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Being a student in the Presidential Leadership Academy has been one of the best opportunities and privileges of my Penn State career. It took me a few months to truly realize how fortunate I am to be in the Academy, considering I often questioned if I was smart enough to be amongst my classmates. However, once I was made aware of how blessed I am to be in the Academy, and that I earned my place here, PLA began to feel more like a family for me. It is bittersweet to think that I will soon be graduating from the Academy. Sure, I am excited to begin the next chapter of my life as an elementary education teacher in Cleveland, Ohio with Teach for America, and to utilize the skills the Academy has taught me. Yet, I am also sad that this experience is ending. It feels like just yesterday I was stressing out about the application and interview processes, and now we are discussion graduating from the Academy! But I can confidently say that I will be leaving PLA and Penn State University feeling well-prepared to be a leader and critical thinker in every capacity.

One important lesson that I have learned in the PLA is that leadership comes in different forms. There are the “titled” leaders who hold positions in organizations or companies, which is most commonly associated with leadership. But I have learned that being a leader is not about a title or position, it is about your actions, dedication, passion, and vision. More importantly, one does not need an official title to be a leader, and those with titles are not always the best leaders. During my time with Teach for America, I will be a “titled” leader as a teacher. But I aspire to be more than that. In my social life, I plan to exhibit my leadership by being an example for my peers, students, co-workers, family, and friends. In any situation, I hope to have a vision, plan, or opinion. I want to be able to comfortably and confidently share my thoughts with others. This was an important lesson for me during my time in the Academy. I rarely spoke during the first semester of the sophomore class because I thought my opinion did not matter. I was intimidated by some of my classmates because I perceived them to be so much smarter and more knowledgeable about different topics than I was. Over time, I learned that I can, and should, share my opinion. My perspective on life and different aspects of it can help others to see things a little differently, or might teach someone else something new. It is important as a leader to have an opinion or vision and to be able to articulate it confidently, despite who is in your presence. I’ve realized that if I want my voice to be heard and if I want to be respected, I have to be willing to share. This skill, in and of itself, is an element of leadership, in that being a leader requires stepping out on faith and sometimes doing things that force you out of your comfort zone.

I plan to exhibit my leadership skills as a teacher and in life by trusting my gut. One thing I have learned from many of our speakers is that a large part of leadership is trusting yourself and your abilities. I anticipate that being an elementary education teacher will be one of the biggest, yet most rewarding, challenges I will face in my life thus far. I know that no two days as a teacher will be the same, and despite how much I might plan and plan, lessons will not be perfect or plans might have to be changed. I know that my skills as a leader, one who can work well under pressure and thinks well on my feet, will only aid in my experiences. Moreover, having the confidence in my abilities will only help me as a teacher. I plan on learning things about my students, and trying to plan according to their needs. I don’t mean to suggest that I will not follow instructions from my principal, but I will also trust myself and my abilities much more. I will exhibit these skills in my lesson planning choices, and the activities I decide to do with my students. I plan to use my critical thinking skills to rationalize why these ideas and plans make the most sense for my students. Additionally, I have heard that TFA teachers who have these innovative ideas often have to present and explain their ideas in great detail before they are approved. By trusting my own abilities as a leader and thinker, I know that I will be able to successfully explain my thought processes and work to get others to understand why some activities or programs will be beneficial for the students’ development and education.

Critical thinking skills will definitely be integral during my time with TFA and my life as well. I plan to exhibit these skills by considering all sides of the issues I face. I anticipate that during my time with TFA, I may have a few students who are not performing as I expect them to, or their behavior has changed. I will be able to exhibit my skills as a critical thinker by considering other possibilities that could explain these changes. Understanding that the children I will be working with are from lower income communities, I know that I will have to be much more conscious of my reactions towards students because their performance in school might have more to do with their home lives, than their academic abilities.

Furthermore, I plan to exhibit my critical thinking skills by also being a listener. I have learned during my time in the Academy that it is important to think and consider your own perspective, but it is also important to listen and learn from others. I find that in doing so, it only helps me to think even more critically. When I would sit in class and listen to the opinions of my classmates, it either helped me to rethink my own thoughts, or helped me consider a possibility that I never did before. In my life after the Academy, I will exhibit these skills in a similar way. I want to listen and learn from veteran teachers, or the new friends I make in Cleveland, as they will help me to see the world or issues in new ways. In turn, I know I will be able to think more critically about these things, and ultimately become a better leader.

Overall, it is daunting to think about graduating from the Academy and Penn State in a few short months, but I know for certain that I will be leaving this place better than how I came. I will be able to use the skills I have learned to only work to make the world a better place. I hope to have an impact on my future students that goes beyond just being their teacher. I hope to learn from everyone around me, even my students, so I can continue to grow and develop as a thinker and leader.