Archive for year: 2014

In the first episode of “Survivor” there are two groups, to make it simple I am going to label the groups “group orange” and “group Yellow” as in the episode the group members for bother groups had these assigned colors. When both groups first arrived on the island the two groups were very different in the way the members adjusted to the new idea of living on an island. I am going to give a brief summary of how the two groups behaved and how the members behaved within the group and how it related to the assigned reading for Chapter 2 in the textbook.

Starting with group orange on day one the members were confused and unorganized. With having no group goals or personal goals assessed yet. A member of the group Rudy, who was a retired navy seal was very frustrated with the group and their organization of the supplies and how they were getting them to the island. He would yell at the members and talk down to them as they were less than him and being controlling as if he was the leader of the group. This to me showed a sign of Secondary Tension Stage already being reached within the group. This group also at the beginning had problems with arguing with one another. Everyone would talk at once, interrupting everyone who was trying to speak. Everyone was shouting their own opinions of group goals and personal goals that were all overlapping with one another and it was just a complete mess overall. The group overall was unprofessional, unorganized, and started off on the wrong track with member problems. There was one group member in particular that was a problem at the beginning of the episode and this member was Richard. He seemed to be a bit rude, disrespectful, argumentative, and not a team player. He separated himself from the remainder of the group and would stay along the tree line. He later on in the episode became more part of the group. This group I feel started off with Secondary Stage and ended the day on the same stage. I also feel like the member of the group Richard was prohibiting Destructive Nonconformity.

The second group being group Yellow began their adventure a little differently then the previous group. In this group they all got along instantly for the most part. They were able to interact with each other from the instance they reached the island. They were already sharing sharing their ideas and opinions among themselves of what should be the first course of action for the group and what goals should be set for the group. They all agreed that the first course of action was to find a source of water. Which they were able to find this source quickly due to them having a map that laid out the water source. Then later in the evening they had a camp fire where they all got together and shared personal stories about their lives and adventures. Where they all were able to laugh among everyone and have a good time. It seemed like from my personal point of view they were able to begin with the Norming Stage and end the day off with the Performing State. Their group started off and ended off in good places and will be able at this point to achieve a healthy group relationship.

This is how I feel the first episode related to the Assigned Reading for Chapter 2 and what the two groups showed signs of during the episode

In the previous class session we started class with an activity that would let us reflect on our short and long term goals. We don’t do this on a daily basis and that is why I learned that sometimes it is good to sit down and write your goals down. Like Julian stated, studies have shown that writing your goals down you are more likely to achieve them. I actually had a similar situation with that. I never write down on the things that I need to get done for the day, I usually just go along with whats on my head an plan according to those thoughts. However, I did something different. For once I wrote down the things I needed to get done for that specific day, and I felt a sense of accomplishment because as I was doing my things on my list I would cross them off my list. For some reason I felt good doing those things. That is why I truly believe that writing down the things or goals that you want to achieve you will get that same sense of accomplishment as  I did. I was also moved by some of the things that my group members shared. One that really caught my ear was one of my group members said he wanted to be in his children’s lives. That is something we don’t think as a goal, but this particular person made me reflect that we have to achieve the smallest details in our daily lives. Not just goals that will help you move forward in life, but goals that will help you live a happier life.

The one word that represents my thoughts for this weeks readings is Injustice. I think that the way the education system treats African-Americans puts them at a disadvantage  academically but also meets a burden on the lives they live outside of these institutions. Teachers don’t encourage for the personal growth and desire of african-american students to pursue higher education and better paying jobs because they simply stick to the stereotype that society puts on them. They are not productive members of society. Instead they dedicated their lives to criminal activity out in the streets. However, we have seen icons such as Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac whom lived on the streets and manage to get themselves up on their own and give another meaning to the stereotype of the black male. The only difference here is that they had “teachers” out in the streets that mentored them in a different way. Why not pick the african-american kid in a classroom and hear his thoughts? Why not tell them simple things such as “Good Job” “I am proud of you” believe it or not these words of encouragement can boost up a teenagers self-esteem really high. With a higher self-esteem one can reach about anything that they set their mind to. As Julius Lester states, “America talks peace while dropping bombs, speaks of self-determination for all people while moving to control the means of production, white power creates once basic condition under which who are powerless must live…… We’re paid enough to stay alive and work and make money for someone else. Thats life in America.”

As you reflect on what has been discussed in this chapter and your own leadership style, how would you describe your own style in relation to task and relationship orientations? What are your strengths and areas you can improve?

When deciding between task leadership and relationship leadership I don’t really consider myself to lean to heavily in either. That is because I seem to take only particular elements from both and mix them into my own personal style. When it comes to being task oriented, I certainly want to achieve and thus to meet that end I will initiate structure. Where I differ though is that the book seems to paint task oriented individuals with being obsessed almost with doing things. I on the other hand take no joy in “color coding my daily planner” or sticky-backing notes everywhere. As for the relationship oriented style I to take joy in connecting with others as long as they have a similar mindset to me. Particularly I seem to resonate with the label of consideration behavior. Mainly because I seek to build “camaraderie, respect, trust, and regard between leaders and followers”. Once again though the book goes overboard with how they depict relationship leaders as “relationship junkies.” I rarely bother with my cellphone to communicate with others; instead I prefer face to face interaction. I believe I can improve my production orientation, concern for production, and employee orientation.

Reflect on the article. What were the most interesting elements? Which did you did you agree with? Hope to learn more about?

What I found interesting was just how important the 30 listed behaviors became in virtual settings the face-to-face settings decreased. Also I agree entirely with the problems that virtual communication brings such as the lack of conventions for expressing mood and meaning. I hope to learn more about how to overcome these barriers so that I can be an effective leader in our evolving world that seems to bring with it more virtual settings and fewer face-to-face settings.

Last week’s class was very active. We started off by writing a letter to our future selves. In this letter e had to describe what our goals were for our future. We had to write short term, mid-term and long term. When we all came back to share our goals as a class, we all agreed that finishing school and getting out degrees was definitely one of our short term goals. The other activity that I also enjoyed was going around the room answering questions about the No child left behind act and how it affected us. It’s always nice to read what others had to say about how this act impacted their lives. Although the act was flawed, it did have positive outcomes to students in schools that had good resources.

This week’s readings talked about education in the African American community. It was good to get more insight on why is it that many African Americans pursue higher education as opposed to other minority groups. In the article by Toby S. Jenkins talks about the role of African-American men in America. Jenkins offered some historical background to make his point that after the civil war, life for an African American man did not get any easier. Jim Crow made it impossible for black men to walk the streets without being terrorized or being publicly humiliated. Jenkins also commented on how hip-hop was a way for African American inclusion of “intellectual thought and growth”. Since Black males were being silenced at school they found a way to express their emotions through lyrics that others could relate to. He talks about Tupac Shakur, who was a black man who dropped out of high school but managed to have a successful hip hop career by singing about his life. Tupac had developed a way to encourage the younger generations to focus on gaining knowledge and become the best they can be. Of course people always take this idea the wrong way but the intention was there. The song “changes” mentioned in this reading is an example of how Tupac decided that it was time to quit the negative stereotypes and begin making those changes for a better world.
In the second reading the IHEP goes over some of the historical facts that lead to how African-Americans have come a long way since the abolition of segregation in schools. Also how they are motivated to go for graduate degrees in order to be successful. The way I see it is that in order for minorities to be taken seriously now a days is that we need to have the fanciest degrees, to prove intellectual capabilities. It is possible for anyone to achieve a university degree but some struggle more than others. This struggle depends on gender, socioeconomic status, ethnic background, educational foundation, etc. in today’s society we are seeing a shift on how many minorities are being motivated to continue higher education and who knows maybe one day in the future the future generations will finally be able to see everyone’s contribution to history in those history books!

While watching the first episode of survivor, I tried to really pay attention to how everyone worked with their new group and how they tried to work together. At first I had no idea that the couples who had come together were going to be split up into different tribes. When they were introducing the contestants, some couples seemed nervous about surviving on this island because they were unable to get the fire started or they were arguing with one another about how to start the fire the right way. On the other hand, some were confident that they will win this season of survivor. The first obstacle was really emotional for Jeremy (the firefighter) because he was forced to go against his wife, who was in the other tribe, and if he won the obstacle course, his wife would have to go to Exile Island. While they were competing, tribe members cheered each other on.

In the Goyopa Tribe, it was mostly young people except for Dale, who was Kelly’s father, he felt out of place. He said that it was a challenge for him because he is not used to being with a big group of strangers, so he was kind of excluded. During this episode, I kind of noticed that the Goyopa Tribe had its own “cliques”, not everyone liked eachother.

On another note, the Hunahpu Tribe, seemed like they all got a long pretty well. They were supportive of each other and all worked together as an actual team. There was a point when Jeremy talked to everyone to make sure things were ok and to make sure that people liked him as well.

At the end, the Goyopa Tribe had the most challenging experiences so far, because they had to kick someone off the tribe. They were sure it was going to be Dale because he was old and “useless” but they were shocked to see Nadiya go.