A leader is a dealer in hope.

Reading the "Locating the School-To-Prison Pipeline" left me in awe. I had known that there were injustices in the educational system especially toward minorities but after reading this article the information in it made me extremely upset. The fact that the school-to prison pipeline is relying on the law to handle the students' minor conduct issues rather than the school taking the time to work with the student is ridiculous! I honestly cannot believe that it is to the extreme such as "students who enter the juvenile justice system face many barriers to their re-entry into traditional schools" The method in which they have come about to not even putting the time to serve as a support system for the students and actually helping them out rather than automatically incriminating them because their race fits a set stereotype. This situation truly angers me because it is a problem that has spread out for years and people are still so ignorant as to let go of the stereotypes and actually help beat the negative expectations for these students of minority. These students are basically being told that they will never be good enough to be successful in school and that there are low expectations for them. 

Also, after viewing the "Black Males, Black Dreams" video I was filled with mixed emotions. The story explained throughout the video hit close to home. It reassured me of the inequalities that my cousins in an public school in Los Angeles, California had told me about. I did not believe them that the teachers would not take the time to help them outside of hours when necessary or that they would be as to tell them that they were not going to graduate or succeed in school because of where their family comes from. It really upset me that there are not many that would actually take the time and serve as mentor or a guidance for students on the border of fulfilling the stereotype or accomplishing school. I really would like to serve as a mentor for students in this situation and help them realize that there is actually many obstacles that they can overcome with a honest support. 

As a STARS Leader I am hoping that through the Empowerment Pipeline program I can serve as a support system for students here in the Chicago area. These educational inequalities are really affecting students not only in Chicago public schools but also in inner city schools throughout the country. This is such a wide spread problem and I feel like I can do my share of helping for a better tomorrow by being a support /mentor to the students in the program that we will be working with, specifically beginning with the students of Tilden High School this upcoming Friday. I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with these students and help encourage them to attend school and achieve higher education that is available to them. There is sooo much more that I can ramble on about with this topic but I think it is time to wrap it up and give my keyboard a break from the hard typing haha.

Esperanza Benitez:)

To lead the people, walk behind them.

Leaders instill in their people a hope for success and a belief in themselves. Positive leaders empower people to accomplish their goals. ~Unknown

This quote reminds me of when I used to be a peer tutor in high school. I always enjoyed encouraging the students to help find the solutions to their math problems on their own through examples that they had already done with my help. It was important that I recognized their accomplishments as minimum as they might be because sometimes a little push is all they need to build up their confidence and thus they can have more faith in themselves to master the subject.

To me social justice means looking out for what is fair for all in a society. It means that the needs of everyone in the society are met and respected. No special treatments to some just because "they may be better." Social justice means quality for all. 

The Servant Leadership workshop was motivating and mind-opening. It helped me discover a new definition for a leader that I hadn't necessarily thought about before. A servant leader is someone that works beyond just leading a group of people. A servant leader is one that helps build community and help them grow. 

I feel like listening without judgment is a characteristic of servant leadership that I try to practice. When someone approaches me with a problem I always give my full attention and just listen. I do not conclude or assume things. It is important for me to put myself in their shoes and help them figure out a solution that works best for them.

I would like to learn to poses the characteristics of helping build community and share power. It is important that if I wish to be a good servant leader that I know how everyone plays an important role and their contributions are crucial to success. Not only for me to know that, but for them to know their importance too.

Being an indecisive person makes it hard to have a dream job. One day I may want to have one job and the next day I may find something new. For the moment I know for sure that whatever career I end up deciding one I will want to serve others. Something in like a human resources field has always been on my mind. I want to let people know the opportunities that they can have that they may not be aware about for say because of the lack of education. I wish to be someone that they can approach to help them find an answer to their questions.

Esperanza Benitez :)

Only a life lived for others is a life worth while.

He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander. -Aristotle

I feel like this leadership quote is one which I can relate to my personal leadership experiences. Through my previous leadership experiences I had to begin from being the follower. Only from there was I able to become a leader towards others. I would teach them what I had learned in their position. Specifically, when I was a Senior Leader for the Freshman class in high school. I feel like learning and leading go hand in hand, you continue to learn while leading.

The E-Portfolio presentation was specifically interesting because I was not very aware that one could basically market themselves through highlighting the high points of their experiences relevant to the reason for their making the portfolio.

It is bit overwhelming to decide what experiences I wish to highlight in my E-Portfolio. Specifically because what I should highlight depends on who I am intending the audience of my portfolio to be. I would most probably include for sure my service learning experience and teaching.

It is important for a leader to serve others because that way they are leading with a purpose. Being a servant to others keeps a leader humble. It is important in order for a leader to not let the power go to their head and then loose the spirit and purpose for what they stand for.

Helping others is something that I have always enjoyed doing. Not for the recognition or the acknowledgements but because it just makes me feel good inside. Knowing that I helped others and did something as simple as put a smile on their face makes me feel good about what I am doing, it keeps me humble. I feel like this can relate to leadership because by helping others I feel like one can make a change and inspire others to do the same. 


Esperanza Benitez :)

Limits exist only in the mind.

Hello! My name is Esperanza :)

I am new to the whole blogging thing. Hope this is the start of some good blogging! Haha.

Through the STARS LEAD program I am interested in having the opportunity to explore and learn more about what it actually means to be a leader. Specifically through service. I have always enjoyed service learning and having the opportunity to grow as a leader through the Empowerment Pipeline is exciting. I cannot wait to develop my leadership skills through the workshops that this program offers. 

At the end of the program I wish to have learned so much more about what it means to be a leader. I would like to be able to have developed my leadership skills by taking advantage of all of the opportunities being offered in this program.

In the first STARS Leaders meeting it was exciting to get to meet all of my other peers that are in the program. It was a welcoming environment with ice breakers just getting comfortable with the group that I will be working with this semester. It was enjoyable being in a group full of leaders learning what we will be experiencing together throughout the course of the semester.

Leadership... it is an attitude that one has. It is a mentality of doing what is right with the interests of society in mind.  Being a leader is not just being the first one to speak, being a leader means being the voice of what the group is thinking. A leader does something because it is the right thing to do, not because it is the easiest. A leader is someone that others can count on.

Through the course of this program I wish to be able to learn how to step up to the plate when necessary. Helping out and being someone that others can count on and turn to when something needs to be done. I am specifically interested in feeling comfortable identifying myself as a leader. When someone asks me who are you and what do you bring to the table, I want to be able to say “I am a Leader.”

Esperanza Benitez :)