tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post4091102654743066988..comments2012-12-17T21:12:30.010-07:00Comments on SmithLinkCrew1213: Link Crew Finalanneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573450327737964454noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-39293343703069331532012-12-17T21:12:30.010-07:002012-12-17T21:12:30.010-07:00Returning this year as a leader and especially as ...Returning this year as a leader and especially as a commissioner I feel that there was more eyes watching me and looking up to me. I can say without hesitation that I did all that I could do as a commissioner this year. I poured my time and effort into trying to make this a great year for the leaders and freshman, and I feel very content with the results. I am so pleased with all of the work the leaders have put into TeachAIDS and the PLC study session. I have come to love the TeachAIDS organization and I am so grateful to Link Crew and the school for making this fundraiser a success. While the money raised is not an astronomical amount, the leaders worked hard for the donations and it was all earned. The money does not matter because whatever amount we send will be helping kids in third world countries and the more we can help the better, but just educating one class may be enough to save their lives which is all I could hope for. <br /><br />Link Crew has been such a great program and I am so grateful to have been a part of it. Who knows, maybe I will end up sponsoring it one day as a teacher. The lessons that I have learned have been invaluable to myself now and will make be a better, stronger leader in my future. I am looking forward to what the future has in store for me, and I will never forget all that I have learned in Link Crew.<br />Katie Wybengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05730844339297694349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-90910539358749110592012-12-17T21:12:07.088-07:002012-12-17T21:12:07.088-07:00This year in Link Crew was definitely an eye opene...This year in Link Crew was definitely an eye opener for me. I learned so much about myself as a leader and person, while also learning about others. All that I have learned I will be able to take with me in the future. Throughout the year Link Crew has taught me many valuable lessons about being a better leader, and I will apply those lessons in college and my career.<br /><br />Having a big focus this year be on academics was helpful to me as a soon to be college freshman. It is weird to think that just next year I will be in the same situations that all of the freshman were in this year. I know that the college work load will take time to adjust to, but the strategies that were covered in class will help me. For me asking for help is the biggest struggle because I do not like to admit my weaknesses and admit to others that I need help. However teaching to other leaders in class the importance of asking for help has helped me to fully understand the importance of it. In college academics I hope that I will be able to be a leader to my peers. Many of the colleges I am looking at have honors and leadership programs available for freshman that I want to get involved in so I keep myself on track while hopefully inspiring others to reach their potential. <br /><br />Another focus for me in college will be on activities and balance. The whole focus this Link Crew year was "A good leader is a balanced leader" and I hope to exemplify that in college. I know that college will be completely different than high school and there will be so many more activities that I will be exposed to, and want to participate in. If I am to remain on top of academics as well I will need balance. Prioritizing was the lesson that I responded to most. Typically I am not good at deciding what is the most important and what I need to do right away. In college I will be faced with decisions about whether my activities or academics are the priority. As a good leader I will have to say academics, but I know that to keep myself sane there are times when activities will be more important. I have come to understand balance better throughout the year enough to make that last statement. That probably would not have come out of my mouth before this year. It may just be the senioritis catching up with me, but I believe that I truly have a grasp on what I need to do for myself to be the best leader I can be. Even on the occasions I chose activities over academics I will still be able to have a leadership role in activities. <br /><br />The lessons learned in Link Crew will also help me in my career. I am still planning on being a teacher as I have been since 4th grade, so throughout the years I have been gathering many strategies for when I run my own classroom. I struggle with others not working their hardest especially when I know what they are truly capable of. This is true of me as a student and athlete and will definitely be true of me as a teacher looking at my students. While focusing on relationships I have developed more of an insight into others. While I will never fully understand why the slacker slacks and the procrastinator procrasts (not a word, I know) in learning more about them I do see some of myself in them. This revelation will help me to understand my students and know that while they may not fulfill exactly the goal I have in mind for them, they will do it in their time or style in a way which works best for them. As a teacher I do not want to be there to bother them and make them hate learning, but rather to help them and encourage learning and growth within them. I may not be able to turn them into the model student, but if I can help them find a piece of that model student within them, just as I found some slacker in me, hopefully they will be more willing to try and believe in themselves enough to reach their full potential. <br />Katie Wybengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05730844339297694349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-91979712019199074752012-12-13T10:49:23.049-07:002012-12-13T10:49:23.049-07:00The Link Crew activities were often focused on par...The Link Crew activities were often focused on participation, whether it was intentional or not, and they helped me grow as a leader and apply the knowledge from those activities to my sport and extracurriculars. Leadership is not only important when it comes to academics and projects, but also with motivating people during swimming and in other clubs, like DECA. I have been able to act as leader in the situations when no one else steps up, and I have been required to get the other participants pumped up for the task at hand. At swimming, I am very vocal and persuasive about making the times and completing the sets, and therefore leading my lane to achieving their goal of improving at swimming and making better times during the meets they train so hard for. DECA is mostly an individual activity, but as a strong leader, I have been able to convince people that they will do well on their and encourage them to do their best. I can look at situations realistically, which often helps me deal with other people’s nerves. I am able to use logic to talk them down, in a way, and show them that there is no point in worrying about the future. <br />I hope that with my experiences through Link Crew I will further continue to be able to use my leadership to my advantage in academics, extracurriculars, and social relationships. The activities we did in class showed me how to become a stronger leader, and I know that my strength as a role model and someone that people can look up to will only continue to grow. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-29800860754154781882012-12-13T10:48:59.759-07:002012-12-13T10:48:59.759-07:00This past semester, I have spent every Thursday mo...This past semester, I have spent every Thursday morning at Link Crew, doing activities to teach me about relationships, extracurriculars and academics, and how to handle my priorities and help the freshman with theirs. Link Crew's purpose is to educate the Juniors and Seniors about being leaders to their classmates, but specifically the freshman. After Link Crew, I can take the leadership skills that I learned and apply them in my daily life, taking the lessons from the activities in class and using them to my advantage in the real world.<br />The school year started off with 12 freshman, some more eager to learn than others, and it was my duty to guide them through high school, and help them be as successful as possible. While some of them were prepared for what lied before them, or at least thought they did, there were quite a few that didn't know where they were going to fit socially, how they would get involved, or what the classes were going to be like. It was my job to act as a leader for the freshman, and to give them support when they needed it. I had to avoid acting like a helicopter and having their accomplishments overshadowed by my presence, because they needed to be able to find their own way, without relying totally on one person to show them the “right” way. As leader, I have grown from selected guidance that I showed the freshman. Normally, I would take total control in a leadership position, but this time I couldn't because the freshman wouldn't learn anything, and they would be living my life, not theirs. Now I know that I have to back off with group projects and class activities so other people can be heard. I have gotten better at stepping off to the side, but it is difficult for me to not give all that I have towards a project, especially when I feel like the other members aren't giving as much as they should. Considering that I strive for perfection, another one of my probable downfalls, there is immense pressure on me to achieve as best as I can and when there is a situation where I can control the outcome I will lead the way that I want to. The activities in Link Crew where I had to collaborate with other people, such as the fallout shelter assignment, further opened my eyes to the way I conduct myself as a leader in academic group situations.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-61578058688288361842012-12-13T07:19:29.303-07:002012-12-13T07:19:29.303-07:00Through Link Crew I have learned many skills that ...Through Link Crew I have learned many skills that I believe will help me immensely throughout life. Without leadership skills I don't know if you could lead your own life. These skills are necessary at least once, and I learned that you need to occupy this yourself. The freshmen that I met the during orientation made me realize that with a little leadership you can begin to be a leader yourself. I know one of my freshmen already wants to be a Link Leader in his near future. Which brings me to my next point relationships; relationships can help you throughout high school and having multiple relationships allowed me to have a partner in link crew. Also meeting these freshmen allowed me to have a close bond with them. I understood what it was like to be a freshmen and I could easily relate to the homework and situations they're struggling with throughout freshmen year. I was remembered how important it was to have someone who has already been there before me to talk to so you would know everything would be fine. Leading your own life directly relates to academics. Link Crew had a study session in the cafeteria a few weeks before, and my partner and I tried our best to help the freshmen by giving them good study tips, and reading skills that could help them in the future. Although we can give them tips we cannot do the work for them. They have to do the work on their own and decide if they want to lead their own life. This is also how I see my academics. I believe that if I want the results I want in my grades I have to do it myself. I LEAD my life and control the outcome of what I receive. The activities that we did at the beginning of the year with the freshmen, was represented as something small, but in reality it helped us create these relationships that allowed us to care about their well being and care about their acedemics in school and have a strong feeling for them to be successful.Sarah Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11166217285652571164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-56638784069083683732012-12-13T07:18:52.531-07:002012-12-13T07:18:52.531-07:00John Piccone Part 2
My plans for the future are s...John Piccone Part 2<br /> My plans for the future are simple and precise. Finish high school, go to college and practice whatever my heart may want at that time, and then push through the rest of my life. However, it is very important to me that I keep with me everything I have learned in Link Crew as I pursue my dreams. This may be difficult with everything else that may be going on around me and in my life, but Link Crew has shown me how important it is to keep these ideals with me. I plan to use all that I have learned from being focused on activities, relationships, and academics to stay focused on my own problems while at the same time being focused on my relationships with others and also what I can do for others. All three of the focuses are extremely important, and relationships play a huge part in what Link Crew teaches. From everything that I have learned from my relationships with the freshmen at Arapahoe and also with the other Link Crew leaders, I can take so much away with me in life. What I will take away from our relationships focus is how important it is to be there for someone through thick and thin, with no judgment. From seeing how much the freshmen benefit from everything the group did as Link Crew, I see how important it is to practice good relationships. Throughout the rest of my life I will take these lessons and make good strong relationships so that I can have people to turn to in times of need, and vice versa. Although relationships are extremely important in life, activities and what I can do for others is equally as important. It is extremely important to care about your own life, it is also important to care about the lives of others. What I will take away from our activities focus in my life is that it is important to help whomever you can, and even the smallest thing can make a big difference. The last focus is academics. Although academics may seem the least important when put up against relationships, leadership, activities, and other parts such as this, it is very prominent. I have learned from the academics focus that although it is smart to focus on relationships and activities, academics is what will get me far in life, and I should never let it become a smaller part of my life.<br /><br /> Link Crew has taught me so many life lessons and I will take so much away from it and I will apply it to my everyday life. From what I have learned by focusing on relationships, activities, and academics, I will take so much with me in life to become a better person and friend.JohnP2014https://www.blogger.com/profile/02368177670429695058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-90998521926271802022012-12-13T07:17:46.440-07:002012-12-13T07:17:46.440-07:00Getting involved is important. Whether it be playi...Getting involved is important. Whether it be playing a sport or just networking at a party, to stay updated, as was mentioned above, involvement is paramount. However, this is the most challenging part for people. Going forward, I hope to inspire people in getting involved. Most people have an issue getting involved because they “don't know anyone” or because they simply think it is a waste of their time. Because of this, it is one of my biggest goals that I “show people the light” about how easy it is in getting involved, whether it is getting involved in their own work or networking to meet new people that have the ability to augment their [the people who are networking] quality of life either through work or through play. To accomplish this goal, I will try to persuade people to “accompany” me to different events that are beneficial. While it may not exactly be simple, being actively involved in life opens doors because of the amount of people that you can meet by just simply being present. These people are future bosses, friends, or even family. And often in the end, it's not what you know, but who you know.<br /> In addition to involvement and academics being an overriding force in life, relationships also hold a large spot in success in life. I strive to make everyone feel comfortable by being as accessible as I am able to be. Imagine going through life without even one true friend. I admit, I am almost unable to think of a life without meaningful connections with others. I am sure many of the people that commit heinous crimes may feel the strangling feeling of not having someone to turn to when they are at their lowest points. It may be a bit forward to say that I believe that I have a chance to change this going forward, however, if I am able to find one person that I can befriend, that alone is change in the world. I promise myself that I will be courteous and kind to anyone who would like my company and help. <br /> Through the combination of reaching out to people through academics, fostering an environment for successful involvement and befriending as many people as I can, I hope to stay as well rounded as I am after these past two years. Reaching out to those who struggle or even those who are successful allows meaningful connects to be solidified. These connections are opportunities waiting to happen. It gives my life purpose when I am able to see people rule life, instead of having life rule them. And I don't necessarily know the meaning of life. It may be 42, it may not be. But I know, that for me, part of the meaning of my life is helping others be the best they can be.Kara Nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08328593779630284415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-27218386068440524802012-12-13T07:17:46.233-07:002012-12-13T07:17:46.233-07:00John Piccone
While hesitating whether or not to a...John Piccone<br /> While hesitating whether or not to apply to Link Crew, there were many thoughts that flew through my head. I thought about the early mornings and hard commitments, however I also pondered about how big of a difference I could make with something like this, and in the end I made the right decision and I am extremely glad for what I chose.<br /> <br /> Link Crew has completely changed me in so many ways. From the way I think about others to what I can do for them, I have grown as a person and it is in such a good way. I have learned so many important life lessons in Link Crew, and although I already knew most of them going in, Link Crew has put so much stress on certain ideals that it is impossible not to be changed for the better. I have learned how important it is for a freshmen to have someone there to help and guide them when they get lost, and even though they do not like to admit it, they really appreciate it. I have also learned how much of a difference such a small group as Link Crew can make. Through all the activities that we participated in, Link Crew changed so many lives and helped so many people. However, now that Link Crew is over, I can't help but wonder what I am supposed to do now. It would be extremely easy to go back to how I was at the end of my sophomore year and to act like Link Crew never happened, but I know this would be the wrong path. Link Crew taught us these important lessons for a reason, and it was not entirely for the purpose of helping freshmen. It was also particularly for the purpose of molding such great students into even better people, and then to send them out to the world to pursue whatever it may be after high school. Everyone, including me, learned how important it is to help others along the way while also worrying about personal activities such as our own friendships and academics. So, from all of these lessons I have learned, I plan to go out into the world and change it for the better.JohnP2014https://www.blogger.com/profile/02368177670429695058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-8254049618688272522012-12-13T07:16:51.499-07:002012-12-13T07:16:51.499-07:00Through the past two years I have spent as a LINK ...Through the past two years I have spent as a LINK leader, I've learned valuable tactics in effectively “reaching” people that I once would not have been able to reach that include making a meaningful connection to virtually anyone and being able to help anyone in a time of need. In going forward, it will be important in college and in a job to have these skills. I am now able to understand everyone's struggles in school, I understand the importance in getting involved, and I understand the why everyone needs their own “someone.” In college, I plan on getting involved in student government so these “tactics” will help me in identifying with others. In the future, I will strive to be an effective leader. In order to do so, whether it be in a student government, in an internship position, I will use my new found ability to connect to others in all aspects of life.<br /> Academics often come naturally to me. Or, I would like to think naturally. However, after this recent unit, I have come to realize that I may not be as well rounded a leader as I once thought because grades and learning are often the most challenging and frustrating topics in life. I neglected to notice that by connecting through academics, people are willing to place more trust in me. In college and in the real world, I will care more about people struggling with learning around me. After all, it seems when everyone is learning, as a whole, everyone is able to bring more ideas to the table. This larger sharing of ideas allows for more growth and change. Also, I have become and will always be a “student” of life because learning about everything and everything allows me to stay current as a leader. Also, knowing the struggles of others not only will allow me to help them out, but it will also hopefully help me learn useful lessons about failure and how to come back from that failure. Kara Nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08328593779630284415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-79179491893652243272012-12-13T07:16:35.052-07:002012-12-13T07:16:35.052-07:00Service activities are an obvious cornerstone in m...Service activities are an obvious cornerstone in my passion and my ability to serve. It is so rewarding to join in a fight for a noble cause. However, although I will continue with planned service activities, I ultimately plan on creating my own. I want to find a noble cause that I can become passionate for and lead my own fight. I believe that I have a lot to offer, and through my leadership, I can lead people to effectively help with my fight. Specifically, however, my ideal dreams are a bit more unclear. For example, on the forefront of my mind is this summer. This summer, I would love to serve; I want to do something that I have never done before, something that others may view as crazy, something against the norm. One idea is to work in a special needs camp in Missouri of which I have attended in the past. Although intimidating, I am confident that I will be able to love and handle a summer working with mentally handicapped children and adults. Another idea is to travel on my own to a different country and see what I can do to serve on my own. You see, I have traveled to other countries with large groups in the past and I am curious to see what I can do. My plans for life are truly to travel and serve; therefore, this summer, I would love to try a small-scale version of that. No matter what I end up doing, I know that I will continue to live by my passion for service.<br /> <br /> John F Kennedy once said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” I know that the first step in becoming a great leader is to continue learning. Not only does that put more emphasis on academics, but I plan on following my mentors who are also great leaders. My whole life, my father (one of my mentors) has told me that how he found success is by doing exactly what other successful people do. I strive to meet great leaders in our world and learn from them. I understand that great service takes great leadership, and I strive to be a great leader to change the world.<br /> <br /> In conclusion, Link Crew has helped me learn more about academics, service, and leadership. These qualities will help me become a greater leader and server to help change the world. Through academics, I will seize my opportunities to learn. Through service, I will find and follow my passion. Through leadership I will change my world. I have high goals and expectations for my life and I will not settle with the normal American Dream. I will change the world. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-33735724703356904432012-12-13T07:16:23.178-07:002012-12-13T07:16:23.178-07:00There is more of the rest of the essay below :)There is more of the rest of the essay below :)OliviaK2014https://www.blogger.com/profile/04378415678871755929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-84740815831727151832012-12-13T07:15:58.079-07:002012-12-13T07:15:58.079-07:00 Mother Theresa once said, “Yesterday is gone. To... Mother Theresa once said, “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We only have today. Let us begin.” Through Link Crew, I have learned to live in the present to impact the future. Link Crew gives me an opportunity to lead and serve at my young age. Now that I have the experience of Link Crew, I Mother’s Theresa’s words have a greater impact on me when she said, “At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by ‘I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.’” You see, I know my purpose in life is to serve and to love, not to find the success that the world says I should. I strive and vow to live my life by Mother’s Theresa’s words. Through academics, service activities, and relationships, I will be the best man I can be.<br /> <br /> Through academics I have plans to seize every opportunity that would open more doors and give me more options in the future. My plans are to go to Colorado School of Mines or University of Colorado-Boulder as a Civil engineer. However, my motivation through these schools will not be of career or money like most, but of an education that I can best use to serve others. You see, my dream is to travel to third world countries and use my brains and education to better their quality of life. I’d like to be able to help fix their water systems, their infrastructure, and whatever else is needed. You see, I am presented with a unique opportunity to go to one of the greatest high schools in the nation. I would have been a fool not to try my very best to open up every opportunity and door that I could. With such a strong motivation to serve, I will continue to seize my opportunities to learn and succeed in Mines or CU. Academics are so powerful—they have given me so much. I vow to use them to help give back.<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-76623711119205245682012-12-13T07:15:57.030-07:002012-12-13T07:15:57.030-07:00Link Crew Final
I have always thought of myself a...Link Crew Final<br /><br />I have always thought of myself as a leader. Both at school and on my swim team, I have exercised my leadership abilities—abilities that come naturally to me. Having the opportunity to join Link Crew this year has given me all the more opportunity to exhibit leadership traits that I am proud of. Before, I was a leader by choice, but now, I am a leader by choice and by name. And like the leader I previously was, I look forward to leadership opportunities in the future—however, I now know what an impact my leadership has on others. I am planning to help myself grow more as a leader in the future, with what time my busy schedule will allow. <br /> Firstly, I am wishing to be a leader to anyone and everyone in the arena of academics. Two major areas of my life—school and swimming—provide wonderful opportunities to help others with academics. As far as school goes, I'd love to look into peer tutoring in the Study Center and helping with Arenapallooza. Both activities will provide one-on-one leadership to those who need help. In addition, I am just now starting to visit my middle school once a week and helping young writers with their writing and editing. I am thrilled with this opportunity, because it gives me the chance to be the leader I know I am while helping with something I love to do. I am also looking into reading aloud at a retirement home—an activity that will be unlike anything I have ever done before. In terms of swimming, I am lucky to have a team that functions as a family and is therefore supportive of one another at any time and with anything—including schoolwork! My friends are constantly bringing me essays to read and edit. I also help with specific pieces of literature (if I've read them), and I try my best to tell them what is going on when they are reading Shakespeare! I am grateful that I am surrounded by people and opportunities that will help me grow as a leader in the area of academics. <br /> Second, I hope to exercise my leadership abilities in the arena of activities. Again, both my school and swimming lives help me practice and improve these abilities. As I have grown older, I have realized how supportive and helpful having activities to look forward to and participate in is. In the midst of schoolwork and athletics, I found solace in taking part in activities. Now, I want to focus on helping provide activities for my friends, schoolmates, teammates, and family, as well as participating in activities that will help me grow as a leader. For example, I will resume teaching swim lessons and assistant-coaching for young children at DU and on my swim team. Being a leader for children much younger than myself is an entirely different experience than kids just a few years younger, of the same age as myself, or older than myself. I believe I am truly seen as a role model and my actions are watched with scrutiny. Assisting in things such as swimming and swimming mechanics allows me to fully exhibit my leadership traits and swimming knowledge and capabilities, and I am constantly realizing how I can change and grow in how I act. <br /> Finally, I am and will continue to be a leader in the arena of relationships. Relationships, I feel, are crucial to successful academics and activities, as well as life! I find myself being a leader by simply being a friend, teammate, classmate, and family member. Relationships are truly what are most important in life because we are surrounded by them. And, in every relationship, there is always opportunity to be a leader. By being a leader with my relationships, I will be taking an active role in my own life as well as in the lives of others. Link Crew has helped me recognize the power of relationships and the valuable role leadership has within them. <br /> Link Crew has made me realize my capacity as a leader. Although class is over, I will continue to exhibit my ever-growing and improving leadership traits and will take advantage of any opportunity I see to become a leader, and a better person! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-13499825009925290782012-12-13T07:15:41.915-07:002012-12-13T07:15:41.915-07:00Through Link Crew, I have acquired the skills nece...Through Link Crew, I have acquired the skills necessary to become a better leader in the rest of my high school career and the rest of my life. It is my full intention to use these skills to help underclassmen and my peers. <br /> It wasn't until yesterday when I was helping a freshman named Kristen, that I realized what strides I had made as a leader. Working with Kristen, a diligent freshman, gave me such a sense of satisfaction. Her enthusiasm upon realization practically made me want to be a teacher. At the very least, it sparked my interest in working as a peer tutor in the Study Center. I can hardly wait till next semester to have the opportunity to aid others with their academics and relieve some of their stress surrounding school.<br /> I feel such a sense of accomplishment as Link Crew draws to an end this year because of the numerous relationships I have made. Even outside of mentor-ship relationships I have constructed with my ten freshmen, I have met a plethora of people who have inspired me. Learning to develop relationships like this will be something I will certainly use in my future. Without a doubt, I will have a few hundred more opportunities to aid others. I'm so pleased to have learned invaluable skills surrounding the development of relationships from Link Crew, so I will be able to live up to my full potential as a leader/helper in the rest of my life.<br /> One of my primary reasons for joining Link Crew was my desire to become more involve. It has certainly provided this opportunity. From the good laughs at the Qdoba basketball night, to the relieved face of freshmen at the end of orientation, I'm so grateful to have realized the importance of participating in life and fostering wonderful relationships along the way. I will never need persuasion to get involved. Whether it be intramural sports in college, or French club downtown, I will always have that drive to participate. It makes such an impact and it's absolutely a blast. After all, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-84580969636819307242012-12-13T07:15:17.009-07:002012-12-13T07:15:17.009-07:00In order to be a beautiful flower, a plant needs m...In order to be a beautiful flower, a plant needs more than just soil. They need other necessities beyond soil to stay grounded in, for example, sun. If the bright, glowing sun spreads its rays for all to bask in the glow. However, some flowers do not get to bask in the sun. They are hiding behind larger plants hoping they go unnoticed. Activities are like the sun because it seems optional to some, but really it is as large a necessity as the soil is to survival. Freshmen do not try new activities because they are afraid that they will be burned or there will not be a place for them in the sun. As Link Crew leaders, we foster how the freshmen feel toward the sun. We invite them to come out and try new activities so they can benefit from the suns rays. I have learned that some people find it very hard to come out of their shell and try new things. They see new experiences as intimidating and ominous. I now know how to help new students gain the courage to try new activities, as afraid as they may be. I will use this in future because I can tell myself the same thing I told my freshmen and encourage myself to attempt new and exciting things and explore my interests. I will help myself to experience the sun. I can also lead new members of the clubs and activities I am already participating in now. I want all flowers in be able to let in the light.<br /> With a solid base of soil and the help of the sun, there is one key aspect that is essential for the growth of a healthy blossom; water. Water soaks into the soil and is evaporated by the sun. Water can be forgotten or put to the side, but if it is forgotten for too long, the flower will quickly die and wither into nothing more than dead leaves. This is also the case with relationships. Relationships are often pushed aside or taken advantage of and not applied correctly. In order to properly foster relationships, you have to take time to water the plants and many people talk to their flower in the process. You have to reach out and make sure the water is actually getting the nutrition it needs. I have truly learned what the significance of relationships and will not take them for granted again. I used to think that relationships were simply a bonus, not essential. Due to my time in Link Crew, I can not see the importance of personal relationships. I can now see that relationships are the water and not just a leaf or rock. I will now be more aware and water all of my flowers to make sure they feel that relationship with me. OliviaK2014https://www.blogger.com/profile/04378415678871755929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-75611663459290789852012-12-13T07:15:06.969-07:002012-12-13T07:15:06.969-07:00Throughout Link Crew this year the focus was on re...Throughout Link Crew this year the focus was on relationships, activities, and academics. The lessons I have learned and the experiences I have had will serve me well in the future. The difficult part will be applying them.<br /> As a senior in track I will be taking an active role of leadership. I will have to develop relationships with everyone in order to be an effective leader. In order to do that I will have to communicate effectively and understand the types of personalities of each person. If I can do this then hopefully everyone will find success in their events. Academics is also very important as I am an scholar-athlete. Without managing my own academics i will not be eligible to participate, but more importantly I will be setting a poor example for other athletes. I will also be able to help those who are ineligible to raise their grade in their respective classes. As a team we also have activities both formal and informal throughout the season for team bonding. I have found this invaluable in developing strong and lasting relationships.<br /> I will also be going off to college in the fall and the lessons I have learned will serve me well. I will have to be willing to move outside my comfort zone and form new relationships. I plan to do this by going to school organized activities and being involved in general. I plan to do intramural sports in college to keep in shape and to have fun. However, I am very competitive so I will take leadership in whatever sport I will be playing in order for everyone to be successful. Academics in college will be a change of pace compared to high school. More flexibility of when I do assignments will be unusual and may be disastrous considering I tend to procrastinate alot. I will have to plan out when I do assignments and activities in order to not become overwhelmed. The lessons I have learned in Link Crew will serve me well.<br /> As a returning leader I have to say that it has been a rewarding two years. I was able to apply the lessons I learned last year about leadership to my roles of leadership this year. Building relationships was the most important as I was able to form relationships with many new and even some returning runners. I was able to balance academics and athletics much better this year as well. I managed my time much better and have been doing better in my classes. I have also felt that I have been under much less stress as I don’t feel as pressed on time. As a two year leader it was also interesting to see how excited new leaders were and how similar as a whole the freshmen class was to the previous year. The most important lesson for me was learning how to positively influence people. I plan to be that person who helps in any way possible. I plan to lead verbally and silently by example in order to be that positive influence.<br />No one knows what the future holds. No one can predict it, but anyone can shape it. I plan to shape not only my future, but the future of others around me.edmondl2013https://www.blogger.com/profile/10383100881086837637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-17124804186465494012012-12-13T07:14:22.085-07:002012-12-13T07:14:22.085-07:00Leaders. Supposedly, only great leaders are born, ...Leaders. Supposedly, only great leaders are born, but true leaders learn how to become great leaders. Link Crew has taught me how learn from my surrounding, communicate to others, how to be an example to others and how to use my leadership skills. In my future I plan to use my leadership skills in a college setting and in a future career. <br /> Link Crew has taught me different strategies to lead others without being “bossy.” People respond best when a leader communicates a way to solve a problem. I plan to take these skills into college to lead others. My leadership doesn't necessarily mean to have a powerful leadership role, I can also lead by example. I can let my strengths be an example for other. If I can show care to others, then possibly others will care for one another. During the leadership class, Link Crew specifically focused on academics, activities, and relationships. For academics in my future I plan to be an example through good grades. I also plan to encourage people to do their best in college. For activities I plan to get involved. Involvement creates relationships. I plan to make relationships with my fellow new class mates. Relationships are created through a leader and a follower and through this relationship, issues get solved and people work together better. The three areas of focus all connect with one another. If academics are not proficient then one can not do involved in activities and therefor can not build relationships. Everyone needs encouragement, and I plan to be the leader that encourages others. I joined Link Crew again this year because I wanted to use my leadership skills I learned in the previous year to be used again. The first year on Link Crew helped me come out of “my shell” and communicate to others. Before I was nervous to speak to new people. After the first year of Link Crew I wasnt afraid to make relationships with others. This year I planned to use my communication skills to be an example to Link Group (new students). I wanted to be show them that I cared for them, and was willing to help them become antiquated with Arapahoe High School. I hope my love for people was expressed to them, and feel like High School is a wonderful place filled with good people.<br /> Link Crew has taught me leadership skills. I plan to help others and lead by example. If everyone cared for one another, others would be happier. I will be caring so others will care for one another too. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-47789909288570689672012-12-13T07:14:21.149-07:002012-12-13T07:14:21.149-07:00Leadership is a skill I have been developing for ...Leadership is a skill I have been developing for a long time with the various activities I participate in, such as Girl Scouts. I have had to mostly lead myself and occasionally others, but have never had the opportunity to mentor and lead a group of young teens and help them feel welcomed in a totally new environment. I have had experience with planting the seed, but I have never been able to watch it grow and see what it will become. The freshmen I have lead through Link Crew have just started to blossom and will quickly bloom into lovely flowers. As their leader, I am so privileged to watch them do just that. <br /> School is the dirt in which all flowers grow. Some flowers take this soil in and bloom into beautiful flowers while others need a little fertilizer to help them along in their development. In Link Crew, we provide the fertilizer in order to assure that more of our flowering freshmen can grow. In school, some of my freshmen struggled while others succeeded and strove for perfection. I have gathered a lot of educational tips in the last few weeks teaching and mentoring my freshmen that I can readily apply to my own studies. While mentoring freshmen and helping them with their academic studies, I have been refreshed as to the basic principles and can use these skills. In the future, as in next week, I can use these study skills in my final exams to ease the stress that every test brings. Looking beyond finals week, I can see a smoother future in which I continue to improve in my academics and ease the strain that the stress of school always delivers a new. The beginning of winter and thus of final exams may prove to be either a time in which many flowers will die because they cannot survive the cold, or they may take this time to gather fertilization to bloom even brighter in the spring. I hope I have given my freshmen and myself the opportunity to bloom instead of wither. OliviaK2014https://www.blogger.com/profile/04378415678871755929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-69681853938932509812012-12-13T07:14:02.658-07:002012-12-13T07:14:02.658-07:00Katie Pickett
12-13-12
Link Crew Final
In Link C...Katie Pickett<br />12-13-12<br />Link Crew Final<br /><br /> In Link Crew I was able to help freshman students become acquainted with a new schooling environment. Next year when I move onto thee University of Colorado it will be my turn to rely on the Link leaders to help me become accustomed to the new chapter in my life. I have always been someone who prides in helping others out, so I knew Link Crew would be a good place for me. As a,two year, Link Leader I have learned new skills regarding academics, activities, and relationships. <br /> Throughout my schooling experience I have learned how important grades and academics are. In order to excel in my studies Link Crew has taught me how important it is to stay on top of my work load. While helping some of the freshman that were failing during the PLC day, I learned how easy it can be to fall behind. There is going to be a lot of reading in college. I understand that the work load is going to be difficult but necessary as I move onto the goal of working in pediatrics. In Link Crew I was able to pass on my knowledge of study habits to my group of freshman, and also to the struggling freshman at the PLC study session. These skills I will also be able to pass onto other students at college, or my children some day. <br /> The Link Crew activities have taught me how important it is to get involved with the school. The students who get involved do better academically and socially. The Link Crew activities show people that it is okay to participate, and that you do not become cooler by standing around and watching others have fun. At the incoming freshman showcase I was able to point incoming students in the direction of activities that will help them excel at high school. At college I can advise my new friends to participate in new activities with me. The prioritizing activity helped me manage my time depending on which things were most important. It can be easy to over commit my time. Link Crew helped me realize which activities are my highest priorities.<br /> Through Link Crew I was able to make new relationships with people I would of never thought I would have. Old friendships have become stronger and new friendships have been made. Link Crew has also taught me how to to mend relationships with people that I might not have been friends with. It has also taught me how to communicate with different types of people.<br /> High school passes by fast, so it can be easy to be left behind. Link Crew helped me make the most of my high school experience. With these academic skills and knowledge learned through activities and relationships, I will be able to excel at my college experience in the near future. Pickett, Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02452859168263573209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-14653358281887254092012-12-13T07:13:19.140-07:002012-12-13T07:13:19.140-07:00Link-Crew an obstacle I was fresh to this year; a ...Link-Crew an obstacle I was fresh to this year; a year long commitment an enormous positive reinforcement, offered on my life. Leadership is an idea that was persistently distant from me, now was slightly different, closer more accessible, Link-Crew has offered commentaries and ideas about many of lifes ideas; shaping and altering my perception of the word ‘leadership.” now the daunting question, “what next”? <br /><br />First, to start the next big thing for me is ministry. Through learning and adapting to relationships where the willingness to offer depth, isn’t given, something almost to be earned, its really swayed my mental standpoint on my career choice and what I’m going to major in, in college. Succeeding in making worthwhile decisions, is a huge underlying goal that will carry over into the preceding years, for something to ponder on daily basis for a self analysis and if I’m taking steps in the right direction. Working with the freshman often times required a lot of analysis and reflection, because you had to approach the “circumstances” acutely. Through the years activities and involvement in the community, I felt right at home, like some kind of divine calling. The major idea of letting peoples smiles be your reward as deeply resonated with my spirit, in a “field”, where success couldn’t be measured accurately or at all. This idea of continually working towards progress and moving forward wasn’t as simplistic or basic, you’d have to set goals and let your intentions and purposes, be your proverbial guiding light. Link-Crew’s zero hour was a daunting task, but regardless of the strenuous waking up at five in the morning, the commissioners lessons continually had genuine “nuggets” of wisdom to parallel with the month’s focus. For example, the commissioners towards the end of the semester stressed the mantra of constantly holding positivity, optimism and the encouragement of others near to our hearts and thoughts. The idea of optimism wasn’t completely foreign to me; it’s been an ongoing part of my personality for the last two years. Link-Crew has offered some enlightening insight on this topic. In Link-Crew in general throughout the first eighteen weeks has illustrated to me an actual application of these qualities, rather success or coming up finger tips short of the trapeze, we could try again. Helping the freshman was a worthy obstacle, not many were willing to offer depth to, and it wasn’t something you were going to hit on the head the first time or the second time around. Thats why the next step for me is ministry. These ideas and concepts are going to be highly coveted to me. I’ve learned to approach situations from a more open mindset, for it’s so easy to detach yourself from your community, but the truth is rather they say they need it or not isn’t the overseeing or underlying question, it’s how you can help. <br /><br />Link-Crew has been a major stepping stone in the pathway of life<br />and participating in it next year is definitely on my agenda, for the path to life is a small narrow road and few will truly follow the path of life. Victor Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09622873213851191441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-34157520232300052762012-12-13T07:13:06.022-07:002012-12-13T07:13:06.022-07:00With being a Link Crew leader for the first time I...With being a Link Crew leader for the first time I have learned some leadership tactics. Leadership has taught me to always help others around me even when there are obstacles that get in the way. For example when the freshmen were failing classes it was very hard for me to approach my freshmen and help them get back on track. In the end I realized that even when you are approaching a hard task to never give up. With having leadership every week I have learned to get involved more even if it means to crawl out of my comfort zone. Teaching the freshmen to get involved was a great learning experience for me as an individual. I feel very privileged to have been able to share that with them. Getting involved can be very scary especially going into a different environment. When you have gotten involved then you start to develop the best relationships with others around you that last throughout your high school years. Building relationships in high school is very important because it helps with leadership skills by helping you build a strong foundation for yourself. Also relationships teach you how to interact with others. By being a leader I have learned to overcome the fear of interacting with people because without interaction it's going to be struggle in my future when I get out in the real world. Link Crew has taught me ways to improve my life but others also.<br />By learning all the leadership tactics from Link Crew I am going to strive to do things with my tactics. One thing I am going to do is volunteer at places that need the most help at least once a month. Volunteering is very important to me because I want to help others around me that need help. I am also going to help and encourage others around me when they need help. I have learned that leadership is about encouraging others to do good even when they are struggle with either life or school. I have struggled with math and realized to never give up even when I don't understand something. When others hear encouraging words it makes them want to try even harder plus makes them feel ten times better about themselves. I am also going to build stronger relationships with my close friends. I have a good relationship with my friends, but I would like to make them stronger. I am going to be more optimistic towards them and try my hardest to hang out with them more often to build my relationship. I feel very privileged to have been a Link Crew leader which has helped me with my life and better my leadership tactics. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-41306054263074660992012-12-13T07:12:36.716-07:002012-12-13T07:12:36.716-07:00Through this semester in Link Crew I have acquired...Through this semester in Link Crew I have acquired many leadership skills I hope to utilize in the future. I have learned how to help others in effective ways, show strong leadership in groups and how to maintain and create meaningful relationships with those around me. I will strive to use what I have learned to make myself an all-around better leader in all that I do.<br /> In the future, I will try to use the skills I learned in Link Crew to take on more leadership roles. I learned how to be effective in my aid to others and be both encouraging and realistic. It also taught me how to be confident in leadership roles and take charge when I need to. Before Link Crew I was very passive and allowed others to decide for me even when I had good ideas of my own. I would be very passive when dealing with group projects and my participation on sports teams. After learning all the skills I did, I will no longer be a passive follower, but an inspired leader. <br /> I learned in regards to academics, how to encourage others to be successful. I learned that the knowledge I have acquired over the years is actually very helpful when I communicate it to others. Knowing this will help me to help others. These skills can carry over into my relationships and help me to be, again, less passive. Link Crew taught me the importance of maintaining strong relationship and making a significant impact on others. I will be more conscious about making an impact on others and making it a positive one. Link Crew also taught me how to act as a leader when I deal with others. Especially in regards to lacrosse I will attempt to be more of a leader because Link taught me I am very capable of doing so. During all of the activities over the semester, I have been placed in situations that require me to act, not follow. I couldn't rely on others to take over, but rather, I had to be the one in charge. Being a leader requires a certain degree of confidence and faith in yourself, which I believe Link Crew has instilled in me. I hope to utilize everything I have learned to be a leader in my own life.<br /> Link Crew has equipped me with many skills and more importantly, confidence. Before Link Crew I was a follower, but after this semester I feel more and more like a leader. In the road ahead I hope to continue to be a strong leader that makes a significant impact on others. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-53034343346911996452012-12-13T07:12:29.592-07:002012-12-13T07:12:29.592-07:00Link Crew has added to my personality and is going... Link Crew has added to my personality and is going to help me move forward as a better person and leader.<br /> Since my skills have increased involving relationships, I will use them in college and later on in life to make better bonds with those that surround me. I think and hope that using these skilling will allow me to teach others how to make strong relationships so they too can go forward in life so that they are surrounded with people the love and trust like I am.<br /> The activities that Link Crew has been involved with has allowed me to realize that I have to continue to stay involved wherever I go. Getting involved not only allows me to make new friends, but to also feel apart of where I am. Knowing this I can encourage others around me to do the same and to reach out to others that are timid and quite like me. I can help them realize how important it is to get involved and how much fun it can be once you've tried it. <br /> Academics have become so important in helping move forward with my life, and this year I realized how much other do not understand how important they are. I have the abilities to help others with improving their academic life and will continue to help other in any way that I can. Especially in mathematics because I that is the subject I am best at. A grade is a grade and once its final you cannot change that. I will also use the skills I have developed to help myself become a better student.<br /> Since this is my second year as a Link Crew leader, I have increased the knowledge that I already had in to becoming a better leader. I will use the knowledge from both years to make myself a better person. Last year we focused on different areas which I will continue to use while making new commitments and relationships. <br /> Next semester although Link Crew will not meet every week, I am going to do my best to keep in touch with the freshman I have connected with and continue to aid them in any way I can using what I have learned in my two years as a Link Crew leader; and hopefully pick up new skills on leading along the way.<br /> I hope to continue on to college and become apart of a similar concept as Link Crew at Colorado Mesa University after going through the program as a freshman, I hope to become apart of a it and use the skills that I have learned in Link Crew and the new things I will learn to make myself a even better leader. And while doing so, sharing my knowledge in this subject with others around me. Being a better leader will allow me to branch out my social circle more and have great opportunities for me to become apart of.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-16933616411981340972012-12-13T07:12:14.079-07:002012-12-13T07:12:14.079-07:00As a two-year Link Crew Leader, I have discovered ...As a two-year Link Crew Leader, I have discovered my strengths as a leader, as well as what it truly means to be a leader. After my junior year I realized that kids throughout the school respected me for my leadership role in Link. Underclassmen saw me as a refuge and a safe place to ask for help. I love helping others assimilate to a new environment (such as high school), and that is why I decided to do Link again my senior year. This being said, I intend to apply my new set of leadership skills to my future academics, activities, and relationships. <br /> As I leave for college next year, I intend to be more vocal in class, voice my own opinions, and actively engage in conversations more so than I have during my time at Arapahoe (I tend to be more introverted). This is how I will act as leader in class. By truly focusing on getting my studying and other homework done before I hang out with friends or do other activities, a certain tone is set for my friends and teachers, They will see that to achieve academic successful, it is not always fun and takes hard work and dedication, but it is always worth the effort. This shows to my teachers and my classmates that I am taking the class and my academic schedule seriously, and other students could see my example and hopefully follow that example to be successful as well. <br /> College offers a multitude of activities to participate in, and one of those for me, in particular, is soccer. On my college soccer team (once I decide a college that is), I intend to show myself as a leader by working hard to prove my talents everyday on the field as well as respecting and accepting constructive criticism from my coach. As a freshman, it may seem difficult to be a leader as it will be my first year on the team, but I think I will stand out even more as a leader if I constantly push both myself and my team to be better and work harder at such a young age. By always striving to achieve that next level of play I believe I will show that I am a leader because of my caring attitude towards the team, and showing care is a large part of being a leader. Such care shows that someone is emotionally invested in the well-being of someone or something else (in this case my team). <br /> Relationships within the next year are going to radically change, as I will forge new friendships and attempt to keep the old ones. I will constantly text, Skype, FaceTime, send a carrier pigeon or whatever is necessary to stay in touch with my current friends. My leadership skills are shown here as I am taking an initiative to not simply see those friendships waste away. This will not be easy as after high school friends depart in so many different directions, but anything worth doing almost never easy. I am showing my friends by constantly staying in touch that I deeply care and want to continue to be part of their lives. Being a leader does not simply mean that you have the ability for people to follow your example, but that you genuinely care about others and will stop at nothing to do what truly is best for others. This is same reason for why I chose to apply for a second year of Link my senior year. I saw that what I was doing in the school for freshmen and other students was bigger than myself, and the lives of the people I touched, even in the littlest sense, changed for the better. It is hard not to become wrapped up in the chaos and materialistic world of high school, but Link Crew helped to ground me and developed me into the person I am proud to be today. MikaelaShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12171413895313421615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168773394457666966.post-51966400107835730312012-12-13T07:11:58.644-07:002012-12-13T07:11:58.644-07:00When one thinks of Link Crew, the typical thought ...When one thinks of Link Crew, the typical thought goes to that of the well-being and development of the freshmen we make contact with. What one would not think of so readily is the immense impact Link Crew has on the upperclassmen individuals interacting with the new students. Throughout the semester, I found myself greatly enjoying time spent with my Freshmen in my group. Getting to know them was always an interesting experience to say the least. Although Joe and I had a few freshmen who went to orientation and made sure they would never make real contact with us again, the kids who did decide to say hello to us in the hallways and to join us on escapades truly warmed my heart. While I sound rather embarrassingly parental, growing an actual relationship with the students and watching them grow their own relationships was truly an memorable experience. Watching each one form friendships and even romantic relationships made me feel comfortable in saying that the children in our group adjusted to a social life at Arapahoe very nicely and quickly. Next semester and all through my senior year, I hope to be able to keep these relationships and help each of them create healthy and long lasting relationships with each other and themselves. The way these kids have shown me how easily many of them can make friends has proven to me that as a big sister, I really don't need to worry as much about my younger siblings in their endeavors, as there are still plenty of good, friendly children out there for them to socialize with. <br />In a personal feat, the month we spent learning about activities and balancing our time was rather well-timed. Throughout this school year, I have challenged myself to be busier than ever before. Between having a job, the ever growing mountain of schoolwork, a social life, Link Crew, Theater, family time, and a boyfriend, there isn't much time to spend sleeping or wasting time. The class periods we spent discussing prioritizing and balancing different activities helped me to pick and choose what I needed to spend most of my time on. I regret saying that Link Crew was not in my top two priorities, unlike many of the commissioners. I hope wholeheartedly that this did not affect my Freshmen in a negative way; from the condition of most of them, I would say it did not. While scheduling and over commitment was a problem for me this semester, I hope to use the new semester as a chance to re-prioritize and to make a bearable, comfortable “to-do list” for the rest of my high school career. I would love to be able to share these skills and pieces of advice that I have gained through Link Crew to share with underclassmen, my friends, and family members. <br />This past semester, I learned that I lived in an academic bubble. I had no idea as to how much many people struggled so incredibly with their schooling. The pages and pages of freshmen who were failing a class caused me much surprise and heartache. I could not imagine the stress I would feel while having a failing grade. I want to be able to help my freshmen, friends, cousins, and siblings through any harsh grades they may encounter and learn to counter that with hard work and dedication. Schooling may not be the only point in life, but succeeding in it will most definitely lay the foundations for a successful future. I also learned how to study for history classes, which was an important skill I found would be incredibly helpful in my A.P. And honors social studies classes in which I am enrolled in. <br />Going into Link Crew, I did not fully expect to be attached to this experience, yet I found it to be very rewarding, and one that will make for a successful ride on the rocky, gravelly road ahead, which we all call life.Jenna Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17527444692090959834noreply@blogger.com