MSLD 500_Module 3_Activity 3.4_Explore the Hunt Library Blog_Reyes,Cassandra

As you explore the Hunt Library, reflect on how you might use the Library as a resource for your studies.

How is the scholarly information you found in the library different from the typical information you find when you Google a leadership concept?

I think that the Hunt Library offers a variety of information in different forms. For instance, the Hunt Library offers you the option of looking for information in books, articles and course reserves. One of the reasons I enjoy using the Hunt library is its ability to search information regarding course subject. Instead of having to search every single topic to find what you are looking for, the library let’s you browse the database by subject so you can really hone in on what it is you are trying to research. The library also offers a video/DVD database which allows you to find videos by alphabetical order or subject.

One great aspect of the Hunt library is not just its ability to provide general information regarding many topics and subjects but its ability to provide very useful aviation related information as well. The library offers NTSB reports as well as ASASA archives. This type of information has been helpful to me during pursuit of my undergraduate degree program.

After researching a little further into the use of the Hunt Library, I realized that while Google may at times be a good source of information for general ideas, it seems to offer more opinions and belieffs rather than facts. Embry-Riddle students hold an abundance of information at their fingertips that they can use at that their disposal whenever necessary. While Google may be able to answer some simplistic questions or define some major theories, the information provided to us by the Hunt Library is no question more authentic in nature. With just a little more time and effort, it may be best to pursue knowledge from a system that is prepared to offer you its finest body of information yet.

MSLD 500 _ Module 2 _ Activity 2.3 _ Tell Your Story Blog

What are some standards that are most important in your life? How did you acquire those standards? How did they change over the years?

I believe that I hold a number of different standards in my life. I believe that honesty and integrity are extremely high on my list of standards. I think it is important to be honest and true to yourself while doing the same with your significant other and family as well. I think it is important to be truthful with the ones you love, as well as in life in general, because in my opinion, lies will follow you, and eventually you will be caught anyway. I tend to say that though the truth may hurt, nothing hurts more than knowing someone has blatantly lied to you when you have asked for nothing but the truth. I truly believe it is better to be honest and allow a wound to heal smoothly, than to be lied to and be left with a jagged scar.

I also believe that my work ethic is another standard that I hold of great importance in my life. I have worked since I was fifteen years old and have always done my best to make my own money, gain experience and prepare myself for the different people and experiences I would come across as I grew up. At a very early age I held a managerial position in which I excelled and began to love leadership, management and the business aspect of a company. It is my work ethic that has not only gotten me to where I want to be, but has also allowed me to climb the ladder of success a bit quicker than others around me. I’ve always wanted to be the best at what I did and I guess I take that with me everywhere I go.

I believe that love is another standard I hold high in my life. I have always strived to be a good daughter and sister, and would now like to see myself become a great wife and mother. As the years have gone by, I have done my best to not disappoint my parents and family, in the choices that I have made. I have tried to be successful and make as little mistakes as possible, and learn from the ones that I have made. I believe that I have done well with this, though I know there is much more that I could do and learn as time goes on.

            I believe that I have acquired many of the standards that I hold important in my life, from my mother and father. My work ethic comes from both of my parents as my father became a police officer at 20 years old in order to take care of his family. Over the years I have seen him work his way through the ranks and become a sergeant where he was greatly respected and has recently retired. My mother has worked more than one job in her life at a time in order to provide for our family as well. She has successfully taken care of my brother and I and given us everything that we have needed. Some days I don’t even know how she made it work, but she did, and somehow a roof was always over our head and a warm meal in our stomachs.

            I think that over the years as my priorities have changed, my standards have changed as well, however the ones that are listed above have only continued to grow and become more important and relevant in my everyday life. I believe that honesty and integrity will continue to be used with my family, husband and children as well as in my work environment. I believe that my work ethic will only continue to get better as I learn and grow more and choose a path and career in which I can be comfortable and successful. Lastly, I believe that love is going to be my most prized standard and will become the most important of all, as family will always be by my side. I may never have the right job, career, or house. But I have a great mother, father, husband and soon to be child, and to me that is all I will ever really need.

MSLD 500 _ Module 1 _ Activity 1.6 _ Intellectual Perseverance

In your journal entry, reflect upon how intellectual perseverance will be important as you progress in your studies. Consider how intellectual perseverance relates to your concept of a good leader.

Intellectual Perseverance can be defined as the ability to provide the “willingness and consciousness of the need to pursue intellectual insights and truths despite difficulties, obstacles, and frustrations.” It involves the ability to tackle problems in a constructive manner and come to a conclusion that although may have been difficult, has been well thought out and worked through to ensure the most desirable result. Intellectual perseverance is also the development of drawing conclusions to form rational viewpoints with the understanding that the final result may only come after an extended period of time has passed.

I believe that intellectual perseverance will continue to be extremely important to me during my studies, as it has in the past. If I did not have intellectual perseverance I do not think tat I would have had the ability to go through high school, completing both my regular high school courses on top of the technical courses and testing I was taking to achieve my Airframe and Powerplant licenses. Once I went into college, intellectual perseverance grew even more important as I came across many hurdles that almost stopped me from getting my degree. I also truly believe that my studies from high school exhausted me to the point, where college seemed like such an undertaking, I wasn’t sure I could handle so soon. However, with perseverance I pulled through and was able to graduate with my Bachelor’s degree.

After obtaining my undergraduate degree, I gave myself a one year break from school, so I could relax, work and enjoy some down time. Now that I have started my graduate degree, I realize that intellectual perseverance is going to be an integral part of my life as I try to balance working full time, maintaining my household and taking care of my husband and child. I truly believe that I am going to have to find the strength in me to get through the days when I think I might not be able to do this and find the will to push myself to achieving all that I know I can.

Intellectual perseverance will not only help me in taking charge of my personal life and my studies but I believe it will also help me achieve the things I would like to accomplish in my career. A good leader is someone who is considerate, compassionate, hard working, honest, dedicated, competent, intelligent and humble. While all of these qualities have their own definition and nature of achievement, I don’t think that all, if any would be able to be accomplished without the efforts of intellectual perseverance.

A leader needs to be able to take charge and understand that they will continue to come across issues that involve a great deal of difficulty and complexity. A good leader must be able to work with the hand that they are dealt and dedicate themselves to finding the best solution possible under stressful and demanding circumstances. I truly believe that if a leader can master the concept of intellectual perseverance, while failure may be inevitable at times, great success will also be on their list of accomplishments.

        References

The Critical Thinking Community "Valuable Intellectual Virtues" June 1996, Retrieved from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/valuable-intellectual-traits/528