Leaders into action!

The University of Texas has contributed many achievements throughout many years. It brought many academically achievers into society, that not only has it influenced the professors but to the students as well. As time goes by, the University sets higher standards for students not only to try their best but to over achieve and make things better. For example, when Denton A. Cooley was a student in UT the requirements for an English class was "approximately eight essays during the first semester" (897). I like the fact that UT has so much to offer from organizations to other programs that are life learning. For example, to be a leader it takes the courage to start something new or do things no one will do at first. To take action and the initiative to set a vision of values and a set of experience can be some of the qualities someone can do to help and support people to have the inspiration to be someone. Like Denton says, "the student programs at The University of Texas are highly successful in providing a broad educational experience and installing self-confidence in the graduates" (898).

Even till today, there are great professors around campus that are very talented and helpful that will dedicate their time just to help.They are leaders. They are the guidance to our lives in the teaching and learning world. They help shape students by sharing what they know such as how Margaret Cousins says about her professors. Everyone can be a leader but it takes knowledge and experiential learning. Another example of a leader is Red McCombs. McCombs as an entrepreneur, shares his experience and his ability of his self awareness to the world. McCombs idea of becoming a leader is to help out the community by interacting through communication because he says, "No one person has a lock on the right way or only way of doing things." (937). Even today, there are great UT alumni  that come back to give back to the community. Especially, when the TexesExes Organization makes that happen. After reading through all the articles of the leaders that have stepped in UT, it builds my confidence knowing that everyone struggled at some point but at the end if you dedicate your time to studying, knowing professors, and managing your time you will reach your goals in life.

The qualities or reality

After reading both the anthology and "The 7 habits of highly effective people" by Covey I realized so many things that I never got a brief answer for or that I always had a question that I could not rephrase and ask someone the same thing as how the readings did. It totally changed my way of thinking and looking at life and beyond such as for academics and reality."We" as humans play a major role in our lives to society but most of all to ourselves. We hold the power and the strength within our intelligences and capabilities of our nature."Knowledge, skill and desire are all in our control.(Covey 92) For example, you have the key to your heart and can make decisions on your own by choice like when Covey said, "Borrowing strength builds weakness itself in others and in relationships." (Anthology 207) You cant let anyone take control of your life and if something makes you react in such way you have to be able to learn how to respond back in such way or either by looking what you did wrong."Between stimulus and response man has the freedom to choose." (Covey 70) The main point is the play of sociological imagination that we have but yet to find between ourselves and use the imagination we obtain but once again the key is choice. The four major parts that we have and are valuable to our role as individuals is by mind, heart, spirit and body. As individuals in earth we can accomplish any goals in life if we set our mind to it and that is when your power animal can come in hand also if you need that stronghold, endurance, and guidance to find yourself.

  "Self awareness enables us to stand apart and examine even the way we "see" ourselves--self paradigm." (Covey 67)








Now that I see my surroundings differently analyzing and inventing my own personal statement trying to figure out what should I do to accomplish my goals. I can really see myself already making improvements that I know will make a change in my life but it "takes initiative to create the P/PC Balance of Effectiveness" (Covey 76) in my life to set a real deal. But for now I am trying to find and help myself identify my short-term goals and long-term goals by looking what can be done first to accomplish them goals. I am glad I took this course because in such little time I am able to say that I can truly put my values and purposes to play with the guidance of all the readings and knowing my power animal and of course Mr.Bump to help us around. Being here in Austin has been a great experience because now I can always look back and see all the differences I have made and learned through knowledge and putting my spirit, heart, mind, and body. I know I am growing day by day but along with that my creativity and analysis are also in play just like my brain might be doing so right now using the left and right side uniting together putting all my emotions and knowledge I have in mind all in one blogg that I would like to share. But to accomplish some of the things I want as for right now I have to start setting promises to myself and keeping them. "The key to growth is to learn to make promises and to keep them." (Anthology 192)

  

Longhorns and Mustangs

Everyday as day goes by history is being made making great knowledge to others later on for the future to know about the importance of such monument or fact to be known. For example, the Longhorns and its history holds such an immense significance to all of us here at UT. We have the greatest mascot known in my opinion being an animal with such character, dignity, and power. They are animals that get very attached to their own loved one if they find their connection such as Sancho with Maria.For example, my grandfather and dad own a bull just like Table cloth with similar looks and characteristics of a longhorn but till one day my grandpa had a job to do so he sent my uncle to go and feed him so the bull actually horned him because they have caution and if they dislike you they will harm. My uncle was then sent to the hospital that day and he is doing better now but in the sense of longhorns they will protect themselves from any harm with their long horns.

"Longhorn was also a home lover and a persistent returner to his querencia."(pg139), meaning he loved his home very much that it was a place he had could rely on and had in his heart. Like when Sancho was taken miles far away from home to Wyoming he did not feel right and felt empty inside him knowing that the most valuable place where he felt the most comfortable on was taken away from him. I feel the same way in a way for example being here in Austin. I miss home also but yet I remind myself that I came here to try my best to reach my goal and get an education at a well privilieged school known for its academics and school spirit. Longhorns just by their looks it shows how bold are they and with great magnitude symbolize the pride a man had to acquire back in the old days that helped or influenced to shape men in a way. "The Longhorns of the brush, instead being modified by men, bent men to their own ways." (pg 154) Its like when they say "you have to be a man and face your own reality" in which men had to learn their own problems on their own to show manhood with that in mind horses were the main source to show manhood. "A man on foot was no man at all." (182)

As well as the longhorns, mustangs were creatures with beauty as Dobie explains were "the best ones at least" (pg164) that lived in their own ways like if there spirit just guided them the way of life. Their life was just to be free of roaming around nature just "gone like the winds"(pg 170) and also "Carried away of life and a spirit that no pastoral prosperity could in coming times re-present".(pg 170). Mustangs are beauty just itself in my perspective symbolize the hope we have in our lives. We always find savior around us its just you have to be positive and well spirited in mind and freedom will hit you like my dad always says, "Where there is life there is hope."

What is your power/spirit animal?

After reading the anthology book about finding your power animal it came to me how much there is in life to yet learn from and live. You always come to think that dreams come true but reality is very much different because you face obstacles in life that after experiencing it plays an important role in your life with a major impact changing your whole life "potentials we unfold" (pg.112). For example, animals in nature have some similar things as humans in which they obtain certain characteristics such as mouth, ear, and eyes. For example, "Dreaming and waking were inseparable realities" (pg. 111) it basically states how sometimes we tend to live in two separate worlds but in order to go through that process we first use our imagination. "Imagination is a real link to your totem." (pg, 116)   

As I started reading the book in the section of animals I knew by heart which animal symbolized me and that I can see myself within me spiritually. My animal was the dog mostly related to a coyote because it reminds me how my life has been during this years in interacting with them. It all started when I had went to go visit my uncle at his house for this cookout he was making when suddenly I had seen a dog laying down. I had always liked dogs since I first owned one when I was 8 years old so I went and pet him so as I approached him he suddenly stood up and bit me behind my back as I stood back up. At that moment I felt a pain inside me but no remorse because maybe I was just disturbing him or invading his space but even though I have been bit by dogs two times in which I still have the scar I love dogs to death. As the anthology book said, "confront them without fear do their powers/medicine work for us instead of against us."(pg. 114) I own two dogs of my own till now and they have always been there for me at bad and good times I am very grateful to have them in my life till this point. I feel that sometimes as I look through their eyes I can see this image in their eyes full of potential energy and power and also like if they understand everything I try to say at times when not verbally but in my mind and thoughts.But in order for that "to communicate with them demands respect." (Pg 115) like they always say treat others how you want to be treated. I have always felt really passionate about dogs that at times for example, when I saw "Earthlings" the part where some people had put a live dog in the trash truck and just killed him alive my heart started pounding fast and started crying. I knew it had impacted me very much for example, as soon as I saw that image I ran outside and hugged my dogs very tight not only do "they help empower us but be used to help, heal, inspire, and grow" (pg 112).

So my power animal which is a dog has built me to be strong and bold. An animal that I can significantly rely and look upon to. At one point it had also inspired me to be a veterinarian but yet I still have to live life to the fullest and because like they said at times your power animal can "change across one's lifetime." (pg 120)