Cultivating Leadership in the Youth Section 1- Basic Information My name is Sydney Roberts.

The best phone number to reach me at is, 801-404-8682. My email is also a good way to get in contact with me: Sydney.roberts@live.com. I do check my email daily, but please be patient. My advisor on this project is Dr. Katy Herbold of the Leadership Engagement Center. I spent two years at Snow College, and I now absolutely love it here at SUU. My SUU T# is the following: T00443877. My major is English: Teaching, and I absolutely love my chosen major. The title of my project is Cultivating Leadership in the Youth. The Expected Project Start and End Dates are not set in stone due to the Proposal pending approval, and the instruction manual for the Project to be completed. Section 2-Abstract For my project, I would like to reach out to the younger students of the community. I plan to volunteer as a mentor with the Cedar Middle School Mentor Program. I would like to create a series of activities where the students could come and create collages. A collage is a technique of composing a work of art by pasting on a single surface various materials not normally associated with one another. This creates something completely new and unique. No one in the world would have created the same piece as another, there is always something different. Albert Einstein once said, Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand. I believe that creating something entirely unique unto themselves, will help boost the students confidence. This confidence will allow them to appreciate themselves, and will also allow them to become successful leaders. The collaged block will become a memento of their time spent cultivating leadership qualities. There will be quotes and reminders of leadership aspects available for the students to include in their collages. The students will be able to remember, with fondness, their collage blocks and in doing so will remember what they learned about leadership. Section 3-Brief Autobiography It wasnt until I was a freshman in high school that I found the world in which I belonged. In a 9th grade advanced English class, I realized my passion for literature. I had always loved reading; diving into other worlds and learning those lessons that the authors, sometimes subconsciously, left behind. In this world of books I have wandered over the moors with Heathcliff and Catherine, cried at the death of Shakespeares Mercutio, hungered with a struggling Scarlett OHara, and sailed a raft with Huck and Jim. This world was so rewarding to me, because of the teaching and encouragement that my high school teachers provided. These teachers had distinct qualities that led them to be fantastic teachers. They were intelligent, organized, creative, introspective, and very open to new thoughts and ideas. It is because of these teachers that I am striving to become a high school English teacher myself. Robert Collier once said that, The first principle of success is desire knowing what you want. Desire is the planting of your seed. My seed has been planted, and I am determined to grow as much as I can. I have been enrolled in and attended as

many English classes as I could. From American Literature, to British literature, from critical literature theory to introduction to Shakespeare, I have remained actively involved in the world that I love. After graduating from SUU with my Bachelors and teaching degree, I hope to find a teaching position somewhere in Utah. I dont have an exact place where I am adamant to teach; wherever the craft takes me, I will go. Sometime later in life, I plan to further my education by achieving my Masters so that I may one day aspire to teach on the collegiate level. With teaching as my chosen career I plan to inspire others, especially high school students, seeing as how that is a very pivotal time in their lives. This is a time when they begin to evolve into who they want to become, and I want to be there to help them along, just as so many of my English teachers were there for me. My eyes were opened to an entirely different world, where the possibilities were endless, where characters came alive, and the words on the page became more than just words, they became a motto that you could live by. My English teachers helped me see these aspects, and I want to bestow the gift of literature on others as well. Besides the fact that this class is required for me to graduate, the project that I wish to undertake in this class would definitely help me achieve my goals. This project will give me an opportunity to be able to spend time with the youth, and do exactly what I want to do for them: allow them to create. It will give me practice on how to plan activities for students, and help me gain the confidence to be the best teacher I can be. I find that this is my biggest struggle: finding the confidence to be that authority figure. This project will help me learn to overcome this challenge by putting me in that position to be an authority figure. The more one practices, the more one feels confident in being that authority figure. Though I sometimes have this weakness of self-doubt, I definitely have strengths that will assist me to complete this project. I am a very determined person and I am very dedicated to the tasks that I undertake and as a result, I am an excellent student. I am very organized, and am a fantastic list maker. I am also a very easy-going person, and am a great listener. I follow directions very well, and am really good at clarifying confusing things. I am very outgoing, and relate to people very well. My experiences through school and life have also prepared me for this practice in countless ways. I have been involved in many leadership positions such as being a member on Seminary Council, being Girls Camp President, and being the Dance Chairperson on the Institute Council at Snow College. I have also done a lot of lesson planning for my church calling and for school related instances. This is why I chose the Leadership class to complete this project in. This project combines two things I am really passionate about: teaching and leadership. I added the collage activity because I think that it would be fun for the students and create an environment where they can be free to be themselves. Maybe, I can inspire them, as my teachers inspired me. Section4ConnectiontoAcademicGoalsandTheories AsIcontemplatedonwhatIwantedtobasemyleadershipresearchon,Icameto thefollowingconclusion:Iwantedtoexplorethequalitiesthatmakealeader successful.IsoonfoundthatIwasnotleftwantingininformationregardingthis subject.AsIsurfedtheInternetinsearchofqualitiesthatmadeagoodleader,I foundsomesimilaritiesintheconsensusastowhatconstitutesagoodleader.The similaritiesinclude,butarenotlimitedto,confidence,motivation,courage,and

creative,independentthinking.TheseareattributesofLeadershipthatIwouldlike todiscuss. Whileitmayseemobvioustosomethatconfidenceisessentialinbeinga goodleader,itwasveryinterestingtoseewhyconfidenceissoimportant.Inan articleentitledSevenQualitiesofaGoodLeader,writtenbyBarbaraWhite,itsays that,Agoodleaderisconfident.Inordertoleadandsetdirectionaleaderneedsto appearconfidentasapersonandintheleadershiprole.Suchapersoninspires confidenceinothersanddrawsoutthetrustandbesteffortsoftheteamto completethetaskwell.Ifoundthistobeveryinteresting,andverytrue.Ifoneis confidentintheirownabilities,thentheirconfidencewillspreadtoothers,allowing thosewhoarebeingleadtobethebesttheycanbe.Confidenceisavery inspirationaltool;otherswanttobeconfidentandwillchoosetoemulatethe confidencetheyareexposedto. Now,onemayhavetheconfidenceneededtobeasuccessfulleader,butthat isnotallthatisrequired.Confidenceisonlyusefulifthereismotivationbehinditto spurthemintoaction.Inaarticletitled,TheAffectofEmotionalIntelligenceona ModernOrganizationalLeadersAbilitytoMakeEffectiveDecisions,writtenby SamuelE.Bliss,thedefinitionofmotivationistheemotionaltendencyguidingor facilitatingtheattainmentofgoals.Therefore,withoutthepropermotivation leadershipqualitieswillfailtobemeaningful. ThenextleadershipqualitythatIfoundverysurprisingwascourage.Inquite afewresourcesthatIlookedat,couragewasamongtheneededqualitiesfora leader.Thoughconfidenceandmotivationarekeyelements,courageisjustas important.Youmusthavethecouragetodisplaythatconfidence,thecourageto followthroughwithyourplanstoachieveyourgoals.Ittakescouragetobealeader andtostandoutofthecrowd. Lastly,theresourcesIreadalllistedcreative,independentthinkingasan importantqualitythatleadersmustpossess.Inanarticletitled,TheTop10 LeadershipQualities,writtenbyEveONeill,statesthat,Creativityistheabilityto thinkdifferently,togetoutsideoftheboxthatconstrainssolutions.Creativitygives leaderstheabilitytoseethingsthatothershavenotseenandthusleadfollowersin newdirections.Themostimportantquestionthataleadercanaskis,Whatif? Thiscreativeoutlookcoupledwithaleadersabilitytothinkindependentlyisavery powerfulcombination.Askingcreativequestionswillnodoubtencouragethe leadertobetoexploretheirownmindsfortheanswers. Whileconductingmyresearchonleadership,Ifoundaparticularly motivatingquote:Althoughmanypeoplesaythatleadersareborn,Ifeelthat leadershipcanbedevelopedifyoubeginearly.Whatyouneedisaproactiveroleof eldersandresponsivekids.Thisquote,inanarticlecalledQualitiesofLeadershipin Children,correlatesdirectlywithmychosenproject.Asmentionedbefore,Iwould liketoundertakeaprojectwhereIreachouttotheyouthofCedarMiddleSchool, andcreateanactivitywheretheycanexpresstheirowncreativityanddeveloptheir uniquepersonalities.TheactivityIwouldliketoplanisacollageblock;consisting ofasmallwoodenblockthatthekidscandecoratewithcutoutsfrommagazines, reflectingtheirlikesanddislikes,theirdreams,andoverallpersonalitytraits.

 Thisprojectwouldcreatetheopportunityforeachofthestudentstodevelop theneededqualitiesmentionedabovetobealeader.Duetotheconfidence, motivation,courage,andcreativeindependentthinkingthatthisprojectwill require,thechildrenwillbeabletoexperienceanddevelopthequalitiesneededto becomeleaders.Creatingtheirownpersonalityblockswillnurturethechildrens creativeabilitiesaswellasenhancingtheirconfidenceinthemselves.Thiscreative thinkingwillalsohelpbuildtheirconfidenceastheyseetheirfinishedwork,andsee ajobwelldone.Thiswilldefinitelygoalongwayinenhancingtheirpersonaaswell, givingthemtheconfidenceandcouragetobethemselves,andstandoutfroma crowdtolead. Thisprojecthelpsfulfillmygoalsbecauseitallowsmetoteach.While teachingEnglishandLiteratureismypassionandgoalinlife,thisprojectgivesmea chancetoteachtheyouthhowtoacceptthemselvesandbeleaders.Itwillallowme tousemyownleadershipskillsbybringingoutleadershipqualitiesinothers,which canarguablybethebestthingtoteach. ResourceList Bliss,SamuelE.TheAffectofEmotionalIntelligenceonaModernOrganizational LeadersAbilitytoMakeEffectiveDecisions.EmotionalIntelligence.Steve Hein,1996.Web.1Feb.2012. Godbole,Medha.DevelopingLeadershipQualitiesinYourChild.Qualitiesof LeadershipinChildren.Buzzle.com,1Oct.2011.Web.1Feb.2012. Herndon,Wanda.NewAspectsofLeadership.StudentLeader.Oxendine Publishing,2005.Web.1Feb.2012. ONeill,Eve.TheTop10LeadershipQualities.Focus.EveONeill,26May2011. Web.1Feb.2012. White,Barbara.SevenQualitiesofaGoodLeader.Greenstein,Rogoff,Olsen&Co., LLP,CPAS.Groco,19972012.Web.1Feb.2012. Section5Initiative,IndependenceandCreativity: InthisprojectIenvisionmyselftakingtheinitiativewithgatheringandbuyingthe supplies.IamfamiliarwiththestoresthatcarrytheproductsIneed,andam confidentthatIcanobtaintheitemsIneedaswell.BecauseIwillbepayingforthe suppliesonmyown,Ithinkthatisdefinitelyanindependentaspect.Also,Iwillbe theonethatmeetsanddiscussesthedetailswiththepeoplethatImustmeetwith. Asforthecreativityaspect,thisprojectisfullofcreativity.Besidesthecreationof theactualcollageblocks,Iwillprovideleadershipquotesandaleadership presentationtoletthestudentsknowwhywearedoingthisactivity.Asan afterthought,Iamaveryorganizedpersonandasaresultwillkeepupwithmy deadlines. Section6Outcomes PrimaryOutcomes: 1. Iwillhavetheopportunitytoprepareandcreatealessonandatmosphere wheretheyouthwillbeabletolearnaboutleadership. 2. Thiswillgivemeachancetoworkwiththeyouth.

 SecondaryOutcomes: 1. Bypreparingalessonandatmospherewheretheyouthcanlearnabout leadership,Iwillbepracticingaspectsofleadershipmyself.Beingprepared andteachingarebothverygoodcharacteristicstohaveifyouarealeader. Thiswillalsogivememoreexperienceinteachingleadershipaspects.This willalsohelptheyouthbecomecomfortableandfamiliarwithaleadership atmosphere. 2. ThisactivitywillalsogivemethepracticeIneedformychosenprofession.I amanEnglishTeachingmajorandhavechosentoteachsecondary education.ThestudentsthatIwillbeinvolvedwithforthisspecificproject willbeinthesecondaryeducationgraderange.Thiswillalsogivemean addededgetomyresume:workingandcultivatingconfidenceand leadershipqualitiesinthekidsIteach.IwilllearnthatIloveteachingand inspiringtheyouthtobeallthattheycanbecome. 3. Asmentionedalittlebefore,thisleadershipactivitywillcreateconfidencein theyouthbyallowingthemtocreatesomethingunique.Confidenceand creativityareimportantaspectsofleadership,andthisactivitywillgivethe youthachancetodiveintobothaspects.Thisconfidencewillresonatewith them,allowingthemtopracticetheirleadership,andbecomeamazing leaders. Section7ActionPlan AnticipatedOutcomes PrimaryOutcomes 4. Iwillhavetheopportunitytoprepareandcreatealessonandatmosphere wheretheyouthwillbeabletolearnaboutleadership. 5. Thiswillgivemeachancetoworkwiththeyouth. 6. Thisopportunityforthemtolearnwillstrengthentheirconfidenceandtheir eagernesstobecomegoodleaders. SecondaryOutcomes 4. Bypreparingalessonandatmospherewheretheyouthcanlearnabout leadership,Iwillbepracticingaspectsofleadershipmyself.Beingprepared andteachingarebothverygoodcharacteristicstohaveifyouarealeader. Thiswillalsogivememoreexperienceinteachingleadershipaspects.This willalsohelptheyouthbecomecomfortableandfamiliarwithaleadership atmosphere. 5. ThisactivitywillalsogivemethepracticeIneedformychosenprofession.I amanEnglishTeachingmajorandhavechosentoteachsecondary

3. Thisopportunityforthemtolearnwillstrengthentheirconfidenceandtheir eagernesstobecomegoodleaders.

education.ThestudentsthatIwillbeinvolvedwithforthisspecificproject willbeinthesecondaryeducationgraderange.Thiswillalsogivemean addededgetomyresume:workingandcultivatingconfidenceand leadershipqualitiesinthekidsIteach.IwilllearnthatIloveteachingand inspiringtheyouthtobeallthattheycanbecome. 6. Asmentionedalittlebefore,thisleadershipactivitywillcreateconfidencein theyouthbyallowingthemtocreatesomethingunique.Confidenceand creativityareimportantaspectsofleadership,andthisactivitywillgivethe youthachancetodiveintobothaspects.Thisconfidencewillresonatewith them,allowingthemtopracticetheirleadership,andbecomeamazing leaders. DetailedTimeline Activity Contact4H Director Contact4H MentorLeaders PersonCompleting Deadline Me March1 Purpose Discussthe creationand detailsofthe project Topickatimefor theactivitytotake place Tocollect magazinesthatthe youthwillbeable touseintheir collages Alloftheseitems willbeusedin creatingthe collages Atleastonequote willbeusedonthe blocks.Thiswill keepthe Leadershipaspect involvedwiththe activity. Thiswillbethe lessonthat introduces studentstoaspects ofLeadership.

Me

March19 March30

Askthe Me,volunteers Community membersfor magazines PurchaseMod Me Podge,Paint brushes,gluesticks, blocks,andpaper plates Printoffavariety Me ofLeadership quotes

March30

March30

Preparelessonon Leadership

Me

March30

DetailedBudget Item ModPodge Spongepaint brushes Wooden blocks/cubes Paperplates

Cost $810 $35 $05 $05

FundingSource Mypaycheck Mypaycheck Mypaycheck Mypaycheck

Purpose Tocompletethe collageblocks Tousewiththe ModPodge Canvasforthe collages Touseasthe blocksaredrying fromthemod podge

FundingPlan Iplantofundthisprojectmyself.Igetpaid$30everytwoweeks,ontopof$250that Ireceivefrommybiologicalmothereverymonth.Therefore,Iwillhavesufficient fundstofuelthisproject.Also,thereareafewitemsthatmaynotcostmeany money.Paperplatesareeasytocomeby,andmygrandfathercouldprobably providethewoodenblocks/cubes,hehassuppliedthemformeinthepast.Since thisisanactivitythatIhavedonebeforemyself,theModpodgeandsponge paintbrushesmaynothavetobepurchasedinalargequantity.Iwillbeabletouse someoftheitemsthatarealreadyinmypossession.TheitemsthatIstillneedto purchasecanbefoundonAmazon,andatvariouscraftstores. CriticalEvaluation Description/discussionofpotentialthreatstothesuccessfulcompletionofmy project: Somethingsthatmaythreatenthesuccessfulcompletionofmyprojectaretime,the needforsupplies,andadequateenthusiasmfromtheyouth.Iworrythat,duetomy crammedschedule,Iwillhavedifficultiesfindingthetimetocompletethesteps leadinguptoproject,aswellasfindingthetimetodevotetotheproject.Therefusal ofthe4Hprogramtocomplywithaweeksamountofcollageactivities.Notbeing abletofindtherightamountofsupplieswillalsodeterthesuccessofmyproject.I needtobeabletofindenoughmagazinesforthekids,aswellasblocks.Ialsoneed tohaveasuccessfulandaccuratecountofhowmanykidstopreparefor.Another thingthatwouldthreatenthesuccessofmyprojectistherejectionofthestudents tomyactivity.Iftheydonotfinditfun,entertaining,andinformative,thenitwillnot resonatewiththemasmuchasIwouldlike. Description/discussionofpossiblesolutionstothreats: Asregardstothetimebeingathreat,asolutionwouldbetomakesureIusemy timewisely.Ineedtobepromptinmyconnectionswiththe4Hstaff,andstaystrict tomydeadlines.Whilemyscheduleishectic,asolutionwouldbetominimize necessitiesandtostayorganizedwithmyworth.Asforthecooperationofthe4H

programstaff,Icouldmostlikelyminimizetheactivitydurationto3daysifneedbe. Asfortheneedforsupplies,ifIbegincollectingmagazinesfromthecommunity earlyoninmyproject,Ishouldhaveaproficientamountofmagazinesfortheyouth touse.Iwillalsoorderalltheitemsneededearly,soasnottobeinwantofsupplies. Asforthethreatofboredomfromthekids,ifIconnectwiththemontheirlevel,and reallyshowaninterestincreatingleadershipqualitiesIthinkthatthestudentswill beinterestedincreatingaLeadershipcollageblock.Ialsothinkthatifthereare magazinesofawidevarietyforthekidstouse,theywillbemoreinterestedin findingsomethingthatintereststhem. Section8Reflection&Dissemination: DuringthisprojectIintendtorecordmyreflectionsbytakingalotof pictures,writingdownindetailaboutmyexperience:thoughtsandfeelings.Iwill alsobetakingpicturesofthekidswhiletheyareworking,andtakepicturesoftheir finishedproducts. Forsharingmyprojectexperiencepublicly,Iintendtopostpictureson Facebook,aswellascreateapresentationforthestudentstoseeaftertheactivityis completed.Thiswillallowthemtoseehowmuchfuntheyhad,andwillalsoremind themwhywehadtheprojectinthefirstplace.Iwillalsoallowthe4HMentoring Programtousethefinishedproductforfuturementorstoseehowleadershipand workingwithchildrencanbebothrewardingandfulfilling.