Consider all that you have done as a Link Leader... What’s next? Literally, what are you going to do with the skills you have started to develop through this semester with Link Crew? DO NOT REFLECT—LOOK FORWARD. Be as specific as possible with your plans for leadership in your future. Make sure to address all three areas of focus from our leadership class: academics, activities, relationships.
If you are a returning Link Leader, make to sure to address your two year commitment.
Please compose your piece using formal writing and blogging strategies. You will be assessed on content and conventions.
Link Crew has helped me as not only as a person but guided me on how to be a better student academically and and socially. Link crew has been a tremendous experience and as I look forward I know I will be more successful. First off with balancing my life and priorities, link crew has made me realize that balancing my life is very important. It also made me think twice about what is at the top of my list compared towards the bottom which are priorities that are important but not to the extent of my higher priorities. In the future I will use this technique when I may have more set of priorities and understand how to balance them out efficiently. Link Crew has as well created me into a better person.It allowed me to reach out to others and give them a hand when they needed one. This has focused me on to really stay with this concept and always be an extra hand or help for someone in the future. With balancing my life and reaching out to others this has made me become more aware of my academics. I will never give up and give my 100 percent in anything i do, with that I have found success I have discovered that with using these two life long goals it provides me to be a successful person in life and the future.
ReplyDeleteWhen applying to Link Crew, I merely expected to be a mentor to a few freshman in the coming year. I had no idea how much of a learning experience it would be for me and how much I can take away from this semester as a Link Leader in my involvement, academics, and relationships with my freshman.
ReplyDeleteInvolvement and academics have a direct correlation with each other. I’ve been told many times that ‘studies have shown that students who are involved in activities at school are more likely to succeed academically,’ but I’ve never put much thought into it. This year, after reflecting on which of my students succeeded academically and analyzing my grades after cross country ended, I have seen proof of these seemingly made up statistics. In my future, both next semester and all throughout college, I will do everything I can to be involved in more than one simple way in some activity after/outside of school. This I know will give me a much greater chance to succeed academically in the coming years.
As far as building relationships with my freshman, I wish I could have the beginning of the year back. I have built and maintained relationships with half of the 13 kids in our group, helping them with finals and showing them I care. Yet the other half, mostly the females, I haven’t created quite as much of a bond with. So I wish I could do it over, but that is not something I learned and can apply in my future. What I can apply to my future is to not miss out on one-of-a-kind opportunities. When such an opportunity is placed in front of me, to change the lives of 13 kids, I must not make excuses for not accepting the full opportunity. I must realize its value and embrace it. I must plan and calculate just how I am going to attack the given opportunity so that I am never caught off guard. Overall, when an opportunity arises to build relationships and change lives, I will never give it anything less than my %100.
As a junior in highschool, I am asking myself “what’s next?” daily. In my senior year at highschool, I have plans and aspirations to be a Varsity captain of the XC team here, which will grant me one of those one-of-a-kind opportunities to build relationships and be a role model to a large group of kids. Obviously, this opportunity will not be passed on, but rather I will take the skills of humility and leadership I have learned in this class to be the best captain I can be. Being a cross country captain is not enough involvement for me though. I will once again be sure to be involved in choir, winter track, and spring track next year and may even run for an officer position in Arapahoe’s Key Club, which is yet another one of those opportunities I have spoken much about. In college, wherever I end up, I will be sure to be involved there as well. I do think it would be lots of fun to be one of the students who gives tours to prospective highschoolers which would be just one step in staying involved which will inevitably reflect positively in my GPA.
Most importantly, after having such a great experience during my first year as a Link Leader, I plan on applying for a position once again for next year!
As a Link Crew Commissioner this year I have learned a lot about what it means to be a leader. Not only have I been given the experience of being a mentor to incoming freshmen, I have also been able to lead my peers. This was an entirely new experience and was extremely rewarding because leading freshmen and leading people my own age are two very different things.
ReplyDeleteThis year being a commissioner was a very in depth responsibility and I was able to come up with the curriculum that we would be following this year in class. This was a very interesting part of Link Crew that I was very glad I could be a part of because it allowed me to focus this class on three things that I find very important in my own life, and that I would be willing to teach to others. The first of these, and possibly the most important to me, was academics. I value academics very highly and to be able to teach strategies to the incoming freshmen was very rewarding. In addition to teaching them I was also able to remind myself of some very important habits that I have developed in the past and need to bring with me to college in order to be successful in my academic life and improve my chances of going to medical school, where I'm sure I will use the same strategies again. It was not only a teaching experience, but a learning one as well. Another aspect of focus this year we discussed was the role in activities. As Mrs. Moritz says at the beginning of each year, “There are those that participate, those who watch and enjoy, and those that never go and wonder what happened.” This year I have been very involved in several school activities and while it hasn't always been easy to balance everything each moment was exciting. It allowed me to focus on other things in my life and allowed me to make new friends that I hope to stay in contact with even after I leave for college. It has also opened my mind to a whole variety of new activities that I am interesting in participating in college and that could possibly influence what I would like to do later in life. I know that the transition from high school to college can be very tough, but so can the transition from middle school to high school, and while there is a lot I have taught my freshmen this year there is also I have learned from them as well. The last aspect we talked about this semester was the idea of relationships between freshmen and others as well. While I don't always have the best relationships with people, my family included, its something that I have been working on fixing. After talking about how important relationships are this year it has become very apparent that they are the foundation of everything else in my life. If someone has good relationships and a good support system they are more likely to succeed in other aspects of their lives. As I plan on attending an out-of-state university I know that building relationships those first couple months will be extremely important and will eventually help me succeed because the relationships I have in Colorado will not always be able to help me when I am that far away. Another area I hope to use my new skills in relationships is later in life if I become a doctor. More and more frequently medicine has been about treating a disease not a patient and I believe that is wrong and is one of the main reasons I want to become a doctor, because I want to see the impact I have on the lives of others.
Even though we have only had one semester of Link Crew this year, I have learned more about myself and how I will be able to help others then I would have on my own without these experiences. I have found out what I am good at, and what I need to work on. What I am able to tolerate and certain things I refuse to put up with. For me, this semester of Link Crew was not only about leading the freshmen, or even my classmates; it was ultimately a way to find out more about who I am and what I would like to do in the future. And after a great semester I believe that I have.
In regards to the elusive concept of the future, I wish to take the path less traveled. Many people choose career paths based on which returns the most money. They make earning money their largest priority, and can sometime end up not pursuing their passions. Link Crew has taught me that relationships are key to success. Arapahoe tries to follow the three “Rs” Rigor, relationships, and responsibility. Link Crew ecnompassses and lives by theses concepts, but emphasizes relationships.
ReplyDeleteIn my future, I will value having good and healthy relationships over monetary substances. In Link crew, I have learned that relationships foster and enhance academic success. gaining money and wealth, being “successful” is just a byproduct of good relationships. This was blatantly evident with the failing freshmen this semester. Mr. Jesse even stated that it was common for this many freshmen to fail, that the transition was difficult. The transition is so difficult for these freshmen because they have not yet developed good relationships. In order to have a successful group of people, we must encourage positive interaction and teach them how to maintain relationships. I believe that this is the purpose of Link Crew. All of the activities and classroom time is focused around relationships. Even the fundraising project emphasizes relationships. Teach Aids, teaches in the most literal sense, how to have safe relationships with others so that the disease does not spread.
In the future, I want to teach my kids how to have good relationships. I want to lead the community into an era of unity and prosperity. Link Crew has shown me that there can be a lot of return from career paths that are less “lucrative.” I want to volunteer my time at hospitals, sponsor struggling homes in africa, and be a contributor to the global community. Link Crew has caused me to take on a cosmopolitan attitude. I do not see individual citizens of countries that struggle, but rather global citizens that struggle. We are all human, therefore I want my future to be one of giving, teaching, and changing the world as a whole.
By: Lizzie Stephani
Delete
ReplyDeleteIf you are a returning Link Leader, make to sure to address your two year commitment.
Please compose your piece using formal writing and blogging strategies. You will be assessed on content and conventions.
High school is basically over. One more semester and like many other link crew leaders I will be closing this chapter in my life and on my way to start a new one. Link Crew has taught and abundance of things to all of the link leaders, from being able to build stronger relationships with others to increasing the academic drive students have.
In college, with the rigor of courses and the change in responsibility, it will be a huge adjustment. Being forced to be 100% accountable for my studies is not something that I or any high school students understand. Even though students carry most of the responsibility, parents are able to check grades and harp on their student to bring his/her grade up. The Link Crew activity when we found out what type of person we are academically will be one of the most beneficial tools for me in college. Knowing that I am a procrastinator, it has opened my eyes and helped me understand what I need to do and how much I drive in order to be successful. I also have learned that I learn best when I am discussing the material being taught with a small group. In college I plan on leading a study group for any classes that are difficult for me and spending my time in places that will force me to focus. Being a procrastinator, I will have to learn how to stay in an environment where I won’t have any distractions so I can keep up on my studies.
Secondly, next year as we all leave and are so far away from our parents and one another, I plan on getting involved with many extra curricular activities to stay active and healthy. I am hopefully attending a small christian school in Nashville Tennessee. At the school I want to attend (Lipscomb), they have a student lead ministry program for students to get involved leading in devotionals and chapels throughout the week. I intend to do this program because my faith is very important to me, and CLM (Campus Lead Ministries.) Will enable me to be a leader in my faith. Also, the school let’s students volunteer to give school tours every other fridays to potential students. Link Crew will help me with the ability to connect with those younger than me during these tours and hopefully impact potential students decisions.
Finally, Link Crew has really taught me the importance of having strong relationships in life. Whether it’s to just hang out and be buddies, or to get help with a struggle, or even having to call out a friend, friendships are so important to keeping humans thriving in whatever environment we are in. People are social beings, we need the close friends we have so we can communicate with others and feel like we fit in. Link Crew has taught me the importance of keeping these close relationships, and in college I plan on being as social as I can. In the activity where we found out what type of person we are, I learned that I show my emotions to myself very well but not others. I will use that activity to have more conscious in college when I am building relationships so I can try to be more open with others in order to build strong relationships.
Overall, Link Crew has benefited me academically, relationally, and in activities. Turning into the next chapter of life, it will be very beneficial for me to have those skills to be successful both in college and outside of college.
Throughout the course of the semester, Link Crew has given many opportunities to learn important life skills. Whether it was in the classroom, at an activity, or interacting with freshman, there was always some knowledge that could be obtained from the event. Link Crew has taught me many valuable lessons that can benefit my future as well as help me lead a successful life.
ReplyDeleteOne of the many qualities that was stressed throughout this semester as a Link leader was leadership. As a high school student, many struggle with stepping forward and taking charge. I personally tend to delay taking a stand and being a leader, but with the new skills I have developed through Link, I find it easier to be a leader. This skill will be demonstrated in the classroom as a student, on the field as an athlete, in my home as an older sibling, and be valuable to my future, as this skill can benefit me in college and help me to become a leader when I get a career.
Another valuable skill learned through Link Crew is support for others. Throughout this past semester, Link Leaders are constantly required to be there for the Freshman whenever they need. Most, if not all, Link Leaders are involved in more than one activity and can sometimes find themselves being busier than they know how to handle. For me personally, I found it very difficult to find the time to squeeze my freshman into my busy schedule of three AP classes, coaching two Special Olympics Sports, playing club and school lacrosse, volunteering at a hospital twice a week, as well as Student Council, Key Club, and DECA. But as soon as I was required to start contacting my freshman, I did not want to stop. I learned so much about them as people and learned just as much about myself while helping them make their way through freshman year. Because I was constantly required to support my freshman, I learned that being a support system will benefit you and it is important to remember to support everyone around you. In the future I will know to constantly be there for my friends and family and not put my busy schedule over them. In the long run, the friends and family will be there longer for me and I need to support them.
Lastly, my final skill Link Crew has taught me was the ability to balance and to prioritize. As I have previously mentioned I live a busy and hectic life. Sometimes it is hard to find time to do everything I need and want to do. Link Crew helped me realize which of my priorities needs to come first and which I can hold off til later. This skill is a beneficial skill that will last forever. I except that my senior year will be even more busy than my junior year and with my prioritizing and balancing, I will be able to organize my senior year which will ultimately bring me more success. Prioritizing and balancing is a vital piece of living a successful life and being able to obtain that skill as a junior will be a huge advantage for my future.
Overall, Link Crew has taught me very valuable skills that will benefit my future in various ways. Through the skill of leadership, support, prioritizing, and balancing, I will be able to use these techniques to help me achieve success for my future
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ReplyDeleteI am surprised with how much we have done during this semester, and I want to continue helping my freshmen who may be struggling as well as any other freshmen who might need help. I know I've become closer to a couple of my freshmen, and I hope that my Link partners and I will be able to contact and communicate with those others that we haven't had much of a chance to talk to. Sometimes it is a struggle for me to get in touch with my freshmen because they simply don't want to respond, or they think we're required to talk to them. My goal for next semester will be to try to talk to all the kids in my group and get to know them better individually.
ReplyDeleteI know that a couple of my kids are struggling academically. It's hard to see them work so hard, only to end up failing. Next semester, I want to be able to offer help and tutor those kids who are having a hard time with school and try to figure out what the problem is and fix it. After helping with the intense study session on the PLC day, I noticed that there was a constant problem with most of the kids: homework. They didn't realize how important homework is to their grade, and I think that what seemed minor at the time ended up hurting them in the long run. I will help my freshmen by teaching them to prioritize their workload, and remind them that even though homework may seem like "only 15%" of their grade, every point counts in getting them to the grade they desire.
I've also noticed that many of my Link kids are also trying to be more involved in extracurricular activities. I'm happy that they are trying to make an extra effort to be involved in the school. There are several girls from my Link group that are in choir. Since I'm also in choir, I want to try and talk to them and see if they like singing, or if there is another hobby they prefer. For those kids who are not doing any other activities, I want to try and get them involved by starting small and asking them what they like to do in their free time. The hardest thing to do as a freshman is decide for yourself, rather than just following along with what your friends. I want my freshmen to be able to choose an activity that THEY want to do and enjoy.
Lastly, next semester I'd like to work more on the relationship between me and my Link kids. Like I said before, I've been able to talk to many of them, but there is also a good amount of freshmen that I haven't built a great relationship with. It makes me feel like I've done something right when I get a text from one of my kids asking for help or needing someone to talk to. I feel bad knowing that there are some kids who I haven't gotten to know better. I want to let them know that I care and that I am someone they can talk to for advice, tutoring, or someone to rant to. Sadly, I recently discovered that there is one boy in my group who is really struggling with his self worth. This is what we've been learning all year! How to show the freshmen how much they matter. Seeing how broken he is makes me feel like I could've put more effort into trying to contact him and letting him know how special he is. He always says hi to me in the hallways, but next time he does, I'm going to try to talk to him. Starting a casual conversation can help me know him a bit better, and show him that I am someone he can talk to, not just some crazy Link leader who gave him a tour of the school.
Ultimately, I am glad I joined Link crew this year, and I will continue doing my Link duties next semester because I know that I am making an impact on my freshmen's lives. I've always loved helping others in any way, and with Link crew I can do just that. These kids aren't just part of my group, they've become my friends as well.
Daniel Ives
ReplyDelete12/13/12
Link Crew Final
Leadership
Leadership is something that is useful in so many ways. It’s not something that can be taken away after you have it. It is something that will stay with you throughout your entire life. What I have learned in Link Crew this year will also carry with me throughout my life, both as a person, and a student.
In my next years, I hope that for college I will attend the United States Air Force Academy. This is a place that is all about leadership and working together. I know that I cannot be the guy that sits in the background because those are the people that do not get noticed. I will have to be like those people that popped the balloon on that first day of orientation. I will have to be a “doer” and be willing to step out of my comfort zone and be proactive. However, the academy is not all about one person, it is about many working together and helping each other. I can use what I learned in Link Crew this year for that as well. Both the Cramfest as well as the PLC study day, were all about helping those kids that were struggling. It wasn’t about me at that point, it was all about creating a better community for Arapahoe High School.
Community is also about one thing, relationships. The ability to build relationships in any situation is priceless. It is about one of the most important qualities to have and one that may come easy to some people. No doubt it is important as a Link Leader to realize the importance of being able to build a relationship with the freshmen, but it is also important after school, in college and beyond. No matter where you go, it is important to not go through it alone. As long as you have someone with you, guiding you, helping you as you help them, the road is much easier.
Although transitioning from middle school to high school is a pretty big transition, there is also another one that I am about to go through. That is transitioning from high school to college. Just like the freshmen that came through this year, I will be going through something very similar next year, going into a new environment, with a lot of people that I don’t recognize, and being the small kid on campus again. However, through all this, the most challenging will be adjusting to academics in college. In Link Crew, we learned a lot of study habits to help failing freshmen and a lot of important tips that may seem small but are truly important. Tips on how to pass each different type of exam and also how to manage time based on the grades that we have. It’s something that if I can nail, I will be able to succeed in college.
Even though relationships are important, and academics are key, being involved is something that can make those things happen. Not only will they bring you closer to others, but activities can take off some of the stress that comes with the daily life of school and work. But it is important to balance those things. As I learned in Link, having a healthy balance of school, sports, and other activities is vitally to succeed in life and school. It may be okay to be more weighted towards one side, like say if you are an olympic athlete still in high school, or if you are some type of genius. But for the rest of us average people. It is a good idea to keep a good balance. Because although it is important to set up your future with a good education, you also want to be able to enjoy high school. You only go through it once after all.
The future. Even though it's technically is just tomorrow, the next week, the next moth and the following year, It scares me. As a Senior it's an over looming question one that is constantly in the back of your mind. Even though the future can be scary and intimidating I think that the great part about it is that you are in charge. That being said it is important to apply the skills of leadership I have developed over the past six years in Boy Scouts, Soccer and Link Crew to wherever my life takes me because High school is ending certainly meaning that I must apply these to my future. An example of a skill is connecting with people that you may not have as much in common with. It is difficult this has been demonstrated for me by trying to connect with a freshman, Sophia now we do not have a lot in common but I have been able to find some common ground in one of Sophias passions, anime,This has allowed us to break the awkward tension. This is an important skill to utilize because you are always going to be surrounded by people and not all of them will you have a ton in common with however when common ground is found it makes it a lot easier to get along. Another key skill developed in link crew is being efficient as a team. As a Commissioner this year we had a lot to get done, A Lot. Most of which we could not have accomplished if we did not work together,especially the super team during fourth period Tuesday. Once again this is a skill you will use for the rest of your life. That is in the long term. In the short term though I need to maintain who I am. It is easy to drop off as soon as your mailboxes get those acceptance letters. However that does not mean I should drop off on any of my classes or academics. I am in four AP classes and that is a ton but the reason I did that is to go to college with a strong foundation in those subjects. If I want to accomplish that goal it entails staying on top of things second semester and succeeding academically. This does not solely apply to Academics though this applies to the activities I am involved with as well. Link Crew for example, It is easy to think that it is just a semester long commitment I mean the class is only a semester long. However this is not true and especially being a commissioner! It is important to maintain oneself as a Link Crew Leader throughout the year meaning you should always say hi to your freshman and lend a helping hand to whoever needs it.Furthermore as a Commissioner it is important to fill the second semester role of recruiting and continuing to be the connection between leaders and sponsors. It is important to carry these things with me along with that though it is just as important to carry the relationships I build with me too, with teachers, with friends, and with family. Though I will be leaving I should and will maintain these relationships because all these people mean something to me as well as I mean something to them. I am sad it is over (well almost over). I have had a great two years in this program which has really allowed me to hone in on bettering myself not only has this program given me two years one of which has been as a Commissioner and even though it has been a lot of work it has given me so much and allowed me to give so much.I am not positive where I am going but I will be sure to send postcards.
ReplyDeleteAfter a successful summer and semester of Link Crew, I have realized that the sky is the limit for what I want to do next with the friends and leadership skills I have gained.
ReplyDeleteIn the short term, I am hoping to continue on and do Link Crew next year. I would hope to use the experience I gained this year to be an even better leader next year. I will try harder to get my freshman to come to activities, such as the study session, tailgate party and cramfest. Also, I will work on the relationships I have built through Link Crew. I will continue the connection with my freshman as well as the great friendship I have built with my partner. Similarly, I will use the skills I learned to help me balance and excel in the rest of my high school academic career. In the near future, I hope to achieve some leadership roles. I have been elected as president of my 4-H Club and have been doing very well leading them. I am hoping within the year and a half I have left in high school to assume a position of leadership, whether it is in DECA, NHS, Sports, or even Link Crew. I love to lead and love to listen and please those I am in charge of, as I have in my 4-H Club.
In the long term, I will utilize the skills I have gained as effectively as I can in my daily life. I hope to be able to balance my academic life as well as friends and activities to get the most out of each day. I hope to be a leader among my peers in college. I hope I will have the courage to stand up and take charge, because I know I am capable of that. However, that hope doesn’t have to end in college. I look forward to growing up and getting a good job in which the skills I have gained in working together will help me immensely. When I have grown up, I hope to use my leadership skills to help me excel and open up more doors for myself in the work world.
Link Crew has helped me grow in areas that other classes have not. When do we ever study relationships in Calculus? I will use the skills I have gained to help me grow in relationships, academics and involvement. In relationships, I will be more aware of how people are feeling, and will try to put drops in the buckets of those who need it. I will try to make everyone feel included and valuable in my day to day life. In academics, I will be better at the balancing act we put on in high school. I will make sure I have my priorities straight and can succeed in whatever academic challenge I face. In terms of involvement, I will recognize the importance of going in to an activity with a positive attitude and willingness to participate, and do so!
Overall, Link Crew has been a wonderful experience. I have learned many valuable skills and have been able to connect with some really cool freshman. The Crew itself if an amazing group of people that I hope to continue to be involved with in the near future. I have been surrounded by amazing people and opportunity, and I hope to use that to help me excel as I begin to forge my own path in life.
Throughout this semester of Link Crew I have explored new ways to approach academics, activities, and relationships with the mindset of being a leader. I am going to take what I have learned and apply it to my everyday life and tedious tasks.
ReplyDeleteI am going to insert new leadership qualities as well as new life skills I have learned into my everyday life. As an avid student, my academics consume a great amount of time and are rigorous. Link Crew helped me realize what type of person I was through in-class activities and I was a procrastinator. From learning this I am and going to continue to approach my academics differently; not wasting time during the day after school until it is late, but rather starting my homework right away so I can get it done and not stay up late. While doing this, I will be an example to my younger sister in eighth grade so she knows that work needs to be done first. The activities I took part in during link crew helped my leader mindset and gave me patience. I will probably be doing work crew again this summer which is a time-consuming and difficult volunteer job at a summer camp. With a mindful leadership quality I will put others first ahead of me and help others who are struggling with their tasks rather than waiting for someone else to step up and help. Work crew will also benefit with newfound patience from these activities. I may just want to be done with a work crew task or be bothered by someone’s slothfulness at the job; however, the patience of working with others and once more entering a leader’s mind, will have overwhelming positive results. Working with others also stresses the importance of relationships. Link Crew taught me that I must learn to develop relationships with others and be kind-hearted. When someone asked for volunteers of a boring or bothersome task, I used to be the one who did not want to volunteer. Although I have now realized to be selfless and help out others who can not do things on their own. This will help me grow in relationships with one another and continue to achieve my mission statement. Some of my mission statement concerning relationships is as follows “... I want to be myself around everyone and accept everyone for how they are. I want to make sure that no words I say are harmful to another and only build people up. I want to help others in need and show compassion to my neighbor. I want to positively influence others...” All the Link Crew skills I have learned relationally including patience and stepping up to the task continue to positively impact the relationships in my life. The leadership and life skills I learned through Link Crew will continue on and impact my life, my academics, problematic tasks, and other’s lives positively.
Throughout my experience as a link leader this year I have acquired such valuable skills. I feel like I have always been a good leader, however having this opportunity has been such a positive thing and I've enjoyed getting to better myself and my leadership skills.
ReplyDeleteBeing appointed as a leader that was responsible for 13 new freshman required me to push myself to be the best that I could be. I had to show my freshmen that I could handle school, sports, activities and other commitments in order to offer them help. I think that when freshmen see successful students, they realize that they too can be successful at Arapahoe. Especially right now, a time that is so important academically, I feel that I was able to help my link crew become more successful. Getting to work with Christian and Jorydan during the PLC morning was very rewarding because I saw two student that were honestly ready to put effort into their school work in order to have a successful freshman year. With this experience, I feel more confident that I could help, not only freshmen, but most anyone with their school work and staying motivated.
Along with assisting in academics, this year was focused on activities and relationships, which I think go hand in hand. During every link crew activity throughout the semester, I felt that my relationships with my freshmen grew stronger and stronger. I enjoyed getting to see my relationships grow with them and I also enjoyed seeing their relationships strengthen with each other. Even on our first day together I saw bonds between our link crew. It was also wonderful to see most of my freshmen be involved with something at Arapahoe. I know that Anthony had a great season playing freshman football and Giuliana built friendships on her cheer team. It was apparent that the freshmen were listening to us when we spoke about the utter importance of being involved.
This semester, I've felt my leadership skills grow exponentially. So the question is, where do I go from here?
I want to take my newfound leadership and use it to do something that I haven't had the guts to do yet. I want to run for a student council office next year. I think I can take my diverse leadership and put it to good use serving the senior class of 2014 as well as the entire student body at Arapahoe. Through link crew I have learned how to encourage the positivity of academics and how hard work pays off. I have also learned how to connect with so many people. I have even learned how to connect people that seem to distance themselves. I know first hand the benefits of involvement at Arapahoe and I want to share that with others. I want to increase and establish my involvement and commitments in student council.
Although I have always had confidence in my leadership abilities, I have never felt like I would make a good student council officer until now. I don't think that I would be ready, nor capable of this task without my time this semester in link crew. I know that we are supposed to be the ones teaching freshmen, but I think I have been taught more than I have taught. I am very grateful for this experience and I know that it will benefit me wherever my life takes me.
Thank you Moritz, Trotter and Smith for giving me this opportunity.
When I signed up to be a Link Leader I was sure that it would be the most fun that I have had in high school while in a club. I’m not going to lie, the zero hour was almost a deterrent but in the end I am very glad that I filled out the application. With all the new skills that I learned I am planning to use them in my job as a ski instructor and also when I’m working in groups while in college. Going into my freshman year next year is going to be a lot easier now that I know how to handle school and my relationships that I will be building with my friends that will stay with me for the next four years. Getting the background knowledge from Link Crew has allowed me to realize that some of my friendships and relationships in high school are not as healthy as they should be. I plan to use the skills for friendships as well as academics in my future years as a college student. A lot of times you can see someone as two completely different people. At first I didn't know how to take this because I'm used to my friend group where what you see is what you get. I'm glad that I got to see other types of people though because it is going to help me in the long run. The friendships that I have made through Link Crew I am hoping will not go away after this semester.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that I learned was that, you should never take anyone for how they look and judge them on it. Many people have different interests and I think that there are times that maybe what you like will clash with what they like but that doesn’t mean you should at least give them a chance. Thanks to Link Crew I have also grown more in my academic experiences. As a freshman I was not able to get help from someone that knew what they were doing because I did not have a Link Leader. I was very glad that I was able to give my kids the experiences that I never got to have. When I move into college I am going to use what I learned about how to study and how to make myself look so that I do not embarrass myself. Even though I have only started to develop some of the skills that we have learned I am not going to stop there. I plan on keep developing and working on what I have learned. As I move forward in my life I don't want to forget the time that I spent during a zero hour class even though I know that I wont be able to remember it all. Thanks to Link Crew my life has become more organized and that has helped me in school as well as home and I plan to keep my new organization skills as well as try to hone them in.
While I learned not only about myself I have also learned a lot about other people. The way they act and how it affects them and their friends. Many times I find myself looking at others and wishing I was them. Link Crew has taught me to be my own person and never worry about what other people are going to think about me. Some of my friends have told me that in the past semester I have changed a lot not only in personality but how I carry myself. This is going to help me in college because if your not your own person you will never be anyone when you are in a school of 25,000 or more. Moving forward I know that I am going to have many trials that will in some cases defeat me. I know now not to let that stop me. Taking Link Crew and putting it in the past will never happen for me because I have so many great memories.
As this semester comes to an end, I have realized I only have three more semesters left in high school. It is time to start figuring out where I am going to go to school, but to do that, I have to start thinking about what I am going to do. My experiences in link crew, have helped me to decide I want to be a high school teacher. I have always thought about being a teacher but there were a few things holding me back. Link crew has given me the confidence and has shown me all the rewards of working with kids, and it is something I want to do in the future. The relationships I formed this semester have become important relationships in my life. These relationships are not just with my freshmen, but with teachers and other students from link crew. I have learned what it means to take care of each other and how to help other people. I have also learned how to ask for help. I couldn't do everything for my freshmen and I had to rely on my partner. I am normally the type of person who likes to do everything by myself. This semester, I realized if I want everything I do to be the best it can, I am going to need some help along the way.
ReplyDeleteTo reach my goals of becoming a teacher, I need to work on my academics and stay focused. Another lesson I will take from link crew is time management. I learned a lot about myself and my work habits through class activities, and sometimes I have the tendency to procrastinate. In the future I am going to try my best not to leave work until the last minute. I need to be better with my time management especially if I am going to be a teacher. Even though academics is important, link crew has shown me one of the most important aspects of high school, which is involvement. Because of link crew, I went to a lot of school activities and events that I had never gone to before. I enjoyed each one and realized I don't have many left. As this year end and I start my senior year, I want to go to every basketball and football game. I don't want to miss anymore dances or plays, and I want to go to everything I can. As I encouraged my freshmen to go, I would tell them not to miss it because it was so fun and soon it will be over, but I need to take that advice for myself. I want to enjoy every minute of high school, and I plan to do that in the future.
When I came into link crew, I would not have classified myself as a leader; I would lead if I had to but I was not usually the one to stand up and take charge. Link crew has given me the confidence to be a leader, and I know I am one now. This is an important skill for life, but especially for the job I want to have in the future. I will have to stand up every day, and be a role model for kids who need one. I am confident now that I can accomplish this task and make a difference in other people's lives. The job I want to have requires me to be the best I can be in all three areas we studied this semester. I will have to stay organized and know what I'm teaching, so I do not let my students down. I will need to encourage my students to get involved, but I also need to be involved in the school and in their lives. Most importantly, I need to form relationships, because as I learned during the freshman intervention, not everyone has the support I have. I am so thankful for everyone that stands behind me, but some kids do not have that. My hope for the future is that I can be that amazing support for people who need it. As I walk away from link crew, I hope I can always make my freshman proud, and always lead by example.
What's next in my life includes finishing high school and going on to college. I could probably finish high school and go to college without the help of the skills I have attained in link crew but now that I have finished the class, I have also gotten new ways to make school less stressful and a tad bit easier.
ReplyDeleteI plan on using all the skills I have gained from link crew this year in my near future. For my academics, I now know a few helpful tips that will make studying easier and some that will help with my hectic schedule. I will certainly start studying in groups because for me, group studying helps me retain the knowledge I have learned from class and remember it on the test. Not only does group studying help me retain the knowledge, but I have a fun time while I'm studying also. I know that I remember more about time that I have fun then times when I'm sitting in class wishing I were somewhere else.
More skills that I plan on using in the near future and even in the distant future are what we learned on managing your time well. I play many sports and I am in many difficult classes so it is very hard for me to always manage my time well. In college I plan on being in a sorority and possibly becoming a leading role in the sorority. College will be much harder then high school so I am going to have to remember the skills about managing your time well. In college, I am going to have to find time to do my homework and projects and make a time window for all my sorority duties. I can do that by making a list of what is most important and getting that done first so that the least important assignments and duties can be done after the important stuff.
Lastly, I have decided that I need to put a little more focus into my relationships with my family, friends and co-workers. This past year, some friends of mine have slowly been disappearing and I wish to keep everyone that is in my life now, in my life years from now. I always would like to build a stronger relationship with my sis because she is in college and I don't see her as often as id like to. I can build a stronger relationship with her by maybe just randomly giving her a call every so often to check in and see how she is doing and what is new in her life.
Link Crew this year has really opened my eyes to a new prospective. It has made me think about how to manage my time, managing my sports and academics, and building relationships with family, friends, teachers, and co-workers. I will always remember what I have learned in link crew because it has helped me figure out new skills I can do.
So, what’s next? To tell the truth, I honestly don’t know. It is the future- unplanned and undecided. But utilizing the skills and knowledge that I have gained in Link Crew, I can make conjectures and conclusions about what I will probably end up doing in the near future. Seeing my sister struggle to acclimate to high school, I know that I will end up helping her even more as the year goes on. She has been having a rough transition, and so I have been helping her get involved with Link activities, and will continue to do so. This has strengthened our relationship. Friends are also important. I grew close to one of the freshmen in my group, and so hopefully I still will see her through the end of this year, and even next year. With Link Crew my relationships have grown, and hopefully will continue to do so in the future.
ReplyDeleteBalance is key! I am a busy person now, and so I probably am always going to be busy. Prioritizing every commitment is important to success, which I am hopefully going to do more of. Sometimes I focus on one activity too much (like academics), so in the future I plan to organize my life more, so that I am accomplishing everything that I need to. I am hoping to bring some of my new leadership skills onto the soccer field, where hopefully I will have new confidence and can set an example. Not only soccer, but in all of the sports that I do. Knowing that I will be a senior next year, it is important to have experience with leading a group of younger students. Also, I learned that it is just as essential to not have too much on my plate and get overwhelmed. In the future I am probably going to cut back on some of my activities in order to focus on the ones that are the most important to me.
I am bound and determined to not be a procrastinator next year. I know that I will always put off assignments that I really don’t want to do, but in Link class I was introduced to the concept that not all assignments have to be done at once. If I work on an assignment a little bit every night, it will be less stressful and hopefully easier than staying up all night the day before the due date finishing it. I knew that I was a procrastinator with academics before I started Link crew, but I finally identified this prominent quality in me, and now in the future I am going to change that. Also, I learned some great study tips for taking tests that I won’t forget. I again realized that even though some teachers may be intimidating, it is important to still go in and talk to them when I need help, or even just go in and see a different teacher. Link crew has supplied me with experience, skills, and tools to enhance my relationships, activities, and academics. I don’t know if all of these changes are going to happen, or if they are going to stay in my life, but what I do know is that there will be at least some changes in my life in the near future.
As I prepare to graduate from high school I cannot help but question all of the unknowns in my future. As I have reflected on my high school experience, the growth I have experienced as a leader and individual is surely notable. I began my freshman year as a shy and confused freshman, and now consider myself a confident and somewhat outspoken individual. As a Link Leader I have been charged with the responsibility of helping freshman adapt to high school. This is a humbling experience as I realize that I soon will be a freshman again. However, the skills I learned in Link Crew will help me continue to stay on top of my academics, build relationships, and remain involved in my community.
ReplyDeleteThe most important skill I have learned through Link Crew is organization. I have learned to use a planner and keep track of my academics, not relying on my parents to keep track of my schedule. I have also observed from one of the Commissioners the importance of communicating ideas in an organized manner as a student and the importance of teamwork. I have found the value in study groups, and hope to organize these groups in my future classes. As I prepare to leave home, I am confident that I now have the organizational skills necessary to complete my work without prompting from others. These ideas will also be important in my future career.
Link Crew has given me the opportunity to connect with people who I normally would not interact with. I have learned to be more outgoing by simply saying “hi” to others in the hallway. These connections will help me with my goal to become a high school math teacher. As a teacher, it is important to connect with even the most distant students, and connecting with my freshmen has certainly started preparing me for that. I hope that I can use the skills I have gained as a Link Leader to effectively connect with my students and make a difference in their lives.
The leadership skills I have gained through Link Crew have strengthened my ability to be a leader in all situations. I am no longer so concerned with fitting in, rather, I simply try to stand as myself. I am willing to take charge and state my opinion, without appearing threatening or degrading. I practiced these skills as Captain of the Cross Country Team, as a leader in Concert Choir, and in my daily interactions. I hope to be able to continue these skills throughout my time at Arapahoe, as well as in college. I know that as I continue to stay actively involved in school and community activities I will become a more well-rounded individual, able to cope with unexpected circumstances.
Although I will only receive the title “freshman” a few times in my life, I know that life is filled with new beginnings that will humble me and leave me in a vulnerable position over and over again. I hope that I will constantly be able to find leaders that will help me transition into my new roles in life, as I have in Link Crew. In college I will have my brother. Beyond that, I am not really sure. However, I know that I am well-prepared to face any crisis, and that regardless of the situation I am put in-- academically, professionally, or socially-- I can make the most of it.
After committing this first semester to Link Crew, I feel prepared to use the new skills I have learned in other areas of my life and academics. There are traits and skills that I have acquired not only through being a leader, but also a partner.
ReplyDeleteWhat I have learned is incredibly applicable to to my life in terms of my relationships and interactions with other people. I am going to give my best effort into not judging people who I don't know because of this experience. More often than not people have many problems, some very serious, that they hide entirely from everyone else. It's difficult to tell when such problems exist, and many of my Link kids had them, and I would have never known had I not gotten to know them better. Dependability was also a huge characteristic that I had to solidify. Many of the kids were in more need than I thought they would be in terms of academic and social help when adapting to high school. I had to balance this new time that I had to sacrifice for them and because of this I will be a much better planner in the future. I have also realized the importance of being there for someone and because of this, I will put myself second more often than first when others are in need.
Link crew skills that will be relevant to the remainder of my academic education include balancing school work with my relationships and other activities, as well as finding the determination to get through the rough patches. All the kids who showed up to the study session and cram-fest reminded me how important it is to work towards my goals instead of just waiting for them to come true. These kids inspired me to begin studying for the ACT and SAT which I plan on taking later in the year because they showed me that if you want something bad enough, you will take all the measures necessary to attain or accomplish your goals and dreams.
After the activities portion of the leadership class, I was reminded of the importance of staying involved in school through clubs and activities and how it is such a great way to ease the stress of school. I wanted the opportunity to meet more people and to participate more in what our school has to offer so I plan on joining an entirely new club next year. My high school time is nearing its end and I don't want to waste another moment that I have to spend with the people here.
There were many times throughout the semester when I felt as though I was letting my partner down. It seemed as though she just always put in 200% while it was difficult for me to find the time and motivation to give even 80%. I felt guilty at times because I couldn't commit myself to the freshmen entirely whether it was for family reasons, work, or school. She had just as many things going on as me but still seemed able to make time for all of our kids. She has inspired me to push for more out of myself, and to expect more as well. I also learned how vital communication is in a relationship because often we weren't on the same page because we hadn't talked about it. Since this has happened I have begun to tell people what I need more often and more directly. Life is already difficult enough without confusing someone with something that can be avoided entirely simply by talking with them.
Hopeful leadership plans I have for the future include being the girls tennis captain, as well as possibly taking on a role in the key club leadership. I want to be able to use the dependability and communication skills Link crew has given me and apply them to new and different areas of my life such as these. I want the opportunity to be a role model to even more students at Arapahoe, and I feel that these areas will give me that chance.
I am happy to have been a Link leader, and met all of the people I have. It has been a fantastic opportunity and I feel like I have gained many invaluable skills. I am thankful for the opportunity and the possibility of being a Link leader next year.
Over the semester, Link Crew has taught me what it means to be a leader. The three key areas that we focused on were activities, relationships, and academics. The skills I have developed over the semester from focusing on these three areas will help me in the future to be a leader to those who are struggling to find their way.
ReplyDeleteActivities, the first lesson we learned this semester,will be useful when i'm planning an event and want to include everyone. We really focused on how being a good leader means we are willing to reach out to everyone, and including them in our events. We had many activities over the semester which involved planning and commitment, this will help me in the future when
I am put in a situation where I am making plans or part of a group where my commitment is necessary. In the future I hope to own my own small business, and this lesson over activities has helped to give a foundation for where to start as far as planning and organization.
The second focus this semester was relationships. We talked about the importance of balancing relationships with everything else going on in our lives. High School can be a very stressful time, and having strong relationships is key to being successful. In the near future I want to go on more missions trips and improve my relationship with the community. Lately I haven't been able to give up my time as much to help others, and hopefully soon I will be able to. The lesson on relationships has helped to broaden my understanding of what it means to be a leader, and having strong relationships is important in order to achieve this goal.
The third, and last lesson was academics. Academics are necessary to being successful in high school. We focused a lot on how important it is to do well in school. When we talked about how many freshmen were failing, that really changed my perspective on what I want to do. To hear about so many freshmen who are struggling to
find their way in high school has driven me to want to get more involved. I now have a desire to
help others who have lost direction. I found this lesson to be the most inspiring; not only has it changed my view on what I want to do, but it has
opened my eyes to see that there are people who still haven't found their way yet in high school.
The academics focus has changed my view on what I want to do in my future, now I am more interested in volunteering my time to others.
Link Crew has been a great experience for me. All three areas that we addressed will be useful in my future. I have a greater understanding of what a true leader is. A leader is someone who is able to put others in front of themselves, also it is someone who has strong relationships and is hard working. I have always struggled on understand what good leadership is, and Link Crew has definitely broadened my understanding. In my future I want to use my understanding of leadership to make an impact on others lives. All in all Link Crew has been a great experience.
Throughout my year as a Link Leader, I have learned many valuable skills to apply my everyday leadership. To ask the question “What’s next?,” it takes a little bit of thought. As a senior I am faced with many decisions. I know I want to run in college, but I have no idea where I want to further my education, and with what team I want to devote four years of work to. Currently, I am moving into the Track season here at Arapahoe, trying to build up my strength and endurance throughout the preseason in order to have a great season in the spring. As a senior in a sport, there is always speculation as to which teammates are going to obtain the title of being a captain. A few of my friends have told me that I am a toe in for the position, but I don’t think so. One of the greatest things that I have learned in my time at Arapahoe, and in Link Crew, is that a leader is always striving to be a better person, to make a difference for whatever group they are tasked with leading. If I do get the captain bid, that title doesn’t mean I will be able to stop trying, to stop caring about my team around me. It means that I have to kick it into gear, and try to make the season as fulfilling as possible for all of the members of the team. Captains don’t simply serve the purpose of being there to motivate the team, they need to be a person that anybody can talk to a wealth of information. My goal as a captain is to make sure that even the freshmen, who may be new to high school sports, are able to have a great season by helping them transition up to the high school level of training and competition. Speaking of freshmen, I know that I am going to be a freshman again, come this fall, at the college of my choosing. In the next month, I will be making a decision as to where I am going to college. Right now, that decision is turning into kind of a daunting task. College is a decision that I have been preparing for my whole high school career. I leave today for an official visit to Western State, a college that has one of the leading running programs in the nation. I’m not a picky person with many aspects of college. A bed and a box with a roof will suffice for a dorm, the food should be edible, of course I want the school to have my major. Trying to come up with criteria for my decision has been hard. One of my biggest requirements though, is that I end up at a college with leaders. I have had a few coaches come to me and tell me how I will be a leader of their program my freshman year, the fastest on the team. Now don’t get me wrong, I love to win; but I think the biggest joy of winning is being able to see the work that you’ve put into getting there. I could go to a school and be the fastest runner they have, getting all the “glory” of winning races. The way I see it, however, I have the opportunity to learn from the sophomores, juniors, and seniors in college before me on other teams.
ReplyDeleteThrough the skills I have developed as a Link Leader this year, I can move forward and take these skills with me. Link Crew has taught me how to connect with people in a friendly way but also in a serious way as well. To be able to use this skill in college and beyond as an adult can put me on different and higher levels than my peers. I have also strengthened my skill of getting involved and doing new things. Even by just applying for Link Crew I have taken the risk of not getting in but once that was accomplished I also took the risk of not knowing many people. Link Crew has given me the skills to put myself out there and make new friends. Leadership for me has come in many great ways in high school. I have been involved in many things that included being a leader and I wish to carry those on in the future. With my academics, I wish that I can be looked up to by my peers and and be thought of as a hard working student by my teachers. To be able to set an example with my grades and in academics in general will make a great future for me. For activities, I hope that I can be as involved as I am now and carry that into college and beyond. Currently in high school I have the honor of being a sports captain. Although sports in college are still a question, I hope that I can take leadership roles in new ways such as clubs, sororities, and many more. For after college, I hope that I will still have the ability to get involved and lead other things I will potentially be involved in. Regarding a leadership role in the relationships I have, I think the future for me will be very bright. Many people, whether they are my friends, people that are younger than me, or people I don't even know, all seem to show their respect for me in a positive way. To be able to here that you are looked to by those people really make my life happy and complete. As I get older, I know things will change. My peers will change and I will change too. I could become smarter or not or I could change my personality and become a new person. No matter what happens though, I believe that my leadership skills will always have a positive effect on people and stay with them for a long time. To be remembered is great, but to be remembered for your greatness is even better. Although this is my first and last time being involved in link crew, I will take this year with me throughout my life and apply it towards many things in my future.
ReplyDeleteLink Crew this semester has taught me many great skills. I have learned that my life is much less balanced than I thought and that I need to prioritize my life a little better in order to be there for those who need me. I constantly have been worried about myself and my grades and my life rather than looking around at the people who might need me. In past years I never realized how many students are in need of support but don’t reach out. I hope to take these ideas and apply them to my life through my academics, activities and relationships.
ReplyDeleteI think school is very important as well as working hard. I hope to show the freshman and all underclassmen that working hard is how to be successful. I want to show them to not be afraid to go in and see teachers or ask for help -especially since I know I was. I want to be a resource if they need help in a subject or on an assignment. Rather than focus solely on my grades and my success I need to reach out to my freshman and anyone else who might need some help succeeding. I want to be a support system for them if they want it. I have closed myself off too much and I have realized this semester that I will much more fulfilled and the world will benefit just a little more if I focus more of my efforts on being there for people. I want to be more of a role model and guide in academics rather than an independently focused student.
I have a lot of activities and clubs that I am apart of at school, but this semester I am realizing what my priorities are. Sometimes I feel like I am involved in something just because it will look good for colleges. However, this semester has taught me that my heart must be in it too. In thinking about all the things I do I have come to find passion in all of them. I know I need to keep this passion in everything I do or it will not meaningful enough for me. I hope that if I am passionate then that will be an example for the freshman and all other students to be passionate about their lives and encourage them to get involved and make a difference. I want to put in my best effort in all my clubs and remember why I enjoy doing things. I hope that if other students looks up to me they will acknowledge the fact that even though I am very busy and have a lot on my plate, I love everything I do and I am very happy in all the things I do. Rather than be stressed about everything I have to do, I have realized that I need to focus more on everything I can do and doing it with my best effort.
As I have mentioned, I have realized that there is unbalance in my life. I have a tendency to neglect the people that need me when I get stressed about school or get super busy. I don’t ask how a friends doing during an off hour if they seem down because I have a lot of homework or I don’t sit and ask my mom how her day was because I have other things I need to get done. In the future I hope to be more open to everyone in my life. I do not want my stress to filter over into my relationships. My goal is to be there for all the people in my life and make sure I make time for them and make them feel important. I have learned from the freshman that it feels good to feel wanted and looked out for by someone. I want to make as many people as I can feel that way. If that means running an errand for my mom, tutoring a freshman in math or sitting with a friend who just needs to talk, I want to be there for them. While I know I cannot always a perfect support system for every single person I care about, I know that I can offer to be there for them and do my best to support them. I have a theory that if everyone did this then no one would ever feel alone or sad.
ReplyDeleteI think I have shifted my priorities a little from Link Crew. At first, my grades were most important and school always came first. However, I have realized that while school is very important, there are other significant things in my life that I shouldn’t miss out on. I should be able to give advice on school and teachers to the freshman and even my struggling friends. I should keep myself passionate about everything I do because if not I will remain very stressed. The biggest thing I think I have learned is that I need to stay attentive in my relationships with family and friends because even though I am stressed about my own life, they may need me and need help but are not asking for it. I want to take all these things that I have learned and be a role model, guide and friend to anyone who needs and not be so selfish in my priorities. Meaning doesn’t come from homework or test scores -meaning derives from relationships, memories and committing myself to bettering the world around me.
I want to strive to be the best, to try and find a way to run at the level of the seniors. I know I’m not supposed to reflect, but let me tell a quick story. A few years ago, there was a kid at Arapahoe by the name of Connor Winter. If you don’t know, he was an elite runner, one of the best to ever come through the state of Colorado. People would ask me, “Danny, how much does it suck to always be running behind this guy?” When I told them my answer, they were kind of surprised. Connor challenged me everyday to keep up with him, to try and be as fast as him. When it came down to it, if I was as fast as him, there weren’t many people who would be able to beat me. I have been working towards that goal for four years now, and hope to continue striving to be the best in college. Link Crew, a program to nurture freshmen and help give them the skills and guidance necessary to succeed in high school. That motto, the skills and guidance necessary, doesn’t that apply to college too? While I am looking at college as something that will be a whole new experience, I can also see many of the similarities between being a freshman in college and a freshman in high school. Link Crew has not only taught me how to guide others in their high school adventure, but it has taught me how to apply my knowledge of freshman year to my own experience. Leaders are always being tested, and some tests are harder than others. I have had my share of tests in high school, and I know that college will be a whole new ball game. One of the greatest ways to gauge the ability of a leader is by looking at their morals. What do they stand for? My family, friends, teachers, coaches, competitors, and especially my failures have helped me to create a moral compass, a guide which I apply to all of the things I do in life. The first aspect of leadership is finding out what you stand for, the second part is actually standing for it. Link Crew has helped me figure out what I want to stand for in life, and college, well I’d say that’s next. A chance to stand for the things which I want to achieve with all my heart.
ReplyDeleteI have been involved in Link Crew since I was a A-Team member my sophomore year. Since then I have learned to become a leader I have never expected myself to become. I have built relationships, made lasting impressions on others, and developed academic leadership roles. With the relationships I have made, I will continually make an effort to make them last and stay close to the people that make the people around them shine. Knowing the skills on how to create new relationships,meeting people in college will be a breeze, which will carry on to the real world during job situations. Knowing how to interact with other people will help me in so many ways academically and in the working world. Making a impression on other students, especially the underclassmen, is always one of my goals to keep myself in line. Through their first day of high school, to the Freshman Tailgate, and all the way to the end of the semester, Cramfest, I have mentored and watched my kids grow to an understanding of high school and how to jump in and feel like they are accepted. I have also seen students who are currently sophomores that have became successful through meeting new people, and staying focused academically. In the future when I see my friends struggling, I can help them realize what they need to do, and help them get organized to become successful. The community is also a way to show your leadership roles. The Littleton Stride was my favorite volunteering event because I could show others the support I had for my community and my school. I plan on continuing volunteering through school and helping good causes. Through my remaining year as a Senior, I plan on staying accountable and helping others be as well. Knowing that good grades are everything, entering my Freshman year in college will be a new experience, but having good study habits, and determination, I can be successful no matter where life takes me.
ReplyDeleteThis semester as a LINK leader has helped me continue to build up my leadership skills. There are many opportunities in my future in which I can use and continue to develop my leadership skills. Not only in daily life, but in the different activities I participate in. One of the quotes I remember most, that is in fact from being a WEB leader at Newton Middle School, is “lead by example.” That is not only during special events, but in daily life. Every day I try to be my best and to lead by example. The freshmen here at Arapahoe need their upperclassmen role models, and I am always trying to be the best role model I can be.
ReplyDeleteWith academics, leadership skills constantly come in handy. I know that there will be many group projects in the future where I will have to work with other people, and I know that these skills can help make working together with classmates more efficient. With my skills I also hope to continue to help my peers and the underclassmen with schoolwork and studying skills that we have spent time learning about. It is important to remember that I cannot do the work for them, I have to help them do it.
There are many activities that I am involved in like dance, track, Youth Commission, and the Miss Colorado Organization. At my dance studio, I am an assistant teacher where I teach younger girls’ classes. All of the little girls look up to me and the other assistants so much, and we all have to make sure we are leading by example. My leadership skills can help me get things across better to the girls and I know more how to communicate with them. Because next year is my senior year, I hope to be a captain on my track team. I would love the opportunity to lead my team to the State Championships in track & field, and my skills would help with that. Encouragement is such a huge part of being a leader, and I try to encourage my teammates in whatever their goals are. I hope to attain the title of ‘Captain’ next year by trying my best to be a leader during the upcoming track season. On the Centennial Youth Commission, all members express their ideas and we come up with ideas and projects that we think will benefit the youth of the city. In order to come up with a solid plan, someone needs to take the lead, but everyone needs to be a leader. Usually whoever comes up with the idea spearheads the project, but everyone else must help and put in their efforts. The skills I have strengthened this semester will help me take action in a more effective way. My involvement in the Miss Colorado Organization has helped me be more confident in myself. I competed for Miss Colorado’s Outstanding Teen this past year, and it was a wonderful and rewarding experience. All of the girls who compete in through this organization must be great role models. It takes a lot of courage to get up on stage and compete, but what you see on stage is not everything. We have rehearsals all day and interviews and we learn more about each other because we spend time together off the stage. We are able to see people’s true colors, and someone who should win is someone whose personality shines on stage and is the same when off stage. Leadership is characteristic I must constantly embody, and I hope to use my skills to improve how I can be a role model for younger girls.
Leadership skills are probably most important in relationships. There must be a mutual effort between people in order for a relationship to work. I hope that these skills will help me strengthen my relationships in the future, especially with people younger than me. As I said in the beginning, I always try to lead by example and be the best role model I can be. Everyone needs someone to look up to, and I hope that I can be looked up to more in the future through my involvement in the activities I talked about above.
Overall, I think that these leadership skills will really help in many aspects of my life. Leadership is not an occasional thing, it is a constant and on-going process of leading by example, and I hope to continue this process throughout my life.
Through Link Crew, I have learned leadership skills, communication skills, and responsibility. These skills with become useful in almost all situations. However, I most look forward to applying them to College, Girl Scouts, and Link Crew next year.
ReplyDeleteAs a junior, I have begun to contemplate my academic future. When I do graduate from Arapahoe, I hope to become an active student at whatever college I choose. Through the leadership skills I have gained from Link Crew, I can distinguish myself as an individual in all my decisions and actions. I can freely choose my own path without fear. The communication skills I have learned will assist me in making and retaining new relationships with other students. Link Crew has helped me bypass a lot of anxiety I often face when trying to connect to a stranger. Link Crew pushed me out of my comfort zone in terms of relationships and communication, which will hopefully transcend into my college years. Link Crew introduced me to a new type of responsibility which was foreign to me before this experience. Before Link Crew, I had never been given so much responsibility in helping guide another person to success. This type of responsibility has helped me determine that I love to help others. In college, I hope to further my participation in service, where my experience in handling the responsibility of guiding someone else will help tremendously.
As a Girl Scout, I routinely council and plan weekend camps for girls 8-11 years old. The skills that I have developed in Link Crew will help me better these experiences in the future. Through Link Crew, I have learned how to be a good leader who is aware of others needs and who assists them in whatever they need. When counseling younger girls, this skill will help me be the best role model and leadership figure to them that I can be. The communication skills that I have gained will help me tremendously in communicating with the younger girls in a way that they understand and relate to . Although freshmen are older and more mature than the girls I council, they both need guidance in achieving success, whether it’s in high school or a weekend camp. Through Link Crew, I have gained the knowledge I need in order to communicate openly with them about their fears, joys, and goals. The responsibility that Link Crew has given to me, will help me further my relationships with the girls. For example, in Link Crew we learned that we are essential in providing a smooth transition for the freshmen from Middle School to High School. This responsibility has granted me the experience I need to help guide the girls to their future success.
Link Crew has been a rewarding experience that has helped me grow as a Leader. Therefore, I hope to continue my participation in Link Crew next year. When we were learning about academics and how to influence our freshmens’ academic successes, I had the opportunity to gain leadership knowledge on how to further the growth of my kids. This knowledge will hopefully transcend into my senior year as a Link Crew leader. As we were discussing relationships and how to strengthen our bonds with our kids, I learned how to communicate openly with my kids in order to form those concrete relationships. This skill helped me in gaining the trust and friendship of my kids. I hope to use this knowledge to gain new relationships next year with other freshmen. When we focused on activities and how to balance all of our extra-curriculars, I learned how to be responsible with my time management. This skill will help me to balance Link Crew with all of my other responsibilities.
Overall, Link Crew will help me to further my own success through leadership skills, communication skills, and responsibility.
Link Crew has taught me many things throughout this year. One of the most important things I have taken from this experience is how much of an impact I can have on people’s lives. The feeling of helping someone is an unbelievable feeling that is almost impossible to describe.
ReplyDeleteRelationships play a huge role in our lives, and help shape the person we become. I want to take the initiative to meet and connect with new people. Not only do I want to connect with people from Arapahoe that I haven’t gotten to know very well throughout the years, but beyond school. Expanding your horizons and meeting new people is a big part of learning who you are and also can help someone realize what they want to do later in life.
Activities also shape who a person becomes. After link crew I hope to maybe take my leadership to another level but in a different way. I want to go on more mission trips and participate in more community service.
Regarding academics, I still wish to stay in contact with my freshman and help them out with classes when they need help. Committing to work in the study center may not be the perfect choice for me, however I want to still be a positive impact on freshman. Next semester, if possible I could come into the language arts office once a week and ask the teachers that have struggling freshman if I can help in anyway. I could just be another person for them who is willing to help and wants them to succeed. I think that it is important to take away what Link Crew has taught us about ourselves and not just what Link Crew has taught us about impacting freshman. It is very easy to take some of the things we discussed in class away and put into our lives.
Going to college next year will be a new start and experience. Next year, I plan to stay organized and keep up with everything so that there is no chance to fall behind in classes. Going along with academics and activities, I have experienced and seen first hand that being involved in activities helps students stay on top of their academics. In college I plan to participate in as much as I can without overwhelming my schedule. I have found that it is easier to stay organized when I participate in a sport or a club. I have been impacted in such a positive way in Link Crew and it has helped me grow as a person. In the future I hope to carry out the skills I have learned about meeting new people and prioritizing my life into my daily life so that I may be successful.
Whitney Krantz:
ReplyDeleteI stand firmly in the belief that each and every day is a new beginning. When you wake up every morning, you are given the chance to start over and to make the day as great or as awful you want it to be. I have acquired this knowledge in the past five months as a link crew leader. Through activities, academics, and relationships, I have gained skills such as patience and commitment that will allow me to thrive in the future and make an influence on the people in this world.
Involvement is the key to any successful relationship and organization because it allows people to come together and grow as a team. During first semester, we were busy with freshmen tailgate, donut day, extra help PLC mornings, Cramfest and so much more. In the first few weeks, I was extremely overwhelmed trying to get everything done. I learned valuable lessons in prioritizing and commitment and often had to decide what activity was more important than another. By forcing myself to choose between two events, I learned how to plan ahead and prepare for the future. I know that next semester and each semester following that, I will be more aware of the sacrifices I must make in order to maintain my commitment to each group I am involved with. Additionally, I began to appreciate those around me who were patient with the events I was involved with and who were understanding of a busy schedule. Due to their kindness and generosity, I have become more patient with other's; realizing that everyone is busy and stressed out and that sometimes you need a break. I know that patience is a virtue and quite possibly the most valuable one because of it's difficult to maintain at all times. I plan on being more lenient and understanding of people's commitments and schedule as much as possible for the years to come.
Furthermore, over the past few months, I have been woken up to the harsh realities of junior year and the struggles that come with a challenging academic schedule. School has always come naturally to me and for that I am extremely thankful; however, this year has challenged me in every way, shape, and form possible. I have been able to maintain respectable grades so far this year but not without important ideals such as commitment and patience. I never would have believed that each and every night I would have at least three to four hours of homework junior year, however that is an very real and harsh truth here at Arapahoe. As my grades started to slip to not longer being A's, something that has never been personally acceptable to me, I decided to make a change and to commit myself to academics all together. By forcing myself to focus solely on school for while I have prepared myself for rigorous courses in the future. I was able to prove to myself that I can complete any goal I set and that excuses are never an option. I also noticed that I needed to be more patient with myself and to not stress if I didn't get a perfect score on a test. It is a hard fact to face that you cannot be perfect at everything all of the time. I have found that achieving a balance of patience and commitment allows a person to grow and to help others realize their full potential as well. I strive to help not only the freshmen but also my peers realize these lessons as well.
Whitney Krantz:
ReplyDeleteRelationships are a key aspect of life and without healthy and stable friendships, you will never achieve anything great in your life. I have found that I am only successful and productive because of the strong relationships I maintain with my family and friends. They are my rock, my strong foundation upon which I have built my life. As I became stressed this year, I turned to my friends and family for support and help with school, sports, and link crew. Because of the patience and commitment I have found in the relationships with each of them, I have been driven to become a better friend, sister, and daughter as well. Additionally, I have learned the value of reaching out to the freshmen and being there friend. I noticed that after a few weeks of school, my freshmen no longer seemed lost or scared at Arapahoe. It was wonderful to see them adjust to the new atmosphere however, I know that they still need my help throughout their entire high school career. Therefore, I plan on maintaining my relationship with the freshmen over the next year and a half at Arapahoe. I will not allow my freshmen to slip between the cracks. Each and every one of them has something unique and special to add here at AHS and I would hate to ever loose that. They have taught me to be patient and to commit to reaching out to them in order to make a difference in their life. I plan on committing fully to all of my relationships and to maintain healthy communication with as many of my freshmen as possible.
I realize that I have set high goals for myself for next semester as well as throughout college and life regarding academics, activities, and relationships. However, I firmly believe that if I fully dedicate myself to a cause and to being patient with those around me I will be able to continue to make a difference in the lives of my freshmen, friends, and families. I plan to continue these goals and hopefully build upon them next year in link crew as well as in other future jobs and relationships.
As I look to the future, I see myself as a successful doctor with a loving family surrounding me. I have worked hard my entire life, but the hard work has just begun. Next year, I plan on attending the University of Colorado Boulder and participating in the Honors program. After my freshman year, I would like to apply for the position of RA and be a Flock Leader (which is similar to being a Link Crew Leader). These jobs require a lot of time commitment and they put me in a position with many responsibilities. I will use Link Crew skills to help me succeed in these leadership positions.
ReplyDeleteAcademics are key to my success. I received a scholarship to CU, but the scholarship will only be renewed each year if ii maintain a high GPA. Many students go to college, “goof off”, and end up on academic probation. They are wasting their time and money. I want to go to college, get good grades, enjoy myself, but then move onto the next step. Link Crew has taught me the importance of not only my own academics, but the academic careers of my peers as well. When I found out that so many freshman are failing, I was devastated. I am a “helper”. I want to do everything in my power to help these students who are failing. I have wanted to help my peers, academically, my whole life. Last year, I helped my sister, who is a college student, with her physics homework because I couldn't stand to see her struggling. Next, I plan on putting my own academic career first, but also take the initiative and help those in need.
In the future, I need to be serious about my academics, but I also need to find time to get involved in participate in various activities. I want to double major in integrated physiology and engineering. Both of these majors are extremely difficult and will require the majority of my time. If I don't find classes that I enjoy and I don't get involved in other ways, I will despise school in every way. I will take classes, like choir, that I enjoy and are fun, as opposed to the hard core math and science classes. This will keep me sane and allow for a little break in my busy schedule. Also, I will get involved and participate in leadership programs. As I mentioned earlier, I want to get involved with the Flock program freshman year, and then continue as a Flock Leader my sophomore, junior, and senior year. In addition to the Flock program, I would like to apply to be an RA. Both of these programs will allow me to get involved at CU and challenge my leadership abilities. I don't want to spend my whole life “sitting on the sidelines”. If I don't do something about it, my life will pass before my eyes. I need to get involved so that I can keep up with Time. A famous song by Pink Floyd states, “Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day. Fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way...Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain. You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today and then the one day you find ten years have got behind you. No one told you when to run. You missed the starting gun … And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking. Racing around to come up behind you again. The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older. Shorter of breath and one day closer to death” (Pink Floyd, Time). If I sit around and never get involved in anything, I will miss every experience and I will regret it. This semester I have not only been trying to get involved more, but I have also been trying to get freshman, underclassmen, or even my own classmates involved more. I want to make sure that no one regrets not getting involved.
Finally, I need to build relationships for my success. I plan on studying and eventually becoming an anesthesiologist. As a result, I will be working closely with other doctors and with patients. I need to continue being strong relationships with everyone that I can. Link crew has taught me that I need to nor only start building strong relationships but then forget about it and never think about those relationships again. Instead, I need to start building strong relationships then continue building these relationships. I am making a difference in their lives.
ReplyDeleteAfter completing only one semester of Link Crew and Leadership class, I have learned many life lessons in the three categories academics, activities and relationships. Having to truly lead freshmen through their first year of high school has been very informative from the leaders perspective. To start, a good leader must know the direction she must know the direction the group needs to go, but she must also listen to her followers and help them solve their problems. Some may say that to be a good leader one must be feared, but as a leader in high school, fear isn't a good way to be a leader. Now when I have to be a leader in different aspects of my life I will know that being liked will get better results than being feared. I also understand that even if I am liked, I still have to earn the respect of my peers through my actions, not just my words.
ReplyDeleteJunior year is a challenging year for academics. So far I have been more overwhelmed than any of my previous years at Arapahoe. Despite my heavy class load, I am still receiving good grades because I know how to play the game of school. One thing I learned from leadership class is it's easy to play the game of school, but that doesn't necessarily mean I am learning and retaining the information presented to me. As I go onto senior year and then college, there are a couple hints I need to remember. One, show up to class. As boring as it may be and as pointless as I may think it is, showing up to class is the best way to learn because I am getting the information directly from a professional. Two, flashcards are a students best friend. I can keep them for future use and they are a great way to help me study because I am seeing the word and hearing it as I say it. Three, take good notes. As much as I hate taking notes, they are my main study guide. One major lesson I learned this year, the hard way, is to take notes even when the teacher is talking. Useful information may not be on the board but the teacher will definitely say it. Lastly, four; always turn in my work. Assignments may not be worth a huge amount of points, but all those little assignments will add up to a lot of points and can really boost your grade. With these helpful tips on how to actually learn while still playing the game of school, I feel I am prepared to take on the next step.
Having torn my ACL this year and not been able to play club soccer or high school basketball has made me realize how many other activities offered at Arapahoe. In leadership class we talked about getting involved makes for a better high school experience and I have to say that is true. Once I am completely healed I will continue to participate in different activities. I intend to use my leadership skills next year as a captain on the soccer and basketball team for Arapahoe. One thing I have to remember is even if I want to participate in all the activities, I might not be able to because I need to balance my life. I can only do so much in one day and if I take on too many activities plus academics I will eventually end up harming myself. Also not being able to participate in a lot of activities has made me miss them more than I could have ever imagined. I now know not to take anything for granted so in my future years I intend to take advantage of the activities offered.
Finally, the relationships I've built this year couldn't have been better. I have met many new people and connected with them based on what we have in common. Since I have become friends with more people, I have to be able to help them when they need it. I also know how to build better relationships with people and who to build them with. If I surround my self with people who have a negative outlook on life, they will rub off on me and change my attitude. I need to spend time with people who are positive and supportive of me. Being around the wrong people will only lead to a change of my character for the worse.
The skills I have learned in being a Link Leader have given me a better perspective on what it is like to be a teenager in high school. I have been trained in the art of empathy and I am ready to ascend to a higher level of responsibility in college because of Link Crew.
ReplyDeleteBeing responsible for the well-being of thirteen freshmen this semester was no easy task. I really forgot what it was like to be lost in a school both mentally and physically. I have become so accustomed to Arapahoe that I initially could not understand why my freshmen were feeling out of place. I know where just about every classroom is, and I have the scoop on most teacher’s teaching styles. But then I reminded myself that I have been here much longer than my freshmen, so it should be expected that I know where to find something. By putting myself in their shoes, I was able to channel my freshman self and think like a ninth grader. This exercise was tremendously helpful in connecting with my freshmen on a deeper level. I believe this situation can be applied to my upcoming college years. I will be the freshman next year, so I will have to use those thinking exercises to navigate through my first year in college. And in a few years, I will be a senior having to help college freshmen find their way, so Link Crew has already given me an advantage to use years from now.
I cannot say enough good things about the Johari Window activity we did one day. I have always been interested in knowing my strengths and weaknesses, so this activity was perfect for me. I concluded that I am a people-pleaser and a perfectionist. In the future, these qualities will most likely lead to my demise because the self-imposed pressure and stress will slowly turn me into a bitter woman who has no life outside of work. I do not want this to happen to me because I actually enjoy being happy and having a life outside of school. The Johari Window basically reinforced the fact that I need to come to terms with the definition of perfection and perhaps find a new meaning. I can’t be perfect in everything - school, as a Link Leader, a friend, and a daughter - but I can try my best, therefore pleasing myself instead of constantly pleasing others. As I look to the future, I see myself being a stellar employee, but probably not the CEO of a company. I don’t want that kind of pressure placed on my shoulders, so smaller tasks are the most compatible for my happiness.
I honestly wish I had the summer to participate in activities with my freshmen because I think it takes a lot longer than one semester to form a lasting relationship. Sure, I will probably pass them in the hallway from time to time, but I doubt they will have the motivation to participate in activities with Kate and I outside of school. With thirteen of them and two of us, it can be a bit challenging to spend our time equally with each kid. If Link Crew had one or two summer activities, say, a barbeque with some kind of team-building course, I believe that would make a difference in the strength of the relationships formed through this program. I could be completely wrong in saying this however, because my freshmen did not seem to reciprocate the work I put into forming a friendship with them. We invited them to numerous events, only to end up alone, waiting on our freshmen who never showed up. I was hurt to say the least because I was genuinely excited to talk to them and find out how their semester was going. But looking to the future, this was a good experience for me because I now know how to deal with people not wanting to spend time with me. I will not let no-shows affect me negatively because it all depends on how I view the situation. If I don’t take someone’s absense personally, I can’t be upset about it. So in a way, my freshmen ignoring me has made me a stronger person.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I am thrilled to have been a part of Link Crew. I feel it has prepared me for a future where I will have to deal with adults who think like freshmen, so I will have to employ those empathy skills often. I am excited to see what the future has in store for me, and I am even more excited to see what the future holds for my freshmen. I just hope I made some difference in their lives and they can someday appreciate my dedication to them.
From participating in Link Crew this year I have learned so much that will be valuable in my future. By focusing on the specifics of academics, activities, and relationships I know I have a better understanding of each, and of how each one allows others to achieve their goals. This year I have also learned how to be a strong leader and what skills are needed to lead others well. I now understand the importance of letting each person know that they matter and the value of teaching others to be socially and academically strong. With the leadership I have gained from this class I feel I am much better prepared for my future.
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to be a small business owner. This is my short term as well as long term goal. I know that to be an owner and consequently a leader of a small business I need to be able to command a room without being intimidating and I need to be able to lead others. Currently I work in a small business community. My bosses are the owners, many workers are family, and most decision made for and about the business is agreed upon by everyone. I have watched closely, this past 18 weeks especially, how the basic leadership principles we learned in Link Crew are the same basic principles used by my bosses.
As we were learning the importance of school involvement here, I was seeing the importance of employee involvement at work. Everyone wants to feel like that fit in whether it’s in a community of 4,000 people or 15 people. It's the job of those leading to make sure this happens. I know when I own my own small business it will be vital to make everyone feel welcomed. I've learned I can do this by simple invitations, a friendly smile, and constant reminders that they are always welcomed.
When we learned of creating strong relationships with our freshman, I was starting to create strong relationships at work. Because of the invitations for involvement and the friendly smiles I became more comfortable at work and talking to those I was working with; just as the freshman here were becoming more comfortable talking with upper-class-men and peers. I know the importance of listening, just talking, and being compassionate. These simple gestures build relationships in any community and as a leader of a small business this will be essential to remember to build those relationships with my employees.
Finally, as we focused on academics I learned the real importance of academics. In Link Crew I learned that academics teach us to work hard for something that is important to us, to not give up, and to always try your best. This, I feel, is the most valuable piece to owning a business. I know I must continually demonstrate these values as I lead others, so that I set the bar high for my employees. Without this key virtue I know owning a business well I never work.
What I learned in Link Crew will be important to my immediate future as well as my long term goals. I will need the skills I have gained to jump into roles of leadership more so now so that in the future when I will need those skills most, I have them. I will use these skills to be successful business owner.
In the past year I have learned to do things and build bonds that I never thought were possible. These bonds have led me to do outstanding things in my life. These actions that I have witnessed around me with Link Crew have made me a bigger better person. The skills that were learned in this program can not be forgotten. The three subjects that the whole semester focused on were academics, activities and relationships. These three topics are all great to revolve life around, but there are certain skills that i learned from each of these that I want to carry on in my future life.
ReplyDeleteIt is always important to have good relationships with people, but the connections i made with my freshmen, make a good relationship look horrible. It took some time for me and my freshmen to warm up to each other, but once we did friendships started to build. The skill of making good relationships is hard to define. If i had one way to describe what building great relationships with people is I would say, Its always being that person that you can give a hand for help at any point, and being that person that always gives positive outlooks on life no matter the problem. In life there are a lot of different people but to be able to be one of the most positive and upbeat people in my own life is a reward in general. This skill is something that i hope I can teach my kids one day because it can make life happy and worthwhile. Life is what you make it and why not make it full of people, people who just want to return the favor you once gave them.
Another great skill I hope to take with me when i graduate and start my own life is, staying involved with activities. In college I hope to continue running and volunteering to help with soup kitchens. Not only does staying involved keep me interacted with the real world but it keeps me happy and healthy. Staying busy and never having free time in college may become hard but I can't imagine not doing these two activities because they have already impacted my life so much. These activities lift my confidence and give motivation to do more in my life.
The very last skill that I would like to carry on with me in my future is my academics. Through college I plan to work my hardest and achieve the grades I have had in high school. Having a strong academic record will help, me build a strong base for my career paths I plan on taking. Also it will give me the motivation i need to get a good job and be successful. I have always believed that the effort people put in to their academics shows the kind of life they plan to live. For example, bad academics equal a more easy path in life, and good academics equal a more hard working but successful life.
In all reality i believe life is what you make it and only goes in the direction you direct it in. Personally I plan to use academic, relationship and involvement skills to improve my future and make it more successful.