We are the ones we have been waiting for.

Looking back:

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."
-- Barack Obama

I think I have writers block due to the (kind of looming?) events of Greek Week so here is my best blog attempt for you all :) WAHOOOO

This quote by the President of the United States should be painted all over my house in big red and green. I am a firm believer in the fact that there are solutions to the problems that many people generate for leaders to deal with; these solutions should come out of the mouth of the person who has the problem in the first place but they usually don't. So commonly as presidents, exec members, leaders in our communities etc., we are served up issues daily, be it large or small. However, I have found that many times people want YOU to solve the problem so that they are once again content (hence the "waiting for some other person" part of this quote). In order for an individual to truly be able to create the change that he or she wants to see, it is vital that this "dumping and running" behavior that creates a quick fix change is ceased. This shift in thinking about solutions in addition to problems  is an example of second order change that must be upheld by single order changes that allow for new behaviors to occur while old behaviors are squashed. The leadership theory that our country is trying to uphold indicates that our organizations must function as cohesive groups where WE are the change, as Obama says, not where Kristyn Sturms and her exec board is the change. Voices must be heard in settings that are comfortable- where people can be honest yet hold a certain level of respect during heated dialogue.

I am still working out how I want to implement my single order change that will facilitate a more discussion based and collaborative organization that will create the desired second order change that is necessary for true growth as individuals. As each of our individual members find their own voices within the greater voice of the chapter, community second order change can occur from the unity that the development of solution-centered problem identification has brought about.

Thinking ahead: Ramblings of the Community and Me

• I am involved in the community by:
• Direct service, Socially Responsible Personal/Professonal Behavior, and Philanthropic Giving
• What is Citizenship? What is Community?
• Citizenship, to me, is being actively engaged in the society at large for the betterment of both myself and society through volunteer work, social functions, philanthropic events etc.
• Community includes a group of people that are linked together in some way (demographically, socially, economically) that share a part of their identity with others while maintaining their own individuality that upholds the greater good
• What communities am I a part of?
• I am a Columbus resident. I am a Buckeye. I am interested in health care. I am a Psychology minor and am active in the research community. I am a Greek woman. All of these aspects of myself describe the larger community that I am a part of as well.