Reflection

Reflection

            This summer I have learned a lot about what it means to be a divine centered leader, how to work in a team and manage time, and the meaning behind the BYUSA vision.  The lessons I have learned this summer from class, office hours, and my team will help me not only this Fall and Winter, but will help me throughout my entire life.  A unifying theme between these three items is serving with love in your heart.  This summer I believe the most important thing I learned is to have love be the driving force in every decision you make. 

            I had never heard of the term divine centered leader before taking the BYUSA class.  Brittney and Devin both touched on the subject in their lessons and I feel that it is important for all of us to be divine centered leaders not only in BYUSA, but in other areas of our lives as well.  I was involved in leadership in high school but I love being involved here at BYU because we are able to discuss gospel principles. Being a divine centered leader is striving to be more and more like Christ every day.  As a divine centered leader your motive should be what God would have me do.  Christ was the perfect example, the perfect leader. 

            Christ’s main motive was love, it was the drive behind every decision he made.  Christ truly got to know the hearts of those around him and that allowed him to be the most charitable person ever.  By striving to be more like Christ, we are drawn to the Lord to ask him for assistance and guidance in our everyday lives.  This summer we have prayed before every meeting, stewardship, meal, and event.  It was such a difference compared to other organization because we were able to draw the spirit towards us all the time. 

            Michael Mccleave said that “the more leaders desire, seek, know, and do the Lord’s will, the more divinely centered they become”.  I believe this to be true.  This summer I learned to draw closer to the lord and I am making it a goal to read my scriptures, write in my journal, and to pray daily.  By doing this I know that I will be able to feel the spirit more and I can have the Lord help guide me in my everyday decisions. Additionally, in divine centered leadership it is important to hold yourself accountable for your choices and to accept personal responsibility.  It’s my responsibility to commit myself to become more like Christ. 

            Being a divine centered leader means that I must be able to manage my own life.  I learned this summer that I have a lot to work on.  I need to become more organized and use my time wisely.  It is important that I start setting S.M.A.R.T goals that I will be able to measure and reflect upon.  It is said that goals are dreams in writing.  I know that I need to make sure to write down goals in order to make my dreams for this year to come true.

            Coming into BYUSA I didn’t really know anybody, I knew a few people’s names but I didn’t know anything about them.  I was excited to meet my Clubs team, but nervous at the same time.  What if we didn’t get along?  What if they didn’t like me?  I had a lot of doubts but after meeting and getting to know each other I know that we are supposed to work together.  Our team was able to grow really close over such a short period of time and I am truly grateful for Haley, Devin, and Steven.  I feel that we have grown together as a team and are able to trust each other’s opinions while being professional when need be, but always friends.  Elder Maxwell said that Paul was a “great follower, and therefore, a great leader”.  This summer I have learned there are times to follow others and a time to lead.  I know that my opinion and vision is not the best there is and it is important I follow others. 

            Another lesson I learned was the importance of managing time.  There is going to be times during the semester where I feel overwhelmed with school, work, BYUSA, my church calling, my social life, and family life.  In order to avoid this stress, I will need to manage my time wisely.  Adrian showed us an effective tool to manage our time.  He stressed the importance of keeping a calendar and writing everything down that you have to do.  But the first thing he told us to do was to prioritize.  I need to keep in mind that I am a student first and a leader second.  My studies, family, and the gospel need to come before BYUSA. 

            “Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved”. Devin quoted this statement by President Monson and it has become one of my favorites.  Sometimes we get so caught up in the problem or issue in front of us that we overlook the people that we are working with.  Christ always paid attention to “the one” and it is vital that we do the same.  It’s easy to just try and solve a dilemma before finding out what is wrong with someone that you are serving with, but we cannot do that.  Everyone is important and their feelings matter more than solving an issue.  In the book A More Excellent Way, Maxwell quotes C.S. Lewis and states that “there are no ordinary people”.  Everyone is special in their own way and will influence our lives whether we recognize it at the time or not.   

            Through reading A More Excellent Way, and having many discussions on it, I have realized the importance of love in leadership.  Maxwell states that “leadership is love in action”.  The decisions and actions we make displays our love for those that we are serving.  “No leader can be fully effective without love,” Maxwell also states.  Love is the driving force between our choices and we can truly serve those around us to the best of our ability with love. 

            After working in the office I have seen how everyone around me truly loves those that they are serving.  It is seen through their words, attitude, and decisions.  There is just a positive vibe in the office that I feel every time I walk through the doors.  I know this is because we are all striving to build up a Zion like community here at Brigham Young University.  If we do not love the ones that we are serving, then it is not charity but just work.  I know that if we love those around us and have a positive attitude while serving, we will be able to make a difference on campus. 

            “Where there is no vision, the people perish” Proverbs 29:18.  Coming into BYUSA I noticed the emphasis placed on the vision, I now understand why it is referred to so often.  Without a vision there is not a common goal for the association to strives towards.  The BYUSA vision allows for all volunteers in the office to work towards accomplishing a common goal.  Each and every decision we make in BYUSA should correspond to the vision.  I know that it is important to make sure all activities we plan within our area is going to help make the vision come true. When people ask about BYUSA I now always refer to the vision since that is the main purpose of the association.  It is important to share the vision with those around us so they understand why do the things we do. 

            The main difference between student government and a service association is the mentality behind the events.  As the vision states, we are trying to build up Zion communities that are united in heart and mind.  In order to do this we need to have love in our hearts while we simply serve those around us.  I truly feel that if we were a student government, we would not be able to complete the BYUSA vision we have in place.  Charity is the pure love of Christ, and that is exactly what we are trying to portray to the students at Brigham Young University. 

All of these concepts tie into being a divine centered leader.  Since Christ was the perfect example, it is important to study his leadership styles and to strive to be like him.  As a leader in BYUSA I have learned so much this summer and I know I still have a lot more to learn. I’m so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a student leader in BYUSA this year and I know that I will learn lessons that will help me throughout my entire life. I know that by striving to be more like Christ I will be able to help complete the vision of BYUSA.