Character

1. Why is character the center pole of the leadership tent? Give an example of a leader in your life who has demonstrated character and how that affected you.

Character is a quality that encompasses all of the characteristics of a leader. If those you serve don't view you as having a good character they won't feel they can trust you and look to you as a leader. My senior year of high school I had the opportunity to serve on student council with Nate Heaps. He was an amazing example to of character. He always put those he served first, he made everyone feel significant, he honored all commitments and was honest in all of his dealings. He made my experience on student council one that shaped who I am today and allowed me to grow and flourish as a leader.

2. Share one or two things from the lesson that impacted you personally.  Why? How will you apply it to your life?

Not surprisingly the Pirates of the Caribbean clip stood out to me. However, I didn't just remember it because I like the movie, but the lesson that went along with it. It really made me think about my own definition of character. I had never thought about it in depth like that before. It was hard to decide which person was displaying honor. It made me commit to myself that I would display character in all I did, especially as a leader, so others were never left to question my character. The other part of the presentation that impacted me was the list of leadership traits. Trying to define each characteristic with a partner was surprisingly hard. It was interesting to realize that ultimately each quality fit under the umbrella of character. I want to focus on developing my character because that will help me improve as an all around leader.