I have learned a lot of things from this course. First, I have learned how to navigate an online course and have learned to manage time and balance a full-time job as well as my first course towards my masters, which was a challenge for me. I find teaching to be a demanding job and found it difficult to be able to make time for both work and schoolwork. Starting the course late also added to the challenge.
I have also learned many things about leadership. I have learned about several different styles of leadership. I have learned about what it takes to be an effective leader. The area in which I have gained the most knowledge, and which I am grateful for is that I have had the opportunity to deeply reflect on my own practice. Prior to this course, my reflection was more about how my lessons were going. I find now that I am coming home from work each day, reflecting on how I dealt with colleagues and students in and out of my classroom environment. I reflect on how I can be a more effective leader in our school.
Northouse provides great insight into leadership and all of its complexities. It answered many of my questions about leadership and gave great tools to assist me in determining what kind of leader I am. This led me to be even more self-reflective.
I have had the opportunity to learn about many leaders in the world, whom I did not previously know much about. Light from Many Lamps has provided me with many examples and scenarios of how leaders emerge. I am grateful for the opportunity to have read these 2 fascinating textbooks.
In conclusion, my favourite quote comes from one of my Light From Many Lamps Assignments. I didn’t use this quote in my assignment, however it is from a story I read. The story speaks to the business of society and discusses the importance of living in the moment of each day. “…live for the day and its allotted task-to do what lies clearly at hand” and let the future take care of itself.” (Watson, 1951, 215).
This quote is one that I will carry with me to serves as a reminder to myself.
References:
Watson, L. E. (1988). Light from many lamps. New York: Simon & Schuster
Sadie,
You have created many thoughtful, reflective, and inspiring posts during this course! I would say that you have adapted well to the challenge of combining graduate studies with work.
Well done!
— Leadership Prof