A LEADERSHIP QUOTE

"Remember the difference between a boss and a leader: a boss says "GO!" a leader says "Lets go!" - E.M. Kelly 

Kelly's quote states that a true leader doesn't give orders to people just to get the job done. They go with that person a fulfill the duty that needs to be done. Leaders are willing to work hard with others. Sometimes I understand that a person has to give orders to someone. However, they should be doing something to not just sit there and look pretty watching others struggle. 

At De Anza there's different roles in our leadership class but we all work together to get things done. Of course there's the head person of the leadership class that tells us what to do but we don't do it alone we have each other. We have about 40 students in our leadership class that make every event at the school possible and fun for everyone. There shouldn't be that grumpy person in the back that doesn't feel apart of it.  

Spirit of Leadership

"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent." —Douglas MacArthur

MacArthur's quote states that a leader is someone who will fight battles solo. Someone who is made into a leader, not born. To have the ability to empower others makes a great leader. Being a leader is depended on your actions, not the position you have. A leader needs to know how to make difficult choices.In my opinion, a leader has visions, achievable goals to motivate their team. Extraordinary leaders think ahead to adept their plans.Strong leaders know their own strengths and weaknesses. Leaders coach, mentor, stimulate, and develop trust with their team. They can also adapt to changes and new situations that they are dealing with.

For example, at De Anza there are many strong leaders making sure that students are attending their classes, etc. There are leaders who help improve the schools educational environment. Doing community service or joining clubs helps you to become a leader. Being elected to be the leader of your school or class means to take that position and be a good role model to your fellow students and faculty. By joining any activities held at school we can have more future leaders.

ASB'S FAVORITE LEADERSHIP QUOTE

"The supreme quality of leadership is integrity." -- Dwight Eisenhower 

Mr. Hillyer Stretching After Taking A
Heavy Dose Of  Leadership

Often, leaders engulf themselves with an excessive sense of pride and put others before themselves. By doing this, they undermine the true value of working together as a group; and this is exactly what integrity revives within a team. When a leader instills a set of high morals within their ruling, they do not only makes progress, but they establish a strong relationship among them and their teammates. By being honest, caring, and understanding, the leader is no longer notorious for excessive control, but is rather looked upon as a compassionate leader; one who puts in to perspective what the team wants and not simply what he or she desires. Nonetheless, although it is often looked over, this concept of integrity is simply one of the key component to an efficient, competent team. 

In the context of DeAnza, there is a strong sense of integrity prominent within our leadership class. The ideas and perspectives of every student are taken into account when it comes to finalizing decisions we decide to carry out as a class, and this is exactly what keeps our team grinding gears and making our best efforts to improve the school and our community. For that reason, I and many others have enjoyed the important roles we all have taken on within our leadership class and look forward to our future within leadership. 

Julian Arredondo

    

Favorite Leadership Quote

"Power isn't control at all--power is strength, and giving that strength to others. A leader isn't someone who forces others to make him stronger; a leader is someone willing to give his strength to others that they may have the strength to stand on their own." --Beth Revis


As the author of this quote states, being a leader isn't necessarily having the control to exert authority over an individual of a particular group of people. Leadership is truly about putting others above self. This means that a leaders must step back and allow others to rise to the occasion. By doing so, it allows the people around you to see the initiative you are taking to help others and will do the same thing as well. Leadership requires one's capability to set a good example for others so that they may follow through. Whether the situation is, either at school or at work, having strong leaders is essential in achievement and success. Although those leaders may hold more power above the group, they need to demonstrate that authoritative power in a way that will bring positive influence to the group.


 A strong leader in my eyes gives others the chance to show their strengths and what he/she has to contribute to the table. Not only do good leaders create a valuable impact on the group, they also use their skills and knowledge in an effort to strengthen and build others up. At De Anza particularly, strong leaders are essential in raising our school spirit and culture and by setting a good example, other students may feel inclined to join in and help build the positivity during rallies, dances, and other school events. This enhances De Anza's culture in that as a school, we have active leaders willing to recruit more and more potential leaders.

-- Sophia Zhuang

Leaders Eat Last

As a student leader in De Anza, I learned a number of many different things about leadership. But if there is one thing that sums up all these lessons, it's that leadership is sacrifice. Great leaders always put their people and the organization before themselves, and that is a fact. Why do they do this? I completely agree with Simon Sinek's answer to this question when he states that leaders are willing to sacrifice for their followers in the hopes that their followers would do the same for them.

Our leadership class can greatly exemplify this example as we are normally the first ones in and last ones out when it comes to long excruciating days and school events. We go in super early to set up and have everything prepared, then we stay way longer after hours to clean up and make sure everything was well executed. We don't necessarily do these things because we want our classmates to sacrifice the same (although it would be nice), we do this because we care more about the fun and well being of other people than we do about ourselves. Why? Because that's what leadership is! Once again, leadership is sacrifice.

An example of a time in my life when I put service before myself can be found right now actually. My parents, friends, and family ask me why I always lose sleep and mentally "degrade" myself everyday. They ask me why do I always stay late after school running to every SSC or PTSA meeting, or why do I always stay a bit after hours to help build lesson plans and hand out uniforms for JROTC. I like to tell them that I like sacrificing my time, energy, and personal well being for the happiness and success of others, or as I like to say, "If you're happy, I'm happy!" 

In my personal opinion, the best type of leadership, and the type of leadership that Sinek describes, is the concept of servant leadership. Servant leadership begins when an individual decides to serve their people first before leading. Servant leaders primarily focus on the health, well being, and success of their own followers before theirs. I believe this philosophy shows better results as opposed to "traditional leadership" which I see as the accumulation and definite exercise of power, the type of people who put themselves and their priorities before the organization. When people are followers of servant leaders, they start to build a special kind of trust with their leader, this is mainly because they see that their leader is willing to sacrifice before them, therefore, they become willing to sacrifice for their leader.

Due Date: October 16th; Leadership Quote

Leadership is sometimes so complex that many like to boil down it's essence into a short quote, typically by someone made famous either through entertainment, politics or social justice. At all times leadership is constantly changing in the eyes of the people. As Tolstoy (author of "War and Peace") would argue, a powerful leader is made by their circumstances of where they were born and the events occurring, ie if Napoleon Bonaparte had been born in Bolivia in the 1930's he may not have risen to any form of power. Even still, many would argue that he was not a great leader as it is or that it has to do with the subject's definition of a strong leader.

This brings us to the question for the week. Working with your class, identify your favorite quote on leadership that you can find that best summarizes your belief on Leadership and share the quote along with your reasoning why. In the spirit of leadership, I will also submit my own as well.

Assata Shakur

One of my favorite quotes is, "No one is going to give you the education you need to overthrow them. Nobody is going to teach you your true history, teach you your true heroes, if they know that that knowledge will help set you free." by Assata Shakur. 

This quote relates to me as a teacher by reminding me of how powerful teaching history can be, and how blinding it can be to the populace. I want to make sure that students leave my class feeling empowered, with a strong identity of who they are and the knowledge that they can change the world. Understanding the struggles that millions of Americans have gone through and still go through, or those of people all around the world, is humbling and important to think about in the relevancy of our current society in relation to governments and power. This pushes me to be a better teacher, a better mentor and a better leader.

Mr. Hillyer

Leadership

Good leaders put others before themselves because they know people would do that for them. They may not know that for a fact, but it's the feelings that count. For example, when I Tina Mai was in a car accident with my sister a man helped us out and stayed with us until everything was okay. Now he didn't stay with us for 2 hours because he felt sorry for us. He stayed because he knew that someone would do that for him. I have never in my life put myself before others.

Freshmen Selling at Tailgate

Why? because I care more about others than I care about myself. If I'm hurt and I see someone injured as well I will live through the pain just to help them out. No one likes a person who only cares about themselves and not others. No one should be arrogant just because they think they are better than everyone else. If someone does think that, they should keep it to themselves because bragging about yourself is just going to bring others down with your success. Everyone needs a good leader to motivate, inspire, and encourage you.

Leaders are Made. Not Born.

     Everyone has a different opinion on what a great leader is. Some might say it is them because they show respect to people, but don't respect the people they hate. Another might say it is them because they get the greatest of grades. Some people even believe that they are the leader just because they are the oldest. But none of these are true. As quoted in the video, "leadership is a choice". You cannot be simply born into it, you must train yourself to take risks for others, to put people before you and to show others that you are in that position for a reason.

Juniors and ASB Running Blood Drive

     I, for oneself, do like this ideology of leadership, and do agree with it to the fullest. Good leaders do put their people before themselves, but why?
     In the TED talk video, they gave an example of a sergeant and his men. The sergeant let his men eat first, and when everyone was done, then he would eat. But there was no food for him left, so his men saved some food for him, and they let their sergeant eat. If you ask a great leader why would they put their people before themselves, most leaders would say the same. "They would do the same for me."

What Makes a Good Leader?

The ideology of the video we were shown in class depicts that leadership is not just a position of authority, but the ability to make sacrifices for the good of other people.

Cheerleaders hold up the Flag at our Football Game

We as leaders of the school must make several sacrifices in order to ensure that DeAnza is a safe, fun, and welcoming environment where no one is afraid to be apart of their school. Whether it be selling t-shirts on spirit weeks, setting up for rallies, figuring out where to have prom, or even coordinating how to create a class' float; our leadership team is devoted to take time out of their schedules to make sure that the students of our school are able to enjoy themselves through the stress of schoolwork, college apps, scholarships etc. The title of being in leadership isn't something that is just handed to a random group of people. The people in leadership have solemnly chosen to be a part of the school that is dedicated to making a difference for others. Those who are leaders choose to put the needs of other people over the wants of themselves because they understand the sacrifices that are necessary to make sure that others are satisfied. With all of the work that Seniors have; from classwork, to college apps, to personal statements, and so on and so forth, our leadership seniors still dedicate themselves to work on our float almost every day of the week. Anyone can be a leader but a good leader knows how to deal with sacrifice, whether it be for their benefit or downfall.