Esai Siddeeq

Professor McCampbell-McLien
What Grinds Your Gears
06 November 2015
5 Practices of Exemplary Student Leadership
1. I personally connect with pillar number three, challenging the
process. Student leaders take the chance to grow by searching
for opportunities, experimenting, taking risks, and learning from
past mistakes. Ive been in many situations where I didnt know
the outcome of a particular project. This didnt hinder my
capability to complete the task but instead helped me flourish
under the given circumstances. I was given the chance to excel
in an environment I was uncomfortable and not use to. As my
acting professor, Charles Goforth would say, its better to live in
uncomfortability rather than let a defense of shielded armor
protect you. When youre off-balance natural instinctual behavior
will occur.
2. As a leader I need to work on inspiring a shared vision. I believe
communication is key. When you get different people talking the
creative juices start to flow. Imaginative ideas are abundant and
the atmosphere is a productive one. Working with others and
listening to their ideas has concrete power. I have a problem, all
of my ideas are tunnel vision and Im hell-bent on that one
specific idea. Being open to change could benefit me on my
leadership excursion.
3. Enabling others to act is in my opinion, the most important in
student activism. Activists are motivated by passion. Something
grinded their gears and they are so moved, that they have to do
something about it. By fostering collaboration, leaders are
promoting community-based goals and securing trust. They
make everyone feel important and boost confidence, build an
environment of mutual respect, and have the ability to inspire.