Weaknesses are worthy

The most thought-provoking blueprint experience for me was participating in the strength-finding test. However; more memorable than the test was the ideas the speaker focused on, "Americans focus too much on improving their weaknesses, not their strengths. Some people, take Tiger Woods or Shaq for example, are made to play certain sports. No matter how much heart someone puts into a sport at practice and games, they will never be as good as the person who was born with that talent. " Sure, it makes logical sense. And the world tells you you need to be the best at something.

I disagree. So what if your not the best player on the team? Rather, your the one who everyone comes to for encouragement. You keep up the motivation on the team and keep the spirits light when practice gets hard.

I agree with the speaker that everyone has strengths and that it requires a strong leader to find those strengths in people. Utilize your strengths-but not to be the best. Use them to do what you like and like what you do.

Final Post

My favorite part of the Blueprint experience was when Prof. Pentz came to speak to us about communication and how to more than effectively, but engagingly speak to others and be able to convey our ideas, hopes, and visions. Not only did I learn a lot and have a very enjoyable session, but I've found after this event I really enjoying speaking to other people and have been able to utilize what she taught us. I've become a more effective communicator and am now more often able to engage and motivate people for clubs and other organizations in which I lead.

Define Yourself

Time goes really fast, tonight comes our sixth session, also the last one.

Looking back on the Blueprint program, I have learned a lot from it. There are various speakers along the time, focusing on different areas about leadership. But there's one important aspect they all mention, that is courage to face failures. No matter doing scientific research or giving public speech, there are always obstacles and even failures. A leader is not the person who never fail, instead, the greatest leader has often faced the most severe difficulty. But the point is, don't let failure define you, but let it teach you. And you define yourself. I think this is the most important inspiration I've ever had from Blueprint.