Ethics Vs. Sadism

Our environment makes up how we act and interact with others. In the studies about the prison it reminded me of peer pressure and how people can be easily corrupted through feelings of power and/or acceptance. The guards on the prison began to emulate similar actions that were seen in concentration camps because they were given too much power. This caused unnecessary suffering among the prisoners and "the experiment quickly grew out of hand." (487)

It is easier for humans to fight for their rights, but who will fight for the innocent animals who do not have a voice? Cruelty such as animal cruelty has many degrees, but in the end it is still an act of cruelty. In the story about Tom Nero, we see how over time he loses his good self in exchange for a mistreated and harsh character. His way of dieing was brutal as a symbolism of all the hurtful deeds he committed.

I believe that humans are innately good, but through the struggles in life, they can train themselves to feel less empathy. Like doctors who see death almost everyday, they have to learn how to be numb to many things in their job,

"their hearts hardened after years of working with cadavers."(495) In order for these medical professions to get through school they must learn from experience, and they do dissect and discover new methods of helping us. Doctors must perform as ethical as possible because their practice could have many controversies if carried out wrong.

[1]http://www.all-creatures.org/anex/mice-res-09.jpg

[2] "The Reward of Cruelty". http://www.avenuedstereo.com/modern/hogarth_cruelty.jpg

Food for Thought

What we eat is a major part of the human lifestyle, it is a fusion of many centuries of cultures cultivated from experimentations of flavors and what not. So why is it that there are so many different opinions on what is tasty and what is not? What we "taste may be acquired", (443) depending on the environment we we raised in.

Since the beginning of college, I made a conscious decision to eat vegetarian and eliminated meat from my diet. This caused some contradiction in thought between my mother and me, and so we frequently have heated discussions about previous beliefs. Just this past weekend she was telling me about a client of hers who was offered a chicken. They were at a ranch and the owner of the free-range chickens asked the client if he would like the rancher to slaughter a chicken to take home. This completely freaked my mother out because she could never imagine anyone killing a chicken just for her. She would not be responsible for such an action, and therefore persuaded her client to do the same. When I heard this I felt that it was very ironic, because what we find in the grocery stores is also raw chicken that was slaughtered for the purpose of being cooked. I could not understand the difference because "an animal may be viewed as 'sacrificed' for human consumption."(445) It is difficult for many people to succumb to the reality that they are actually eating the flesh of what once was living and breathing and so they make "psychological efforts...distancing oneself from the reality of eating an animal." (445) Her main concern about my vegetarian diet is the lacking of protein, but that is another story.

[1]

Different cultures consume different creatures as well, because I am Taiwanese I have heard of the many absurd foods that no one in America would eat. However, this is the cultural norm difference and to those who are accustomed they do not find it strange but rather our way of life strange. Like the section about South Korea trading dog meat, that seems absurd, but Hong Kong people used to eat dogs as well as monkey brains.

This reading also reminds me of a scene from a movie that I once watched, and one scene distinctly stands out where a family at dinner eating hamburgers. Somewhere in the conversation the little girl over hears something about her hamburger really being from a cow, and so she got scared and cried because she loves cows.

[2]

[1]http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/food/freedom_chicken440.jpg

[2]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqcDoj2ji9kXWoO8gheeoUbhBn5MJx8ub7PDSd7D740bljffPoWygo1hQMOOuWxav7DmCdBRJIwaczHmADmZpICrVQVxecdwEfmZ3eqKFS8lBgsG4YIb2lHegoWj75MGqWYFQO13WIcXo/s1600/vegetarian-argument.jpg

LBJ Lives On

Walking into the library, I spotted a statue on a Native American on a horse that was presented to President Johnson in 1968 and told him " in honor and memory of Mr. Sam, your friend and mine." This to me represented the friendliness of Mr. President, where everyone was his friend.

This piece was called "The Scalp" and was created by Frederic Remington. Remington spent a lot of time in the wilderness, and through his art we can see what life was like on the plains.

Johnson was a wonderful leader who practiced what he preached. During his time in office he took time off to serve his country by serving in the military. He took pride in his country and demonstrated how a ideal citizen should act. General Douglas MacArthur later presented him with a silverstar award which made President Johnson very proud and sensitive of the service many citizens give their lives for.

Johnson was aware of justice and what was right. During his time in office he implemented many measures that would benefit many people. I want to learn from him because it is one thing to lead, but another to know how to maintain the balance among different groups of people. He sent troops to South Korea to protect them again the North Korean invasion. Just this past week I read about a recent bombing in South Korea by North Korea. There needs to be some help in protecting the innocent and intervening from such horrific attacks.

Another example of where justice was served was when a Mexican American went to serve in the US Army and died overseas, he was not treated fairly in his funeral service. Therefore, Mexican American communities protested against the unamerican action at funeral homes. President Johnson wrote a humble reply in return acknowledging that the "old injusticed against the forgotten and the disadvantaged [would] be eliminated and the quality of life improved for everybody." Those were his overall goals to accomplish during his time as president.

My most valued exhibit was the temporary installment the library had about Walter Cronkite who just recently past. He had so many characteristics of the proactive leader I want to become. He was always eager to learn, constantly reading to absorb new material. He witnessed a lot of history in his lifetime, but was always focused on what was just. One of his main focuses was a commitment to civil rights.

**All Images taken by author

Visiting Bob Bullock

As I ventured into the museum with my sticker on the right side of my shirt, I explored the various exhibitions on the first floor and discovered some of the historical significance that animals had in developing Texas. On the first floor, I learned about the invention of barbed wire in 1874. Barbed wire was used to mark the boundaries of land ownership. This allowed cattle to graze freely, but enclosed within the land owner's property. It basically closed the open range allowing ranchers to operate their businesses without confusion of which cattle belonged to who.

On the second floor, I saw a painting called "Ox Cart Returning from Town" by Jean Louis Theodore Gentile. This painting resembled the road to civilization into San Antonio. They rode in mule towed wagons and immigrated west to establish new communities and trade. The ox was a mode for transporting their goods and way to start their new lives. I also found a state seal of "Coahuila y Tejas" that symbolizes the union of Mexican states. There was a hawk hovering above some roads which represents that all roads are united.

Horses were also an important commodity, they were important during the planting of crops and hauling rice to market. Having a good relationship with these animals made human jobs much easier.

In the third level, I found the quote " Houston the Eagle has landed" has a really symbolic meaning. The eagle is the symbol for the United States. To have us make such a progress in technology by developing a way for mankind to travel to space was a major step into the future. The eagle is a true leader, and NASA probably wanted to make this spaceship a symbol of the cutting edge technology.

Austin Pets Alive Bios

I first met Abigail in her little play pen at the newly constructed Austin Pets Alive location in South Austin. She was a very shy puppy, and was shivering from head to paws at the sight of strange new people. Although there is no way of knowing her actual story, I can imagine that it was a long and courageous journey for dog as small as her. If I tried to visualize the experiences that she endured, her story might possibly go like this.

Hiya, my name is Abigail! I came from a large litter of puppies. Life was so easy living with my mom and siblings, we would eat and sleep all day. I wish I could have known how short lived my time with my family was because in a blink of an eye I found myself crammed into a small kennel and tossed into the trunk of a van. The van smelled like smoke and terror. I could not see anything but shadows like ghosts coming out from my worst nightmares. My ears were in pain from the other loud noises coming from other dogs. It was not until the van came to a halt did I realize that I would be separated from my siblings forever. I do not blame my momma or her owners, because I know that it would be very difficult to raise all of us pups. Therefore, they had no choice but to send us all away to an animal shelter.

Upon arrival a man quickly carried us inside a weird building that echoed of shrill whimpers and squeaky cages. I did not want to be here. The other dogs were not saying very friendly or inviting. I was shivering scared of what my new life was going to be like. The first day at the shelter was very chaotic. Many people were touching and examining me as if I was a lab experiment. All I can remember was hoping for a peaceful place with a soft and warm bed to sleep in once again. After all the people with clipboards examined me, I was finally taken to another room filled with boisterous dogs and placed in my cage. I was given food and water to drink, and taken out once in a while to go potty. Some of the people were very kind, but I was still not accustomed.

Most days were long and unforgiving in the shelter. Everyday, rambunctious children and strange people would come stare at me with their mean glares. I was scared to move and all I could do was shiver. I longed to be somewhere out in nature, where I could feel the breeze on my face. I knew that I would have to be on my best behavior so that someone might take me home with them. Some of my doggy friends would get lucky and be adopted. However, others did not have families come and take them home. I do not know where they went, but somehow they just disappeared. My friend Chip was taken away and I waited for his return but three days passed and I never heard from him again. I heard rumors of a secret room where animals were taken to fall asleep. I did not understand what this meant, and I wondered why the people at the shelter did not just let them sleep in their cages. A week had passed, I learned that animals were organized by , and there is one section of the shelter you did not want to be sorted into. That section had animals that get taken to the secret room to sleep and never return.

It was just another day where people in the shelter come in with their clip boards and examine the animals to reorganized us. Up until now, I have been fortunate that I did not get reassigned to different locations of the shelter. However, today was different because they took me and moved me away from all my new friends. I had my tail between my legs, and kept my head down the entire day. I could be any moment I would be carried away and never return. Later that day some new people with clipboards came by and I have never seen them before. There were two women who came in, I overheard that they were from a place called Austin Pets Alive. These ladies were on a mission to save any “healthy and treatable” animals. They became my heroes, because they after examining me, they took me and many others away to a safer place. This place smelled nice and was quieter.

I found peace and quiet at my new temporary home, the other dogs were very nice to me. I discovered more freedom and was given a lot of attention there. I was able to do what I enjoyed to do most with my new friends. There is nothing that I love to do more than spending the day sunbathing with my friend Sarah in our little house in the play pen. People visit us and let us sit in their laps. I am still too young to play with the other bigger dogs, so I just sit and watch them run after balls. This was the first time in a long time that I have felt so free to relax. I am slowly learning how to overcome my nervousness around new people.

I have to be honest, when I first meet people I am very timid and shy, but I am very gentle and loving once I get warmed up to you. I am really sweet and I love to cuddle. I could probably just sit on your lap all day long if I could. If you see me shivering, just understand that I am just very excited and anxious to meet new people. I am not sure if I like cats yet, but if they are gentle and friendly with me I am sure I can learn how to love them as much as I love people.

When I am outside, my beautiful brown fur shines in the sunlight. I would love to show you my t-shirt that APA gave me! It keeps me warm when a chilly wind blows. Although I enjoy being out in nature and in the sunlight, I love to take naps inside where there is a soft bed and blanket just for me.

I am always on alert at what is going on around me, you can tell when I am concentrated when my ears are perked up. I like to think a lot, so while I sun bathe I am usually staring in the distance solving the world’s largest questions. Will you take me home with you so we can lay in the sun all day? We could have some wonderful discussions and I could be your perfect companion because you can take me everywhere with you!

Word Count: 1179

Appendix

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Hiya! I am Abigail, great to meet ya! I love spending the day sunbathing with my friend Sarah in our little house. I am still too young to play with the other bigger dogs, but they can see me when I am out ready to play.

When I first meet people I am very timid and shy, but I am very gentle and loving once I get warmed up to you. I am really sweet and I love to cuddle. If you see me shivering, I am just very excited and anxious to meet new people. I am not sure if I like cats yet, if they are gentle and friendly with me I am sure I can learn how to love them as well as people.

When I am outside, my beautiful brown fur shines in the sunlight. I would love to show you my t-shirt that APA gave me! It keeps me warm when a chilly wind blows. Although I enjoy being out in nature and in the sunlight, I love to take naps inside where there is a soft bed and blanket just for me.

I am always alert at all what is going on around me, you can tell when I am concentrated when my ears are perked up. I like to think a lot, so while I sun bathe I am usually staring in the distance solving the world’s largest questions. Will you take me home with you so we can lay in the sun all day? We could have some wonderful discussions and I could be your perfect companion because you can take me everywhere with you!

Word Count: 287

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Hi everyone, I am Prissy! I usually am a very happy Chihuahua who is very excited to meet everyone! I am always looking for something new and exciting to preoccupy myself with. I love to sniff everything around me and explore the new things that I see. I’ve been saved by the APA crew and I am so grateful to be here with them.

People say that I am like a princess, because of my graceful ways. I am usually shy and quiet when first meeting new people, but I will be your friend if you would scratch my back and belly. I love to be around others who are gentle and sweet. Take me outside in the sunshine and let me nap in the comfort of someone’s warm lap. I love making new friends on my outdoor adventures. It should be easy for me to adapt to a new environment with whoever my new family may be. I am a great companion for nice people of all ages, kids especially. Kids are so much fun to be around, and they always give me a lot of attention! I especially love it when they feed me treats.

I also love to play with my squeaky toys, but I do not like it if my friends do not share with me. I am sometimes scared that they will never give it back to me, but I don’t mind sharing if they ask politely. If they do not then I might bark to tell them to give it back. The other time that I bark is at exciting and new creatures that frighten me, like squirrels. They run so fast and just like magic they can appear and disappear from out of thin air.

I hope that someday a family with kids will come and take me home with them! I know that my new family will love me and teach me new tricks and help me overcome my shyness. I know that they will spoil me and treat me like the princess that I really am.

Word Count: 355

Sympathetic Imagination

What does it mean to be a human? Imagine if we had to explain this concept to an alien, what would we say to describe our way of life. This is how I picture sympathetic imagination. With the image of the tigers and bunnies above, the bunnies do not know they are not tiger cubs and yet they put themselves in the role of how a tiger cub would act. Could animals understand this concept of sympathetic imagination?

It is not an easy task to put ourselves in another person's shoes, but to imagine ourselves as an animal is even more of a stretch. In the reading today, I read about Rick Bass' Odyssey. He was very descriptive and specific when speaking from the hound's point of view. Dogs are intelligent creatures who are very loyal to their owner. When the hound said, "he wrote me off, sold me off and out but I still love him", (422) I felt the unconditional love and trust from this dog. The narrator is the alpha dog and through her voice we could hear her pride of her place. Bass' excerpt of Homer's story was very touching.

So I ask again what does it mean to be human? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, we are "distinguished from animals by superior mental development, power of articulate speech, and upright posture." (418B) Having those characteristics in mind, it is no wonder we have the ability to use sympathetic imagination towards our friends, family, and other inhabitants on Earth.

Empathy Vs. Compassion Vs. Sympathy

We came to this world alone and it is part of our nature to search for some way to identify with others. Human interaction is the basis of how our society works. Being able to share with others our thoughts and emotions justifies the social norms. Human beings are social animals, and we are more powerful collaborating with one another.

Humans are able to feel like they are connected with another human through putting themselves in the position of the other person. We are able to "project...personality into the object of contemplation"(401) and pretend that we were them.

A mother of a baby cannot know exactly what the baby is feeling, but she is able to imagine it. Therefore, she has to hone in on her intuition and empathy to meet the baby's needs.

This reading reminded me of the way non profit organizations always have causes that are not directly impacting the people who volunteer. This shows that they are empathetic, and can imagine what those in need are feeling. Take the natural disaster that hit Haiti, we were not directly effected with this Earthquake, but so many compassionate people went out of their way to help out. This is a wonderful characteristic of the human species. Having empathy, compassion , and sympathy is essential to what it means to be human. Everything we do on a daily basis has "emotional notes and chords that weave through [our] words and actions." Without these emotional clues, we would probably go throughout our day apathetic and robotic.

After reading this I felt happy because it is very incredible how communal a group of individuals are

My favorite quote from this reading was, "if one values the life of a being who can enjoy life, then one must value every life of like beings in the same way."

Texas Memorial Museum

I learned that there were Saber tooth tiger remains discovered here in Texas. To have roamed in this prehistoric era where there was no development of civilization and be remembered for that long must be significant. The saber tooth tigers were large creatures that preyed on herbivores like horse and camel. I noticed that there are similarities between how our society runs and the animal kingdom. There always seems to be some sort of unstated hierarchy. This animal was once so powerful and could tear the tough flesh and bones of other large animals.

What I noticed was something interesting about the relationship between humans and animals is that humans learn from the past which includes the animals evolutions and changes in the animal kingdom. The cycle of life comes naturally for animals, because that is all they know. Humans however preserve and analyze for future use. This is why we have museums in the first place.

The architecture of the museum was very simple and classical Greek style. I noticed the carving of the outline of Texas carried on the shoulders of an Atlas figure. This is supposed to symbolize the combination of technological improvements with nature, as Atlas shoulders the wealth of rivers and forests. As the human race speeds up towards more developments in technology and industry, they must preserve the forces of nature that will always keep a steady anchor for future endeavors.

Style and design such as the mosasaur's vertebrae was used as inspiration for the teaching area on the side of the museum. There were blown up replicas of the bone structure of those marine reptiles.

As my power animal the otter, I feel incredibly morose for the dead exoskeleton of this cushion starfish that I saw on the first floor. Its habitat is not the same as it was decades ago and to die and be displayed must be embarrassing. This was the skeleton found on the coast in the Caribbean. I did not see the skeletal structure of my relative, however, I could imagine the sadness I would have felt in the process of analyzing how precious life is.

I kept asking myself, is this authentically real? While walking around the third floor, I could not imagine the process of installing the glass eyes, removing the insides, and recreating this figure. However, I do appreciate the legacy of this otter. It will be remembered for as long as it is on display. I think that it is really important to know about the past.

On the fourth floor i learned all about pond scum called Diatoms. These are microscopic organisms that produce asexually and survive by making food out of sunlight. Scientists have called them microscopic gems . These tiny single celled organisms of algae have undergone specifically the Darwin theories of evolution. This is similar to a process humans go through in order to keep improving people must evolve, through the survival of the fittest the strengths will pass on from generation to generation. I feel comforted as my strengths will be noticed and passed on to my future generations.

Trip to the Blanton

The painting I chose to analyze is called "Adoration of the Shepherds" by Domenico Piola an Italian artist who painting during the Baroque period. He was a leading artist in Genoa, and developed a skill of imitating the work of Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione. For this particular piece Piola was quoting from Castiglione's Adoration of the Shepherds that was an alter piece at the church of San Luca in Genoa.

This is Castiglione's Adoration of the Shepherds

This work depicts the nativity scene, the birth of baby Jesus with the Virgin Mary and shepherds as witnesses. All focus is casted onto the radiant baby, Piola emphasizes this point through the glowing light which surrounds both the mother and child. Not only does he use contrasting of lights and darks to draw the eye of the viewer. He also uses many animals in the painting to symbolize peace and tranquility. The Roosters are resting under the baby's cradle, and it is very relaxed because they share the same space with the humans. It is a depiction of the acceptance and respect they have for this superior being. The unification of the relationship of animals and humans.

Water: The Essence of Life

The water that is contaminated with bacterias.

I believe in educating the unprivileged people who have not been made aware of the importance of nutrition and hygiene. By following the lead of Peace Corps volunteers, I propose using simple systems that teach these people ways to prevent illnesses and protect themselves physically. Of all the projects that the Peace Corps organization is involved in, I value the work of health volunteers who educate countries about improving living conditions and health by having safe drinking water.

As we all can imagine, water is the most essential element for all life. Not having clean water can jeopardize food production and eventually lead to malnutrition. “Malnutrition caused an estimated 11.7% of all deaths…in 1990.” [1] This topic is easy to relate to because everyone can appreciate helping by making simple donations that will make a significant difference in others’ lives.

My leadership vision is a tremendous goal. In order to reach the ideal result, there is a need for an action plan. I want to begin by bringing awareness into my community about the need for clean water in many countries. I want to make an impact on society as a whole by bringing awareness to the student body of how fortunate we are to have proper sanitation in our drinking water. I truly believe that as “human beings, we are responsible for our own lives“ and that “we have the initiative and responsibility to make things happen.” [2] I cannot just stand by and watch others suffer from diseases because they do not have access to a resource as basic as water. There are many people in many countries that use the same water that is their source for bathing and washing laundry, who use it also for drinking. “Diseases related to water, sanitation, and hygiene disproportionately affect poorer members of society. The reasons behind this are complex and interconnected. They include better access by the more wealthy to services and/or less polluted environments.” [3] For example in some of the rural areas of El Salvador, Peace Corps volunteers have worked to provide “access to water and sanitation services”. They educate about health, hygiene, and water use practices that prepare communities in the future for these sustainable resources. [4] I hope to one day be able to donate my time to serve these people and become part of the process to teach them about how to improve their lives.

In non-profit organizations like the Water Project and Charity Water, they are working towards the same goal to make more towns have access to clean drinking water. According to Charity Water’s webpage, “clean water can greatly alleviate the world’s disease burden, but only with education and hygienic practice. charity: water is committed to using water as a gateway to sanitary living.”[5] Not only will this benefit communities with living conditions, but “the UN also predicts that one tenth of the global disease burden can be prevented simply by improving water supply and sanitation.” I found these facts incredible and there is no way I can pass on an opportunity to benefit people all over the globe.

During the four years that I attend UT, I plan to become a personal testimony and embody the image of a proactive leader as described in Stephen Covey’s book and what we have learned in class this semester. I would love to host a benefit concert where proceeds can go toward this cause. In order to get started, I need to connect with other student organizations that may have resources to help me follow through with this idea. Using the resources of joint organizations, it could generate a lot of power to promote awareness of how we can help other countries who need clean drinking water. After generating enough awareness around campus about this cause, from there on I could proceed with planning a concert with local artists. This would not be possible if I do not follow through with my planning of the event without cooperation from the student body and performers. Like in the words of Napoleon Hill to describe cooperation, “leadership calls for power, and power calls for cooperation.”[6] I hope to influence others through my example, in the words of Ghandi, “ be the change you want to see”.

The change that I want to see is a concentrated unity towards a common goal. I am a part of this community we currently called UGS 302: Leadership, Ethics, and Animals. I have more confidence to execute goals and tasks that I want to get done because of the wonderful stories from the anthology about other’s experiences and leadership examples. I hope that our little UGS community will continue to connect and inform each other of opportunities to grow as leaders. I have made my leadership vision statement, but it is nothing unless I build a strong community of people who will cooperate with me to make my vision into reality. In the near future, I see all people have access to sanitary facilities and clean drinking water.

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Ghandi

Word count: 765

Word count without quotes 723

Images:

http://phoenix.twestival.com/files/2009/02/dirtywater01.jpg

http://www.paddlinginstructor.com/images/stories/blog/charity_water_poster.jpg

http://platform.ak.fbcdn.net/www/app_full_proxy.php?app=17037175766&v=1&size=o&cksum=b66a196689fcb694ae25126d5eea0396&src

=http%3A%2F%2Fmultimedia.peacecorps.gov%2Fmultimedia%2Fimages%2Ffacebook%2

FPC_profile_icons_02.jpg

http://www.thequoteblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/gandhi.jpg

Endnotes:

[1]Murray CJL, Lopez AD. (1996). The Global Burden of Disease. Cambridge, MA:Harvard School of Public Health, WHO, World Bank.

[2]Covey, S. (1989). The 7 habits of highly effective people. New York: Fireside. 71.

[3]Pruss, A. (2002). Estimating the burden of disease from water, sanitation, and hygiene. Environmental Health Perspectives, 110(5), Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3455343

[4]What do volunteers do?. (2009, September 3). Retrieved from http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whatvol

[5]Why water. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.charitywater.org/whywater/

[6]Hill, N. (1966). Think and grow rich. New York City: Wilshire Book Company. 121.

Texas Leads

While I took leadership in middle school I felt that this person that I am aiming to become cannot exist. In my current position, looking back, I realized that it is pretty amazing how many obstacles I have overcome. This relates once again to the limitations I set on myself. In the words of Margaret Cousins " I know that my memory has rosied over the trepidations and traumas inherent in the human condition." (Pg. 890) This quote speaks to me, re-acknowledging that not everyone was born a leader, but they have taught themselves and practiced such values to become a strong leader. The only reason she was given this opportunity was because her professor "stuck his neck out by nominating a freshman." (Pg. 891) It takes a leap of faith in another person to see results.

One way that had brought me over my anxiety to lead others was by way of community service. I organized my own service acapella choir last summer, and it was indeed a big challenge. However, it felt very good to just to be able to bring joy to others! Similar to Edwin Dorn "I had made a commitment to public service." (pg.934)

Just in a month the 8 of us tour around Austin nursing homes to sing to the elderly. Many of them are very isolated people, because their family had to leave them there. I felt that being able to share my love of music with them was a great.

iLead

A road block I encounter from day to day basis is the lack of proactive-ness. Typically, I will start off doing homework by organizing my thoughts and preparing my list to do. As I start out working on the activities I lose track of my goal, and as Covey describes, "the power to make and keep commitments to ourselves is the essence of developing the basic habits of effectiveness." (Covey, 92) In my case, I just forget that I am on this ladder to effectively completing my list of tasks. From reviewing things we have read by Covey reminds me that it takes a very conscious decision to be effective on a daily basis.




I think it is incredible to realize that there are so many parts and levels to being human. The scientific research on the brain and how our nerves communicate ideas such as emotions is a great reminder of how humans "capacity to act on our thoughts and feelings, and to make things happen, is unmatched by any other species in the world." (Pg.201) "To be human, as well as a leader, we must learn to hone in on the skill of maintaining a balance between "our intellect and our emotions." (pg. 212) It takes persistent practice and patience to be conscious of the ways we can grow as a leader. My main attraction to this UGS course was the hope that one day I will overcome the limits I set on myself and become a better leader.

U.T. Spirit

UT Austin was established in 1883, however it was not until 1916 did Stephen Pinckney "collected $1.00 each from 124 alumni and purchased a Longhorn steer"(pg.157) that would become UT's live mascot.


I find it strange how U.T. Austin's original mascot was a pit bulldog named "Pig" somehow evolved into this Mighty Longhorn. Nevertheless, Bevo the Longhorn is believed to have some sort of majestic power to control the hearts and minds of opposing players and will the Horns to victory. He is the good luck charm as well as the "protective spirit" of the university. I am one small part of this behemoth identity, but no matter where I go this identity I will take with me.

This Summer my family took a trip to Yellowstone National Park, and on one of the hiking trails I encountered UT Austin Alumni wearing their burnt orange baseball caps with pride. Although they were strangers, seeing that familiar longhorn icon made them automatically family. It was really wonderful to walk by and give them a Hook'em, knowing that they would understand it.

Reading about all the previous Bevos is really mind-boggling knowing that the legend and of Bevo still lives on, and that there have been so many other Longhorns that were in the same position as I am now, Freshman. All who have graduated and moved on with there lives, but burnt orange in their blood remains. Afterall, "a thing of beauty will never pass into nothingness" (pg. 167) and I believe that getting an education at such a great and close-knit community is a beautiful thing.

Cited: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bevo_(mascot)

Power Animal.

As someone who has been on the search for the essence of herself, I find myself very spiritually connected with nature as well as animals. I feel that we can find pieces of all the power animals within our nature. For example, this is why every human has both testosterone as well as estrogen, to maintain equilibrium. That is just a thought I came across while just beginning to read about "The Spiritual and Magical Roles of Nature" where the writer says that, "the natural and the supernatural merged and blended." (Pg.111)



When reading along, I reflected on the personal growth I have witnessed in myself. Our spiritual energies are constantly changing just like how we change clothes. This led me to believe that in our day to day interactions with others and encounters with situations, our power animals are a reflection on the energies at that present moment. However, this is just my belief.

The most important idea that I felt had power was when one of the example's power animal Owl reappeared to him and replied to him that "I can not stay while the heart is closed."(pg.116) It reminded me of a recent poem that I wrote about our thoughts and images in our mind. If we strive too hard to attain or become one with the power animal it will not be available for us. Therefore, what should happen is natural reflection of ourselves, and constant awareness of our actions and thoughts and "all the while keeping your mind open to whatever animals might choose to visit you on this journey" (Pg.122) While in my meditation/breathing exercises, I accept whatever thoughts might try to bring chaos to my mind, but realize that there is no need for attachment to the thoughts.

I guess sometimes you just have to be patient until you know which power animal will be right for you! Timing is everything.