Shayla Schumacher

HONR 401: Exploring Personal Leadership

May 7, 2019

Semester Reflection: What it Means to be a Member of a Community

I truly enjoyed this course as it allowed us to implement our own leadership styles by

working towards social change within the Mankato Community. Similar to the research I found

on mandatory volunteering (those who have positive experiences will continue to volunteer), our

service requirement encouraged me to get more involved in my community. While initially I

started volunteering at ECHO Food Shelf because it was required for my assignment, I found

that I really enjoyed the experience and I hope to continue volunteering there in my free time.

Before volunteering at ECHO, I did not realize that the Mankato Area faces problems such as

hunger, it is not always something you expect to see in your own community. Through studying

social activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and reflecting on my own experiences, I gained a

stronger understanding of what it means to be part of a team and how to make an impact within a

community.

Through learning about the Seven C’s of Social Change and Asset Based Community

Development (ABCD), I gained a stronger understanding of myself and what traits I value in

leaders. Through interviewing Deisy, the manager at ECHO, I was able to further confirm what I

think makes a strong leader successful. By watching her lead, I saw someone who was

congruent, committed, and was willing to collaborate to reach a common purpose. These are all

characteristics that I value in myself as a leader and it was nice to be able to work with someone

who shared similar beliefs. Without Deisy, I do not think ECHO would be as successful as it is.

She treats everyone she encounters with respect, and is more than willing to work with
volunteers and staff to find the best approaches to reaching their goals. She is team player and

said that she never wants anyone to fear her but rather think of her as an equal. She leads by

example and is a strong example of a leader and I hope to incorporate some of her style into my

own.

In the future, I hope to one day work for and lead a nonprofit that helps people receive

the educational opportunities they deserve. Through learning about the Seven C’s of Social

Change and working with a strong social leader, I have been able to grow in my own leadership

style. I have found that I already incorporate several concepts in my own life, including

commitment, congruency, consciousness of self, collaboration, and common purpose. I pride

myself if remaining committed to my values and the causes I work for. I try to be congruent in

my beliefs regardless of the situation and remain aware of my own personal feelings. I also

firmly belief that when people collaborate with those share a common purpose, their work is

more impactful and successful. One person cannot do everything and each person has different

strengths and qualities. By focusing on each other’s assets, individuals and organizations are able

to create lasting impact in their communities.

I found this course to be engaging and I enjoyed learning about how to make an impact in

your own community. I enjoyed learning more about ECHO Food Shelf and creating a project

for change around it. Because of my engagement in activities, interest in the subject matter, and

effort in assignments, I would give myself an “A” for the course. I turned all assignments in on

time, followed the guidelines for the discussion posts, participated in class activities, and worked

to make a difference in the Mankato Community. Throughout the semester, I was dedicated to

learning more about leadership and social activism in order to have a positive impact at ECHO.
From this course, I will take away a stronger understanding of what it means to be a social leader

and how to create solutions for the problems faced within my communities.