When I started 4-H in the 5th grade, I was a timid 10-year-old whose highest level of club participation was occasionally seconding a motion during meetings. I was terrified of making mistakes when I was expected to do farm chores without my leader’s direct oversight. During my first show, I was so nervous that I made a complete embarrassment of myself. Looking back today, it is difficult to believe that I used to be that person. Today, I am the vice president of my club. I am always ready to provide assistance and direction to my fellow 4-Hers. I pride myself on being able to make good judgement calls, and other club members often seek me out for a second opinion on a situation. I find participating in showmanship with my dairy goat or chicken
…show more content…
Ever since my second year of showing poultry, I have been expected by my 4-H leaders to teach new 4-Hers how to show and to lead them in dusting the chickens for mites, cleaning the coop, collecting eggs, and other activities. Being thrust into a position where I had to direct others allowed me to work on my skills as a leader. I learned how to walk the line between being overbearing and letting people get off task, allowing me to cultivate an environment that is fun yet productive. In addition, I discovered that when I spoke up I earned the respect of others. Then, in 8th grade, I was nominated and elected as the secretary of Westmoor 4-H Club. I was later elected treasurer and then vice president, the office that I currently hold. As a club officer, I am expected to always be a good example to other 4-Hers. I am someone who my fellow 4-Hers come to for assistance and advice, and I have to give my best effort to help them, no matter how tired I am or how long of a day I’ve had. I have realized that to be a good leader I have to more than just what is required of me. For example, I am not required to create and send out a monthly electronic newsletter to keep parents up to date, but I do it because I know I would not be an effective vice president if I were doing the bare minimum to help the club. For me, 4-H has been and continues to be a hands-on, extensive course in how to be a good leader. I am able to …show more content…
Unlike some other clubs, in 4-H I am often not under the direct observation of an adult. Especially as a younger 4-Her, when I only had one leader, who was an employee of the park where my 4-H club is based and for that reason was often busy, I have not always had a leader nearby and available to help me when I had a problem. I have had to learn how to make good judgement calls. For example, when a 4-Her is working with an animal and reports to me that it is behaving oddly, I must observe the animal’s behavior and decide if it is normal, if the animal needs to be put back in its pen to rest, or if an employee of the park should be notified. Another choice I can make is to say that I don’t have adequate knowledge to come up with a course of action and instead consult another 4-Her or an adult who would be better suited to make a decision. Acknowledging when you are out of your depth is an important and undervalued skill that I have learned from 4-H. This skill keeps me from making bad decisions and giving poor advice not just at 4-H but in my life in general. When a situation like this comes up, I admit that I am not able to make a well-informed decision and do research so that I will know what to do if a similar situation comes up in the future. Another way 4-H has improved my decision making skills is by teaching me to always make the choice to do
Ever since my second year of showing poultry, I have been expected by my 4-H leaders to teach new 4-Hers how to show and to lead them in dusting the chickens for mites, cleaning the coop, collecting eggs, and other activities. Being thrust into a position where I had to direct others allowed me to work on my skills as a leader. I learned how to walk the line between being overbearing and letting people get off task, allowing me to cultivate an environment that is fun yet productive. In addition, I discovered that when I spoke up I earned the respect of others. Then, in 8th grade, I was nominated and elected as the secretary of Westmoor 4-H Club. I was later elected treasurer and then vice president, the office that I currently hold. As a club officer, I am expected to always be a good example to other 4-Hers. I am someone who my fellow 4-Hers come to for assistance and advice, and I have to give my best effort to help them, no matter how tired I am or how long of a day I’ve had. I have realized that to be a good leader I have to more than just what is required of me. For example, I am not required to create and send out a monthly electronic newsletter to keep parents up to date, but I do it because I know I would not be an effective vice president if I were doing the bare minimum to help the club. For me, 4-H has been and continues to be a hands-on, extensive course in how to be a good leader. I am able to …show more content…
Unlike some other clubs, in 4-H I am often not under the direct observation of an adult. Especially as a younger 4-Her, when I only had one leader, who was an employee of the park where my 4-H club is based and for that reason was often busy, I have not always had a leader nearby and available to help me when I had a problem. I have had to learn how to make good judgement calls. For example, when a 4-Her is working with an animal and reports to me that it is behaving oddly, I must observe the animal’s behavior and decide if it is normal, if the animal needs to be put back in its pen to rest, or if an employee of the park should be notified. Another choice I can make is to say that I don’t have adequate knowledge to come up with a course of action and instead consult another 4-Her or an adult who would be better suited to make a decision. Acknowledging when you are out of your depth is an important and undervalued skill that I have learned from 4-H. This skill keeps me from making bad decisions and giving poor advice not just at 4-H but in my life in general. When a situation like this comes up, I admit that I am not able to make a well-informed decision and do research so that I will know what to do if a similar situation comes up in the future. Another way 4-H has improved my decision making skills is by teaching me to always make the choice to do