College of Human Resources - YOU!

If I was an overwhelmingly creative person I’d find a moderately intriguing way of structuring this post. In fact, I’m entirely certain there are numerous clever ways of answering, “Who am I and why am I here?” Unfortunately, I am not witty, clever or sarcastic in the slightest. Thus, I’ll apologize in advance for not crafting a humorously philosophical explanation for the aforementioned question. Instead, I’ll tell you a wee bit about myself and then what I’m hoping to get out of Leadership Iowa University.

Starting with the question of “Who am I?". I like to think that I’m a decent Leader. I like to get things started and bring a lot of energy to the projects I like to work on. Sometimes I have issues on focusing on the end of the task, and that’s where I may need someone to help me follow through. I love improv because it helps creative decisions come about. This comes in handy when you need to think on your feet.  Why am I hear is another question to be addressed. I am here at Leadership Iowa University for the opportunity. The opportunities here are endless. We tend to come here to Network with other future Leaders in Iowa, This is helpful for all of our futures to help us with our future endevours.  Also we can network with current leaders in Iowa. We are also here to help gain a better understanding as to what it is that we wish to do with our leadership skills. For instance I want to become a business owner where I start a lounge one day focusing the talent in Grinnell. This is a nice dream, but focus from other great leaders in Iowa would greatly help as well as bouncing ideas off of others would greatly increase the quality of my decisions. Finally my favorite part we are here to be inspired by others great success. Knowing that so many others can rise from smaller beginnings and make greatness, and have them be right there in front of you as a real person that you can meet makes it so much better. Who am I? I’m Jarrod Diehm, Why and I here? I’m here to have a great experience.

On the first day here at the Leadership University I learned about networking.  Not just in the sense of using the internet but actual getting out there and meeting people.  Not just random people but the people that could benefit from what I have to offer and what they have to offer me.  I never had thought about networking like that before and after our speaker I thought a lot more about what it is that I have offer people in my community.  I also thought about the people that I know now and how my knowing them could help me out to reach my ultimate goal of becoming an educator. 

So far I have also learned a little more about blogging.  This was something that I had considered in the past but thought that I didn't have the time or that no one wanted to hear what I had to say.  I started thinking about some of the knowledge that I had that I could write about.  I have committed myself, since, to start a blog about some of the things that I am passionate about; education, family life, and the way I see the world.  I think that I will be able to set aside time to be able to blog and I hope that I am able to get across what it is that I want people to learn.  I know that it will be hard to start, but with the advances in technology I know that this is something that will help me in the future.  I have made a decision to want to help people and to impact people in some aspect and blogging will help me do that.

I have also learned that if you drive a jeep to check the weather.  It is not a good thing to be caught in a storm without having the top on.

If you asked me who I was before I got here, my normal response would be Hi! I'm Ria Thompson, I was born and raised in Des Moines, IA.  I currently attend Des Moines Area Community College studying Graphic Design.  I just recently celebrated my 22nd birthday on the 23rd of July. I'm an outgoing person full of vibrant energy with a great sense of humor and caring compassionate personality. 

That's who I was before August 9, 2009, now after one day of sessions and speakers I can extend on my description of myself.  I know now my strengths and how I can network with my peers to achieve my goals in life.  I also learned how others can help me by sharing the connections they have and I in return can help them with mine. 

I'm here because I possess characteristics of a young ambitious person who is eager and excited about personal growth in Iowa.  I recently traveled to New York, NY for a summer trip and when I was approached about where I was from, I received strange looks when I responded I was from Iowa.  Most people said I just thought there were cows and corn fields.  It was funny at first but inspiring to me to figure out a way to put Iowa on the map with new features.  Something that would change the stereotypical vision of what Iowa has. 

From this experience I hope to walk away still the same Ria Nicole Thompson I introduced, but with more knowledge and understanding of my strengths.  I want to take the information I gain from this experience and share it with people in my community, family and school.  I hope to walk away with a clear picture of my goals for the future and how to best achieve them, so that I can make an impact right here in Des Moines, IA.

I’m Lydia Yisa-Doko from Nigeria, West Africa. I am a junior majoring in Engineering Science with a minor in Environmental Studies and Leadership at Wartburg College located in Waverly, Iowa. At my free time, I enjoy playing volley ball and ping pong. I also like to watch movies, listen to music, and get creative on the computer. After college I plan on pursuing my master’s degree in environmental engineering and eventually heading one of the best environmental companies. However, I try to keep an open mind about all options the future may have to offer

I decided to participate in the Leadership Iowa University so as to strengthen my leadership skills and learn about different opportunities that will allow me create a positive impact in the society. Also, I wanted to learn about networking strategies and how it guides my future on the right path.
So today, being our first day at the program, we listened to speeches about strength finder, Blogging, and Networking. I enjoyed the connecting activities we started off with, it allowed me reflect on myself and think of certain things I usually don’t think of everyday. Also, I learnt to put more effort in establishing my skills and focusing more on my interests/talents.

When I heard “blogging”, all I could think of was I wasn’t interested. I just don’t enjoy writing for no reason. And then after the speaker said “yes, blogging sucks”, then I thought there must be something good out of it he learnt after all. I learnt how blogging helps to build connections and the kind of opportunities that it can create. Even though it has its risks, it’s worth a try.

After the speech on networking I learnt how it plays a key factor in being successful and controlling one’s destiny. Even though I may be an introvert, in order to succeed and grab on opportunities, I have to socialize, interact and share ideas.

Finally, I’ll say am glad to be at this program. So far I have learnt a lot and I believe I’ll learn much more as time goes on. I have also met amazing people and shared wonderful ideas.

I am excited for the days ahead.

My name is Nick Litwiller and this is my first endeavor into the wide world of blogging. As a soon-to-be senior at the University of Iowa, I am realizing more and more about the importance of refining my leadership and networking skills. In one of the toughest economical climates that America has seen since the great depression in the 1930’s, recent college graduates are feeling the ripple effects through lower placement rates and frozen salaries. In order to ensure that I can secure a job upon graduating in May 2010, I have found it imperative to separate myself from the crowd through professional development, quality internships, and other career-related activities.