This quarter has been about reflection on the past year and preparation for the next big step in life. What is that next big step? Not really sure, but I think it has something to do with getting a job. I love the way things have come full circle in my IAL experience.
The first week of our summer intensive we went through the Fierce Conversation workshop. I was really impressed with what was said during that program and one point that stuck with me was that everything in our lives happens “gradually, then suddenly, one conversation at a time.” I had been looking for a job for a while and not having much luck. While I still don’t have one now I have far more possibilities than I thought I was going to have due largely thanks to a new mentor and a conversation I had back in January. You never know what might change the course of your life.
I gained much perspective about what I hope to do in my career from going through this program. The majority of our studies have been focused around Division I athletics. The greatest lesson I learned from IAL is that I believe in Division III athletics and I’m really interested to learn what Division II. While I have great respect for all those involved in Division I athletics it’s not where I want to work. I may or may not spend the rest of my career in athletics, but at least I know where I want to start.
This quarter alone has been about pulling together everything we have studied over the year and understanding how we can apply what we’ve learned to our personal morals, ethics, and values. While I don’t believe my core values will be solidified as a leader until they are tested, the self reflection process of this course has helped solidify beliefs.
I wouldn’t say IAL has changed my life because I think I internally believe the same things I did when I entered the program, but it has certainly help ground me and given me a great deal of knowledge to take into my future career.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Ethical Leadership in Collegiate Athletics Review
This course has been both terribly depressing and exceptionally refreshing - along with a number of other emotions and mental states as well - for a final course to my IAL experience. To be a leader in any industry means have your morals and ethics challenged and athletics are no exception, I’d even say those personal beliefs and ethical lines are tested more in athletics than almost anywhere else. Why do students that go through the IAL program want to be in a world that is so often considered moral corrupt and ethically suspect? This is something I’ve had to think long and hard about all year long and even more so during this semester with the ethics course.
While trying to answer that question I tested my desire to continue within intercollegiate athletics and I really appreciate that of this course. In just a few assignments and only three days of class this course has really made me explore my desires for my future and why I believe what I do - it has been a great way to sum up everything we discussed throughout the year. Though we may not have explicitly referenced other classes, similar topics were brought into discussions.
Right now I’m confident that there is great value in intercollegiate athletics and that all those involved have the opportunity to positively affect young adults. I haven’t always been so confident and I may not be in the future, but if that changes so be it. This course has helped me with self reflection has been a good opportunity for me to solidify my beliefs.
For who knows what reason I chose to write my final paper for this course about the film Tin Cup. For those who haven’t seen that movie it is far from being a moral pillar to build your cultural values on, but I chose to write about it. I got a significant portion of the paper written before I hit a serious wall and didn’t think I could confidently write about morals and Tin Cup. I stuck with it and ultimately proved that sports can be represent much more than just competition in any form. This was a great example of what this course as a whole has been for me - a true exploration of my personal values.
While trying to answer that question I tested my desire to continue within intercollegiate athletics and I really appreciate that of this course. In just a few assignments and only three days of class this course has really made me explore my desires for my future and why I believe what I do - it has been a great way to sum up everything we discussed throughout the year. Though we may not have explicitly referenced other classes, similar topics were brought into discussions.
Right now I’m confident that there is great value in intercollegiate athletics and that all those involved have the opportunity to positively affect young adults. I haven’t always been so confident and I may not be in the future, but if that changes so be it. This course has helped me with self reflection has been a good opportunity for me to solidify my beliefs.
For who knows what reason I chose to write my final paper for this course about the film Tin Cup. For those who haven’t seen that movie it is far from being a moral pillar to build your cultural values on, but I chose to write about it. I got a significant portion of the paper written before I hit a serious wall and didn’t think I could confidently write about morals and Tin Cup. I stuck with it and ultimately proved that sports can be represent much more than just competition in any form. This was a great example of what this course as a whole has been for me - a true exploration of my personal values.
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