Best Quote

"Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Martin Luther King, Jr., Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thurgood Marshall, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.

The question is this: what will you do with that time?"

I saw this as someone's Facebook status and had to post (I know it's extra). Again, thank you members of EDUPL 270.04 class. I have learned a lot with and from you; good luck with your future endeavors and let's inspire change! :]

Boarding the LeaderSHIP...Navigating the High C's!

How clever is the title of this blog post? I found it on an image when I was Google-ing "social change model." I just love it! It brings the social change model and its concepts into an easy visual to remember.

What do I think is the most important C to keep in mind when acting as a change agent? Hmm, I'm not really sure I can answer that question. I think all the Cs are so important in their own unique ways; each interacts with the others and has an effect on them. If I HAD to choose one, I'd say..... conciousness of self.

You've got to know who you are to understand where you want to go. If you don't know who you are as a person in terms of beliefs, thoughts, feelings, values, and goals, you probably won't know what you want to change in society! Furthermore, if you aren't familiar with your beliefs and ideas you probably won't collaborate well with others. You'll be confused as to what opinions you have on a topic; furthermore you most likely will not act congruently with your true values if you don't know what they are! Lastly, I believe that if you want to define your common purpose with others and have committment, you've got to first be in tune with yourself.

What is the biggest challenge to becoming a change agent? I think the biggest challenge to becoming a change agent is having the confidence to believe in yourself. In my first blog post I talk about Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Theresa, and other influential people that have changed the world. We all can't start out being Mother Theresa's...we've got to start at the smaller level. No one becomes a hero in a day; it takes a lifetime to change (it's a continuous process). One can't (and shouldn't) turn sour or feel bad if their original plan does not succeed. You've got to take risks and try harder to find success in social change.

Another difficulty in being a change agent is positively using power; power can easily be misconstrued and manipulated. One has to make sure to use power the right way when using it as a driving force in change!

Can anyone become a change agent? I definitely believe that anyone who wants to create change can become a change agent. As Komives and Wagner explain, one of the first steps to becoming a change agent is to "recognize onself as a leader" (p. 401). You've got to empower yourself, have confidence and truly believe in your plan to change something - if a person can do this, they can become a change agent (as long as they incorporate all the 7 Cs as well; this is certainly an important part of being an agent of change!).

End note: I've really enjoyed this class. I have learned so much about myself and about leadership; I am definitely going to suggest all the members in my chapter try to enroll in the course (especially the incoming - and future - presidents!). If anyone is reading this, I've enjoyed working with you all. Thanks for great discussions and sharing your experiences; I have learned a lot from you! Good luck in all your Greek and future endeavors!

-Brittany