My story of education isn't the typical road of a scholar, but rather unique. As a kid, I was extremely into science and was placed in the gifted program. I specifically remember the test I took to get into the program and the classroom I took it in. I distinctively remember what the test entailed as well. On a sheet of paper, I was given a small shape already written on it. Out of that shape, I was told to create whatever I saw. I ended up creating a hamster wheel. Although I oozed creativity, I was not enthusiastic about school but it didn’t hinder my success in the classroom. I still would go on to thrive throughout middle school and high school. Initially, when I entered into college my major was located in communications, but I would go on to change it two more times until I landed at Advertising Management with a minor in Religious Studies. My story throughout college was the same as my previous years of education, “not focused, but still having success”. 

     

      My heart in education began to change when I decided to come back to school for a graduate year of college. When sifting through what I wanted to do with my Father and academic advisor. I decided that I would take something that I sensed would connect with the hunger I had within. This mindset landed me in the Education program with a focus on Sports Coaching and Leadership. Before starting the program, I noticed one of my mentors doing his homework while I was at his home. What caught my eye was the spirit of excellence that he approached his assignment with. It was then at that moment when I decided to embrace my education and receive all that it had to offer me. 

     

     One way that my master's program had a transformational effect on me was by giving me a new perspective in the field of race and diversity. In my EAD 822 Diverse Students and Families class, we watched a documentary called, “Race The Power of an Illusion”. This documentary was unbelievable in its delivery with the information. Through this documentary, I realized that race is a real way for us to categorize humanity, but ultimately it does not change the fact that we are similar in so many ways. Whether we are caucasian, African-American, Asian, etc we all are uniquely alike. What separates us are experiences that come from the ethnic groups that we are identified with, but if those were to be laid aside we would see how much we are alike. This challenged me to look past the exterior of a person and seek to connect with the interior of a person. When we do this, we make the space for the spirit of unity to be present and involved. Unity will be absent within humanity if we do not get past what we see when it comes to our fellow neighbors. This documentary helped me see how we were never created to be divided despite the differences we may have. Our differences were never created to create division, but they were created to reveal to us how unique we all are. Realizing this during my time in this class created a deeper hunger within me to see our educational systems be rooted in this way of thinking when it comes to diversity. I also grew as a leader during my time in this class. In learning about being a culturally responsive leader, I learned how to lead out of a compassionate and understanding heart. Culturally responsive leaders teach from a place of empathy because everything they teach is designed to meet the students right where they are in terms of their own culture. Leading from this place will automatically create an atmosphere for inclusion. Now more than ever, we need culturally sensitive schools. It must start in the schools because that is where we can affect the younger generation the most. A culturally sensitive pedagogy is a pedagogy that can reach all kinds of students. Through this class, I realized that some students aren’t disinterested in the teaching because they don’t care. They are disinterested in the teaching because they feel left out. I am optimistic that being culturally sensitive will not compromise test scores. I believe that culturally responsive teaching could elevate test scores because students will feel more included. This concept of being culturally responsive was a game-changer for me when it came to leadership overall. Even though it was taught in the context of education, I was able to take the principles and apply them to the leadership role I had on my basketball team. This course added tremendous value to me and because of that, I will be able to go forward in the world of education confident because of how competent this class has made me. 

     

    Another course that helped me grow was my EAD 801 Leadership and Organizational development course. This class also brought a lot of value to me in terms of leadership. Within this class, we discussed a concept called “Getting off the dance floor and on the balcony”. This has been by far one of the greatest leadership concepts that I have received. Essentially what the concept reflects is self-assessment. Self-assessment is the ability to look inwardly to help yourself function better outwardly. This action is essential for any leader because if there is no time for self-assessment, then you will never be able to progress. This course taught me that having this concept embedded in your organization is one of the key ways into having a successful organization. There was one statement that my coach Tom Izzo would make and it was, “if the head dies, the body dies”. This means that everything starts with the leader. The posture of the leader dictates the position of everybody else in the organization. So as a leader when you choose to get off the dance floor and on the balcony, this creates an atmosphere for your organization as a whole to be this way. When you have an organization that reflects this attitude it creates a space for humility to come in. Humility is the door to where true team growth can take place. Getting off the dance floor not only allows you to see yourself it also allows you to see others. When you take a step back, you can see how things are taking place. This is a concept that I even tried to do in my everyday life. Practically this looks like stopping activity and just being still. One of the greatest forms of getting off the dance floor is listening. When you listen, you are taking yourself off the dance, so that you can see what is going on. Listening is one of the greatest killers of pride. The more I choose to listen the less I make it about me. Getting off the dance floor is a metaphorical way of saying do what you need to do to get more clarity of a situation or relationship. Which will almost always lead to clarity and understanding. A leader has to be able to see clearly. He is the pioneer and is the way to where the organization is going. If he doesn’t see clearly, then the ship will usually sink. This concept is so important in education, especially in this age we are living now. Things are beginning to change rapidly and there must be leaders who can see clearly to make the right decisions within education. It is essential to have leaders who are willing to take the balcony view because it will assist them in making the right decisions when it comes to inclusion. The balcony view actually will always help you be more inclusive because it causes you to be open to seeing what others need. This concept cultivated a great perspective within me that I will use every chance I get. 

 

     The next course that brought great benefit to me was the EAD 867 Case studies in Education Leadership course. This course created more competency within my understanding of leadership. It taught me how to completely submit to the idea of creating the next steps once I have identified a problem or the problem. This course encouraged me to always remember the next steps. As a leader, you don’t have to have the answers, but you should always be prepared to see or release the next steps. Within this class we would approach our case studies with a three-level mindset: What are the facts? What are the tensions and issues? What are the next steps? Before I got into the class, the first two questions were already on my radar, but the next steps were not. The reason why next steps are so important is that it gives you a prize to pursue. It also creates a space for open communication for everybody within the organization. This will keep the atmosphere of vilification away. It is easy to get discouraged when you simply stop at the tension and issues. It takes away the hope of the team and creates a melancholy-like mindset. This is a headspace that you don’t want to be in because you will never progress into the new levels that your organization can reach. Applying the concept of the next steps is great a way to layout a fresh vision as well. As a leader, I have learned that having a plan is important. Essentially, this is what the concept of the next step insinuates. Wherever you find an organization with a plan, you will find an organization that is chasing purpose. At any level of life, preparation is key. Within the education, realm preparation is beyond vital. As a leader within an educational system, you always have to be prepared. This past year is a great example. When you look at everything that took place with Covid-19, it shows the importance of being prepared. Now, being prepared doesn't mean you can prepare for every single thing to come because that is impossible. Being prepared simply means that you and your organization are so accustomed to preparation, that when a situation like Covid-19 happens it will be like second nature to make adjustments for the kind of preparation that needs to be done. This idea of the next steps changed the game for me, it demonstrated the power of preparation. I will keep this skill close to me as I go forward in all of my different leadership responsibilities and endeavors. 

 

     As I egress from my master’s program, I have a reservoir of tools and skills when it comes to leadership in life and leadership in education. It has been a true honor to be a part of a master’s program of such caliber. Through this process, I have been matured, pushed, and encouraged when it comes to life and education. Everywhere I go I will carry these different concepts and ideas with me. They have become a part of me and I plan to continue to have it that way. I have been cultivated and fashioned into a scholar that I never knew about. I have discovered parts of me that I never knew existed. Being in the master’s program has not only led me into a deeper understanding of my purpose, but it has also assisted me in finding gifts I have been graced with. It has exposed me to a level of thinking and living that I never knew existed. My life would not be the same had I not received the opportunity to be in the master’s program. I will forever be grateful for not only coming to Michigan State University but also in taking the leap into the MAED program.