"There are no strangers in this life, only friends you have yet to meet."

I was immediately captivated by our last two exercises. Like many others in the class, I have taken other types of assessments that have helped me to define my strengths and abilities, but I had never taken Myers Briggs, and I'd never even heard of True Colors.

I am so glad that I have now.

A description of an ENFP that I found says that we are ambitious (check) hold friends close to our heart (check) and firmly believe that life is for living. (CHECK!)

I appreciated that what I learned about myself from Myers Briggs could be taken and applied to my understanding of myself based on my known strengths. I also appreciated that my True Color, Blue, fit so perfectly with my strengths and MBTI profile.

I value honesty, and believe that emotions are the key to understanding ourselves and others. I am most definitely a people person, and can appreciate "the importance of a simple touch or handshake."

As a Blue ENFP, I value people. I value honest and sincere interaction and expression. I love language, and using it for the good of myself and others. I will excel, and I will fail. I will smile and laugh and cry along the way. I will live my own life to the fullest -- BUT, I will always be there to help a friend, or a stranger. After all, they are the same to me.

Personal Development and Mission Statement

With all things considered -- my personality and learning preferences were shaped less by what I am (a straight, white-but-half-Cuban, male) than by who I am, and who raised me. Yes, I'm white. I identify as half-Cuban because I am. If you try to tell me that I'm not, just because I have pale white skin, I'll most likely respond by cursing at you with particularly Cuban expletives. Yes, I'm a straight male, but I fail to see how what I am (physically) becomes the main derivation of my personality.

I believe that my personality and learning preferences came from how I was raised. I was taught always to value education. My grandfather told my mother upon leaving Cuba, that people (in this case, the Cuban government) could take everything away from you -- your home, your family, your possessions, even your claim to citizenship, but there were two things that they could never take: your faith, and your education.

I grew up hearing that story multiple times, and learning the importance of that lesson when I got to high school. My family is not well-to-do. They told me that they were putting me through a private Catholic school (my mom was employed by the Diocese so she received a large discount that allowed us to afford it) so that I could get a scholarship to college -- because they would not be able to help me finance a college education. I hated them for it. I hated that they hadn't started saving for me for college, and that if I didn't succeed in getting a full-ride, I would be at community college, paying for it on my own.

They told my sister the same thing, and I hated them for it -- until she got a full ride to the University of Alabama. I realized that the goal was achievable. Both of my parents went to college on full academic scholarships, and they expected no less from my sister or me. It was at that point that I put my nose to the grindstone, became involved in extracurricular activities and service, and attempted to distinguish myself as a student.

Fortunately for me, Ohio State offered me the scholarship of my dreams. I made my proud, and I'm still trying to do so at Ohio State today. While I recognize that what I am can influence how other people might look at me and my personality -- I wasn't raised to define who I am by those standards.


Mission Statement:

To use my skills, talents, and strengths for the advancement of what is true and honorable. To love someone fully, and bring new life into the world, that I might share with them the happiness I've known. To lead and inspire members of my community (at all times in life) to be actors for positive change. To live by a simple rule: Be Nice to one another. Be Kind to one another. Love one another.

Leadership Lens: E. Gordon Gee

Having had the opportunity to work with former President Gee in his communications office, I can say with certainty that his grasp on leadership is firm. I experienced a level of team commitment and shared passions for common goals with the man, all while a part-time student assistant on his executive staff.

The handout that I gave you today in class, titled Rules of Engagement, is without question one of my favorite representations of the quality of a good leader. Dr. Gee expected all of his executive team to be leaders in their own way; to Fully be themselves and Be ONE with the University's mission.

Before working for Dr. Gee, I was a part of the Leadership Collaborative, and learned much about the meaning of leadership as an incoming freshman. But never before had I encountered such simple steps for true and effective leadership among your peer group -- whether they be students, or the executive council of a University.

I was proud to have worked for President Gee, and to have known him as a leader. He has shaped my views and opinions of leadership, and had the most impact on my daily leadership style. Although it is not in the packet, I would like to close with a quote that he kept in a large frame at the head of his Board room table. It acted as a daily reminder to him and to all who saw it that for leaders, change is necessary and good. The quote is from General Eric Shinseki, and is as follows:

"If you don't like change, you are going to like irrelevance even less."