The most important thing I learned this semester was know myself before trying to lead or interact with others.
After reading my blog I feel like I have grown throughout the semester. I feel like professor Rock has guided me to find myself and push me to limits I would not of touched without some guidance. There were some frustrating times but also many good times. My thinking has changed throughout the semester. I feel like if I want something all I have to do is go for it and just step out of the ordinary boundaries. At times this is easier said then done. This has put a huge change on my future. I feel like nothing is out of reach where before I was questioning myself. I made Phone calls to peolpe that I thought I would never talk to. I have set my mind to a certian amount of training that I thought was impossible but, just holding myself accountable for what I said I was going to do made me do the work. The real test is always when no one is watching you and you can try to cut corners. It is so easy to do those types of things. This class has helped me understand that having a plan and sticking to it is the best and easiest way possible to handle that sort of situation.
The top three things I liked about Leadership for Change was it made me think about myself in a way I have never thought about. It made me think outside of the box. The second thing was it made me hold myself accountable and teach myself how to be 100% accountable all the time not just 85% or 90% of the time. The third thing I liked was I met peolpe that I can network with and how to network better in the future.
The three things I liked least were at times this class was frustrating. It made you get out of your comfort zone and push you to new heights. This is a good thing once you get over the hump. The second thing was I didn't like the kill your tv part. I don't watch tv that much but I do a certain times. I was so happy when we did not have to do that anymore. The last thing would be telling peolpe your dream and them look at you like o really?? That is hard at first but it just pushes me more in the end.
The Class is very well thought out and does not need much change. To help improve it? I would say meet more then once a week. Maybe twice a week for an hour and a half. It will make students more accountable. Second I would say, make sure to have a panel that is older. The first panel was great but I would of liked to hear from an older panel that was more established. The last thought I would say make sure students really know what they are getting tinto for the class. If they don't know they can sometimes hold the progress of the class up.

We were told to complete another one of our steps. This week and last week I have been thinking of summer jobs that I would enjoy doing this summer. I applied to a facilities job at UIC. I thought I would enjoy working outside all summer. I also applied to a desk job with the athletic department. This job will help me with my comptuer skills for the future. I have to work a lot with excel and word. The last job i applied for was a coaching job for the summer. The kids are a U-14 team. I have some experience coaching already but, I've never had one team as just my responsibility. I figured this would be a great opportunity to get experience in that Field. I love working with kids and expanding their knowledge about the game of soccer. The game that has helped me become who I am today.
I had my meeting with my friend Matt, I told him about my game on saturday. I told him I didn't play well the first half. I played very well the second half. This leads me to my next point. I have a game this friday. This is the last game of the spring. I told him I was going to put a full game together! My family is coming to wacth me play and I want to preform well since they are traveling 4 hours to watch me play. This is important to me because I want to make it to the next level to play socccer and if I can't play everyday at the high level i'm supposed to play I'll never make it. I was supposed to juggle everyday last week. I did every day except the day before my game. As the summer approaches I'm preparing for a very hard time in my training. This part of the year is when you really get yourself better.
When I look back I did everything i wanted to during the week. It was not easy but I followed through with it. Like a said earlier i'm at that point of the year where my training is at it's peak!My chart is fine. I'm on a role. The summer could not come any faster. I might actually be ahead of my chart as soon as school ends. With the school factor and work it puts a lot on my shoulders. A new step that will be added in is an extra session of training each day 5 days a week during the summer. I'm also adding that i get one day every 2 weeks that i can cheat on my diet. The only troubles that I have sometimes is waking up at 6 in the morning to train and still have energy to want to go on with my day. I have countered these feels with going to sleeep earlier and making sure I eat during the right times of the day. Since I turned 21 it is also hard to reject having a beer or two with dinner. I love a good tasting beer but that is NOT on my diet!! My plan is to finish my semester strong in school and make sure i don't have to do summer school or anything of that sort so i can work and train all summer. Can't forget about having some fun too!

My next step was an easier one this week. I had a resume that I worked on about 5 years ago. I took that resume and revised it to make myself a up to date ready resume. I kept the same format of the old resume. It is always good to have a updated resume on file in case any opportunities come my way.
My buddy is a long time friend of mine from childhood. His goal is to be a pilot. Our goals are different but we are both determined and willing to support each other like we always have. Our first meeting started off with talking about our goals and how we were coming along. I told him that my goal is to train everyday with a day off every other week until season starts in august. He then tells me his goal is to fly at least 15 hours a week. To be a pilot you have to have a certain amount of flying hours. I told him my problems right now are keeping my mind focused all the time with school and training. His problem is finding money to be able to fly every week. Overall it was a good meeting and i'm looking forward to our next meeting.

There were two exercises that we were supposed to do this week. My first task was to stop by the co-op office to see if I could do an internship or something of that sort while being in school also. The people at the office are very helpful and nice. There are some options for me during the school time period. I now have to figure out what I will have to give up. This will mean me not training with my team in the spring and just trying to do school and my co-op. I would have to do most of my training on my own. This is a challenge because it is hard enough to do it when someone is pushing you. It's even harder when your doing it off pure self motivation.
The second part was reflecting on our fears. I someday would like to play soccer at the professional level. Tonight is our game against the Chicago Fire. This is a challenge/ fear, because this is a test to see my abilities compared to someone at the professional level. The resistance is that i have been questioning myself at times. This then makes me nervous at times. I'm very excited for our event tonight at seven!! Last year there were 2000 people watching us play. It's a great feeling when there are that many people watching you play. weather they are there to see you or not. The way I have delt with preparing myself for this game is going out and having fun. If i have fun and don't worry to much about the outcome i will try to preform to the best of my abilities. Overall my goal is to turn this fear into a fun learning atmosphere that i can grow on and help guide me to the next level.

The homework for this week was do two task that will help you complete your goal.
My First task started after class ended I first had to complete my flow chart then my task was to find an option overseas that I could pursue. I got in touch with a local soccer coach that runs a soccer program called sockers. They are traveling over seas to Europe in the summer. This is my opportunity to show my skills in a setting overseas. I have to try out when the school semester ends in May.
The second task was a mental and physical task. Last week was our spring break witch for our team means a dead week. I took it upon myself to make sure I train everyday over break and keep my routine of weight lifting three days a week. The reason i made this my task is my stength coach said that 85% of the team would take the whole week off and that puts you two weeks behind in our training. I made this a task becasue at the next level every day counts much less a week.

I had the chance to interview a man by the name Dave Miller he owns a soccer unlimited store on the west side of Greenwood IN. It was a good email conversation. I got some good insight on what it takes to start a business and keep it in full running shape. Mr. Miller also said it is important to have lots of experience with every different kind of person I possible could. The more practice you have the easier things will be when it really matters. He said it is important to have a good business plan and any extra suport that is provided use it. He said some hard times for him was when his wife didn't support him because she didn't think his choices where safe ones. He said that it hard when the closest peolpe to you are not agreeing with your actions.

I was not 100% successful in interviewing a Barcelona Player but, I had a back up plan and his name is Baggio Husidic. The reason I choose Him is because he knows how it feels to work hard and finally reach his goal of getting drafted to play professional soccer. He told me the best way to improve your skill is to touch a soccer ball at least 15 min a day. When he would train he said he would be the first one there and the last one to leave besides the coaches. He said that every min that he stayed extra he would document it to make sure he at least gets 3 hours of extra work a week then his normal average teammates. he summed up the whole interview with this. Your only gonna get out what you put in. If it were easy everyone would be doing it.

Second week of Interviews.

This week we were told to step out of our comfort zone and interview people we did not already know. This task is hard if you are not comfortable with interviewing new peolpe. I started off my first one with a man that was my moms boss about twenty years ago. His Name is Rich Gold. The reason I admire him is because he owns his own business that he loves to do everyday.
Rich and my mom worked in Memphis, TN for about 5 years. The company name was Cummings Engine company. My mom was a plant manager and Rich was the one she reported to.
I first asked Rich what it took to get him to where he is today. He said he had a good base when he was growning up. He said he was always trying to do things that peolpe thought he could not do. (side note he said he was very stuburn growing up.) He said he worked hard in school and got job experience in college. He said that sometimes you have to go get what you want it won't always come to you. Gold had his first job for Cummins Engine company then he worked for a security systems agent. The part that I like the best about Mr. Gold is that he did all these jobs where he was the boss and oversaw a bunch of peolpe that worked for him.
Early in the interview he told me he had a passion for boats when he was growing up. His father always took him fishing and sailing. This is important becasue he is now the owner of a boat shop that sales and repairs boats on the beach. He has been doing this for the last 5 years. This is important because he is doing what he likes and enjoys what he does everyday.
I asked Rich what the best thing was about following your dream? He said the achievement of knowing I accomplished a goal I wanted.



The other interview should be coming by the end of the week. I am in semi contact with FC Barcelona's publish person. I was supposed to recive more information today. I will keep you posted.

Role Model: Cesar Zambrano

Cesar Zambrano was born is Chicago. He is of Hispanic descent. He grew up loving soccer and watching soccer. He loves the game and has loved it all his life. He says that the biggest part of the game is to enjoy it. He said he played with the ball everyday growing up for at least 15 minutes a day. He went to high school at Brother Rice and got recruited to play soccer at UIC. He then Had a great 4 Years at UIC and got drafted into the MLS in the late rounds of the draft to the Colorado Rapids. He said the hardest task he had was trying to make the dream happen when he was told he was not big enough to go professional. Zambrano tells me I should touch the ball everyday and run once a day.

Role Model: Tommy Harmon

Tommy Harmon is an African American male that owns his own business. He started working construction and then got the business and has been managing it for 20 years now. The name is Taylor Brother construction. Harmon's favorate quote is "you can do whatever you put your mind to". He said the hardest thing for him is when he has to lay people off that have families and are in need of a job. He told me that an education is needed to manage a business but also common sense and a level head. I should job shadow and listen to people that have more knowledge in these types of areas.

Interview FIVE of your friends by asking the following question:
Friend #1: Your fun loving, and trust worthy, and a great friend.
Friend#2: Your humour, trust worthy, FUN, and caring.
Friend#3: Your Awesome, I love talking to you, If i'm in trouble i could always call you for help.
Friend#4: Your spunky, A great person to talk to, Caring, Humour, A blast, and easy to fall in love with.
Friend#5: You make mise comments, House holdleader, If times are hard I can count on you. Your a leader by action not words.

Do one of the things you love from our in-class activity.:
I love making dinner for people. I made Dinner for four of my roommates. It was a great meal. I made chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy with peas and a beer. It was a great meal and everyone enjoyed it.

I interviewed my mother for the first part or the activity.

What was I like in the first five years of my life?

You were a premature baby by two weeks. You were born with sleep aphina. As an Early child you were always smiling. You were not like most children and would let just about anyone hold you. In other words you were a very outgoing baby. You learned to run before you walked. You would get a good running start and then fall. This being said that's why you have two scares over both of your eye brows. Over all you were a great kid.

What things did I love, what games did I like to play, what did you think was unique about me?

You loved to play with building blocks. Also you loved to eat. I think this still stands today! You loved playing soccer. You started playing soccer when you were 5 years of age. Soccer was the main sport you liked to play. Also you loved playing board games with the family. I thought the most unique thing about you was your personality as a child and fearlessness to approach random individuals. Your father and I were quite concerned about this because at the time we did not live in the safest of areas in Memphis.

What did you think I would become when I grew up?

I thought you would be whatever you set your heart mind and soul to be.

I'm taking leadership for change so I can find out more about myself.
I hope to make some new friends and study some interesting things.
As a child I remember following my dad aound and wanting to always build things with him. I used to think about soccer a lot. It was a main focus in my life. I loved to run. If I have a tough day or have a break i'm prob going to be working out during that time. I think my early life was good and has helped me be the person I am today.