14 Chapter 14

Karen Sullivan

Change Leadership (EDUC 614) for Fall 2018 is in one word – change. The course title, Change Leadership only hints how this powerful word has impacted my experience over the past semester. This reflection contains the personal and practical ways that I navigated this class and how it has influenced me as both a graduate student and a leader.

My name is Karen Sullivan, enrolled in the Education Leadership graduate program at Winona State University. In 1996 I applied for admission to graduate school with a goal of advancing my career in higher education. Both the process and reasons to progress in a graduate program have changed over the years. A growing family and increased professional opportunities limited the time I was willing to devote to graduate study. Also, my career progressed without the need for an advanced academic degree. Although not a formal student, I pursued a personal path of study by attending workshops and seminar, voracious reading and observing others who exhibited the qualities of leadership that I admired and wished to apply to my practice.

In 2015, I resumed my graduate program and with the accumulation of academic credit and life experience I am positioned to complete my program within the next four semesters. The challenge of time continues to be an obstacle but as the saying goes, busy people get the job done.

Before enrolling in Change Leadership, I viewed the coursework as having some personal value to my life, but the task of being a student was in many ways a way to check off the requirements to be eligible for a degree. My view has changed considerably over the past twelve weeks and instead I feel renewed and ready to take my experience as a graduate student to a new level of engagement and purpose. This renewal is the result of facing some initial challenges in the practical skills of academic writing and the personal commitment to grow in the field of leadership education.

After completing the first paper, I was aware that that the level of academic writing expected by the professor exceeded anything I had experienced in previous graduate classes.  My usual, conversational style was inadequate, and I came face to face with the tendency to engage in informal writing when writing an academic paper. The need to polish my academic writing skills was my first glimpse into how I needed to change to meet the requirements of the course. The APA Manual 6th Edition manual became my bible, guiding me in refining my academic writing skills. Paging through this document with a highlighter pen has provided me with a guide for writing an academic paper at the graduate level. In fact, it has become a part of my weekly reading to prepare for class. I also offer the following words of wisdom to aid you with the writing requirements of the Change Leadership class.

First, abandon excessive attachment to your writing.  Words are merely tools to express clear and concise terms that hold meaning for the reader Write, review rewrite and write again. To quote Dr. Holmes, “Celebrate words on paper.” Seek out and accept honest feedback from your classmates as well as other trusted readers.  The goal is to tell your story in a way that engages the reader and meets the standards of good academic writing. I also needed to stop measuring my unrealistic level of perfection and accept the process as a being a series of steps to reach my goal of completing the paper. Replacing this anxiety with effort will result in a more satisfying class experience and may lead to better writing too!

Approach each class as an opportunity to expand your awareness of how others view the world.  The leadership topics will provoke interesting conversation from the class.  Be prepared to listen and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.  The class will include students who are at varying stages of their degree program. They will represent a variety of backgrounds, experience, and cultures that will differ from your own.  Embrace this safe environment to expand your view of the world.

Each week you will gather in the classroom as well as on screen with remote TV and Jabber with a mutual goal of completing the requirements of the class.  I urge you to take the time to get to know this group beyond the confines of the course. You will begin to build your network based on this common bond of Change Leadership and very likely will make a new friend or two throughout the semester. You may have future classes together, and this shared experience will provide personal support and professional connections that enrich your expertise in the program.

Discipline yourself to read the suggested articles and research each leadership theory every week.  In addition to expanding your base of knowledge, you will find ways to connect what you learn to everyday life examples.  Select a consistent time each week when you sit down with the weekly readings, SAGE quiz and case study. Be prepared for class to eliminate the nagging feeling that comes with too many items on your list of things to complete each week.

Knowing what I don’t know was a way to humble myself and engage in the trials and failures required to move into a new level of academic maturity. The satisfaction that comes with making a positive change will replace the pressure of achieving an unrealistic standard of perfection.

Knowing the necessary steps are uniquely individual, and the goal is to determine what works for you. As a graduate student, you are asked to make personal and professional sacrifices to time and relationships. Ask yourself if you are willing to forego pleasures and convenience for the rigors of an academic program. Enlist the support of family friends and co-workers for encouragement and support to commit the time to the rigors of the class.  They will also to remind you to relax and enjoy a break from your work.

Admit your shortcomings and perhaps explore what roadblocks have prevented past success as a student.  See out the support of trusted mentors. Faculty, student colleagues and others who you admire to determine what worked for them. What strategies did they find to be useful in creating work life student balance?  This effort will assist in determining the path that is best suited to you.

This self-reflection will also allow you to assess your habits as an undergraduate student honestly.  If academic writing and research skills presented obstacles for you then seek out the support of experts to teach you the skills.  Release yourself from the arrogance that refuses to look at areas of weakness.  In fact, the most helpful advice I can offer is to embrace your fear and use your failures as layers of a foundation to grow to the next level of advanced study. Focus on being prepared for each class by reading the material and giving some thought to how you plan to contribute to the conversation in class. Good habits add a positive influence all other areas of your life.

Make the most of student organization and club experiences within the department.  In fact, I discovered that there is a Graduate Student Lounge available for use when I enlisted the assistance of a classmate to polish my technology skills and he suggested we meet in this quiet location dedicated for WSU graduate students.  Participating in graduate student activities not only help you make long-lasting friendships, but they also help you to form professional relationships and networks.  I have the annual graduate student boat ride social on my calendar for August!)  The class also give you the opportunity to get to know students who are not part of your program or that you might not otherwise have much of a chance to interact with in other areas of life.

Use your unique experiences as an advantage. My years of experience added ideas and perspectives that helped to diversify the group experience.  Remember that someone is always listening and observing you.  Offer your best self and be secure in knowing that you have unique strengths and abilities that have the potential to impact someone in a significant way.

Finally, use this class to begin to formulate a research topic to select for your final capstone project. The class will inspire you to the next level of study in an area of educational leadership. Change Leadership (EDUC 614) inspired me to take my level of engagement in the program to new level. By integrating my classroom experience into my personal and professional lives, I feel prepared to take the next step toward becoming a more engaged graduate student at Winona State University.