Service Learner

A Servant Leader Must First Be a Service Learner Servant leadership is both a leadership philosophy and set of leadership practices. The servant leader shares power, puts the needs of others first, helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. They are not concerned with self but concerned with better good of the organization. Before I can be a successful servant leader, I have to be a servant. I have been taught from a young child to give back to community service. That is the nature of a servant leader; to give back. A servant leader must be a good listener, empathic, problem-solver, aware, persuasive, visionary, proactive, and a steward. The good listener also has good communication skills and is aware of unspoken concerns of those who follow. Learn to listen to what is said but pay closer attention to the words not spoken but implied. A good servant leader can empathize with others in a respectful, appreciative manner. Problem solving is a duty of all managers and supervisors; however, servant leaders tend to resolve conflict in a manner of encouragement and support to build personal development. They are constantly striving to uplift others around them. They are not concerned with someone else learning as much or more than them. Insecurity is not a part of their characteristics. How awesome would the workplace be if the outcome of conflict resolution was to build up the involved parties? Productivity would flourish as well as a culture of safety and success! Because the servant leader is aware of the needs of the environment, he can lead with a holistic approach. This should definitely lead to a more ethical and value centered leader. This high level of ethics will snowball into the leader being able to persuade subordinates into compliance without the use of power and status to do so. A proactive approach to addressing the vision of the organization leads to the service and stewardship of others. I want to become more of a servant leader. I want to commit to the growth of people. Isn’t that the premise of education? I believe that is part of my leadership pattern now; however, I want to become better at it. How can I lead if I don’t first serve? The service learner project will be an integral step in me becoming the leader I desire to be. Providing a service to someone with the intent of a finished product for them and an immeasurable experience for me is awesome. I can’t expect an action from someone that I am not willing to do myself. Great leaders model their expectations for those they lead. When thinking of my service learner project I was in volunteer mode with the intent of gaining information to make a decision for my long term career goals. Though my intent has not shifted, my desire for the type of service project has. The shift is due to a greater understanding of what a service learning project truly is. It should be a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Service learners are much more than volunteers. Volunteers are not solving real life problems associated with a curriculum. Service learners enhance the community through the service provided. According to Eyler and Giles (1999), the service learner model promotes an experience which enhances understanding; understanding leads to more effective action. It reminds me of the philosophy “I do better because I know better”. The scholars further describe what service learning is NOT: • An episodic volunteer program • An add-on to an existing school or college curriculum • Logging a set number of community service hours in order to graduate • Compensatory service assigned as a form of punishment by the courts or by school administrators • Only for high schools students • One-sided: benefiting only the student or only the community My previous community service involvement has included tutorials, voter registration drives, political campaign volunteer, Blue Santa volunteer, health fair volunteer, and mentorship. I enjoy speaking to others and providing self-improvement workshops (to mostly girls/young ladies). A self-improvement workshop can encompass beauty tips and proper attire, etiquette, study skills, and tutorials. Anything which will elevate your sense of self and motivate others to seek greater knowledge was my focus. I have also held rap sessions with young ladies concerning a variety of topics from religious to relationships. Because most of my sessions are with youth, I must make them interactive to keep their attention and engaged. I have done that type of community service over and over again. I want to venture out into the corporate sector or nonprofit sector of human resource and/or public relations. So what would that look like? I would like to work with the Red Cross, FEMA or another non-profit organization. I foresee myself working on an upcoming event, new promotion advertisement, new strategies and implementation of a new sector of the organization. I also foresee this venture as a long term experience. I would like to pursue the interaction and assistance after the semester ends. I have not secured a location to implement this plan of action. Hopefully my professor will have a contact at one of the stated sites or a comparable site. I have also thought about returning back to the Star of Hope. The only problem is there is now a volunteer training class which I am sure in during my work works during the week. I will make a concerted effort this week to secure a site so my work can begin. The Bible teachers us that it is more blessed to give than to receive. It is a great feeling to know that you are able to help someone without expecting them to return the favor. Their gratitude is enough. And for those who are not grateful, understand that you are serving for a higher calling and not the approval of man.