Mattie Smyth

Part IV: Leadership Plan

 

Section I

 

I think out of all of the leadership theories covered this year, Ethical Leadership and Integrity Leadership resonate with me the most. By leading ethically, you have to draw on what you believe in , what you stand for, and what your morals dictate. It challenges us to consider those around us and those we lead and serve. We have to take into consideration the effect our decisions will have on others. Integrity leadership is quite similar. My understanding of it is that you are leading my means of seeking what is best for others. Leaders with integrity keep their followers in mind.

 

Reflecting on the year in FLP, I feel that I have grown leaps and bounds in my personal leadership abilities. I have changed in my approach to certain aspects of leadership and have really transformed my values to the highest integrity. I feel that by being a way from home I have had the opportunity to evolve mown beliefs and create my own character. I think that Ethical leadership and Integrity leadership are the two that fit the clearest in my visions.

 

Section II

 

When I’m sitting in the sea of graduation caps in May of 2017, I want to have made a lasting mark on the lives of those younger than me. One of the goals I have for my next 3 years at Creighton is to continue my involvement in the Freshman Leadership Program. I want to be the FLP Resident Advisor and Coordinator more than anything. I believe in giving back the organizations that are contributing factors to my success. FLP has been the single most important and influential thing I have done so far at Creighton and I want so badly to help the future FLPers to have the same positive experience that I did. I want to build the community like Katie and Chris did and I want to have the same impacts that Hunter has had on the program.

 

I also hope to be the President of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Our current president is someone I really look up to. She is kind, loyal, eloquent, and inclusive of everyone. She is my role model and I want to have the same impacts that she has had on my Greek experience on the future members of Kappa. Something I really value is sisterhood, family, and community. What better way to show that than to be the prime contributor to those things.

 

I want people to know me as the individual that would drop everything for a friend, for a commitment, or for a someone struggling. All I ever want to do is help people. I believe that having these diverse leadership roles will allow me to show off my best self, develop close friendship. I believe I have a lot to offer the world and it is my duty to help those who need it. Graduation day will be one of the saddest days of my life. By the time I make it there I hope to have made lasting connections with professors in my department, with advisors to the clubs I’m involved with, with underclassmen in my sorority, with all of the future FLPers, with individuals that I go on service trips with, with Program Board, with Welcome Week leaders, and even with the lively Sodexo workers. Since community is everything to me, I eventually want to be the one building it at Creighton.

 

 

Section III

 

There are many things that I will need to do in order to reach my leadership goals. As for the specific leadership positions that I have mentioned, I will need to network and build lasting relationships with people. In order to get the positions I desire I will have to show to people on a daily basis that I am a hard worker and that I am dedicated to that specific group or organization. That won’t be hard for me however, because I am constantly giving my best effort and remaining positive. In order to become the FLP Resident Advisor, I first need to have a positive experience with my mentor group next year. As a mentor I will work to better the program, the experiences of my mentees, and my personal leadership growth. A life philosophy of mine is to always give back your time, energy, and efforts to those people or organizations that were fundamental in your own success; I want to be an FLP Mentor, RA, and Coordinator to do just that.

 

In order to become the President of my sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, I will first work to embody the values the sorority holds fundamental. Next year I will apply for a position on council whether that be the Public Relations chairmen or the Vice President of Organization. Both positions will prepare me for the goal position of President. Our current President is loyal, inclusive, and kind to everyone. I admire her so much and I really look up to her. I think the most important thing for me to do right now is to make those lasting networks with people. If I make a positive impression on them now, they will remember and trust me in the future. By being a member of FLP, I have already created some of these said connections.

 

Lastly, I think one of the most important things that I can do to ensure my goals are lived out is to be a good student. If I maintain good standing with the University, within Residence Life, within my clubs, and strive to be a good friend, mentor, and leader, I will achieve my goals.

 

Section IV

 

My RSP 4 year academic plan and personal mission statement coincide perfectly with my leadership plan. In my mission statement I state that I want to, “To infuse passion and drive into those I’m surrounded by, to be creative, pioneering, and innovative, to be honest and uphold the highest integrity, to work hard and stick faithfully to commitments, to enjoy life, and to, “Go forth and set the world on fire.”

 

This sums up everything I need to do to become FLP Resident Advisor and later Coordinator and President of Kappa Kappa Gamma. As a double major in the Journalism Department, my academics will need a lot of attention but since I truly believe that this is my passion, that won’t be hard. I enjoy the classes I’ve taken for my major and they don’t necessarily feel like I’m doing homework for them, more just like having fun. I will be taking 15 credits for most of my semesters to come so I will have time to spend fully encapsulated in FLP, Kappa, and CSU Program Board. These three organizations have been the defining parts of my Freshman year and I don’t want any of them to leave as I continue my Creighton career. I am very good at managing my time so I’m not worried about being too involved or over stressed.