started my undergrad at Miami University and shortly after found out that it just wasn't for me. I ended up here at Ohio State and have never looked back. I am a student in the Fisher College of business with my specialization in Accounting.

I am an active person so I spend as much time outside playing frisbee, soccer, baseball, or really anything that keeps me moving.  I spent my childhood riding dirt bikes and ATV’s with my best friend so, against my parent’s wishes, I decided to purchase a motorcycle this summer and I spent a lot of my free time riding around the city with my good friend. I have always had a need for speed so having a motorcycle was something that, as a kid, I dreamed of having so I really enjoyed being able to do that these last couple of months.

   

I feel extremely lucky to be here at Ohio State and in Columbus where I am just surrounded by opportunities. Everywhere I look there is another event or activity that is encouraging students to do something new or to network with professionals in their field. I have met some amazing people here and it is hard to believe how fast time has gone. I feel like I will never run out of new things to experience in this city.

This is my second leadership course and the first one I took was Leadership in Community service. Last semester, I found myself at a food pantry serving individuals with HIV and cancer every week and it truly was an eye opening experience. I look forward to this semester and seeing how this class will continue to help mold me into a better individual.