Chapter 16 Writing Assignment

As I read a section of “Learn to Love the Plateau” in chapter 16, I was moved by the way of managing frustrations that happens because of not being able to make immediate success or improvement. Since I am living the world that immediate success is required or appreciated, I carelessly forget the fact that there are things that do not move quickly or happen overnight. In addition, I am not accustomed to effort over a long span. After reading the chapter, however, I noticed the importance of making effort even if it takes a lot of time to succeed. Thus, I started some actions that will lead future success (not immediate success) on ballet performance.

In order to make a ballet performance better in the future, I began to exercises to strengthen my abdominal muscle which is the key to a better performance. Since I have been practicing ballet for 17 years, techniques that I have not practiced are few. After obtaining most of techniques, my main purpose of practicing became to improve myself in making a performance. Although it is enjoyable to practice ballet, sometimes I feel frustrated and tired because I cannot see the improvement soon. After noticing the fact that something do not happen overnight, I advice myself that it is important to do small activities for long term for success. In addition, I joined ballet circle for having more time to practice ballet.

Although I have not been able to feel the effect of exercises yet, I became to be able not only to manage my frustrations but also to make steady efforts. I would like to keep working toward success for a long time!

Case Study Reflection

About the Content of the Chapter 13

For the presentation of the case studies, I read chapter 13 where Anna Mahr who led a health insurance company at the edge was described. Although I could not search and find visuals of the company for the presentation because the name of the company was a fictitious, I could understand and easily imagine the hard situation of the company. I really enjoyed reading about the WOMAN leader.

In my presentation, I summarized the story by explaining the problems and her strategies for the problems relating to Shackleton’s strategies. First, I explained briefly the fact that the health insurance company had serious service and finance problems and it would almost be forced to discontinue their business by SRA. Then, I introduced the details how Anna managed such a serious situation by showing the nine actions and recovered the business referring to Shackleton’s strategies.

Of course, every action that Anna took was effective to rebuild the company’s system, but I especially like the action that she had a party with ALL employees who participated in the process of national evaluation process. The party was held without status differences and held not based on the outcome (after the party they got the news that the company had been accredited for three years) but just for ending work off which attracted me the most.

About Skills and Impression of the Presentations

About my attitude to the presentation, I could use the skills such as eye contacts and using body effectively which I learned in LILTDY’s classes. Although it was difficult to present within the time and to use appropriate English, I enjoyed presenting the story after thinking the best way to convey it to my friends. In addition, it was interesting to listen to presentations of my friends. Although each situation was different, leadership and strategies carried out by the heads of the companies were impressive.

Through reading the chapter and listening to the presentations, I became to think that people who can turn the problems or terrible situation into chances to make the company advance can be successful leaders.

Personal Narrative

A program called “Asian Youth Exchange Program in Okinawa 2008” gave a big influence on me. When I was in the second grade at high school, I was chosen one of the participants as a representative of Japan. That program was held by Japanese Cabinet Office and seventy five students from Asian and Oceania region gathered in Okinawa to build good relationship by studying and playing together.

We did mainly three things there. Firstly, we learned environmental issues such as global warming, water pollution and blanching coral leaf as we listened to lectures and watched coral leaf by scuba diving. Then we discussed the issues in English. Since each participant who has a different lifestyle in a different county had a different point of view about the issues and field works, discussing was interesting even though we could not come to the conclusion.

Secondly, the participants introduced their countries. We, Japanese group presented the culture. We talked about famous places and food related with their home prefectures. We explained a tea ceremony related with Kyoto prefecture, Biwa Lake with Shiga prefecture and Natto with Ibaraki prefecture and so on. Since I did not have much information about Eastern South Asia countries, it was very interesting for me to listen to their explanations and to find similarities in their languages or national costumes especially in Indochina Peninsula.

Finally, we did many fantastic activities in the program not only just for enjoyment but also for getting better understanding Okinawa and one another. For example, we, all members walked Kokusai Streets, and went to Churaumi Aquarium, which are famous sightseeing places in Okinawa. We also enjoyed barbecue near the beach and stayed at islanders’ houses in Ie-Island which is isolated island of Okinawa for three days. In addition, we visited the peace memorial park of World War II. These activities were included in the program and we fully played and talked together whenever we had time.

That was the first time I spent with such a many people from many different countries and studied about environmental issues, which gave me a lot of influence. The program stimulated me to study English harder and widened my views to see the world, and the friends who I made through the program have been continuing influence on my personality.

Firstly, I wanted to study English harder after the program because I regretted that I could not sufficiently say my opinions or feelings. The members listened to my stories carefully and guessed what I meant and suggested what I should have said. I want to communicate with them more smoothly. It is one of the reasons why I am studying at ICU.

Secondly, I got along well with friends from Asian regions. I actually did not really like China before because of territorial and food issues. After the program I became to recognize China where friends of mine live and that their culture differs from politics. I decided to take Asian Study major because of this experience.

Finally, I learned the fact that many people who have different backgrounds live in the same planet with same feelings such as kindness and compassion and different opinions based on their cultures. In addition, I learned different approaches and views to a thing. I can easily accept others’ opinions now and examine a situation from many points of view by imaging how and what friends of mine would think.

Although it has been three years since I spent the program, that experience is still the base of my thinking.

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMuwZEFFn7Q

Week Six Writing Assignment

Through reading chapter 7 and 8, I learned the effective ways of managing conflicts and difficulties. I have never experienced such a sever condition as Shackleton did but I strongly felt it was valuable for everybody in a team to try to resolve problems early and to have celebration and humor.

In this blog, I will write three possible ways as supposing to having conflicts with friends in my club activities or classes. (Related to expedition log in chapter 7).

Firstly, to believe and imagine better relationship with the friends after conflicts make me have positive feeling about conflicts. This thought allows me not only to reduce my anger but also to regard conflict not as bother thing but as a chance to grow me up and to have better relationship with others.

Secondly, to talk directly with my friends about conflicts often reduces my anger. There may be possible to finish the discussions only with listening to or saying complains, but  we can probably get better understanding each other which allows me to release myself from anger.

Finally, having time after the conflicts can refresh my mind. Although it is very difficult to completely forget the conflicts, doing something that I can concentrate on is important. Dancing, singing, watching funny TV programs and studying are good examples. Through these activities, I can often get other perspectives to solve the conflicts.

Although it is hard for me to practice these ways when I actually have conflicts, I will try to use this method for reducing my anger and building better relationship with my friends.

Week 5 Assignment

When I was in the second grade at the high school, through making performance which was a kind of present for the graduating students, I noticed the importance of sending a strong message to every member of our team as a leader and working with appropriate status differences in order to make the best performances smoothly and effectively. That time was the last chance to make performance with friends in the same grade, I could use techniques well with other leaders to the whole team. That became one of the reasons that our performance was succeeded.

Firstly, the other leaders and I tried to send the message that the performance was made by ALL members in our grade and we needed everyone’s cooperation and attention to the performance. By the message, they noticed that their roles were important and the group leaders took responsibilities for the performance, as a stage setting group, a stage lightning group and so on. That stimulated the members, which strengthened teamwork.

Secondly, we tried to keep appropriate status differences in order to work everyone smoothly. In chapter 6, minimization of status differences was mentioned. As the chapter said, it is important for the team that leaders to do the same thing with other members and not to domineer with their authority. In reality, however, there was time that we needed to force team members to work harder using authority, especially when preparation of the performance delayed. Thus, we paid more attention to balancing the status differences rather than just minimizing it.

By using techniques which are related to contents of chapter 5 and 6, I was able to lead the performance effectively and to enjoy preparation for the performance.

Week Four Writing Assignment

As Shackleton could not control his health well, I am not good at managing my health.  I easily catch a cold and I am suffered from pollen allergy. Actually I used to catch a cold once a month when I was in the kinder garden and I had to take an entrance examination of a junior high school when I had a cold. I managed those situations and made success, but sometimes I would feel that I would die because of the illness or tiredness. Thus, saving my stamina and keeping myself healthy are really important for me. Still I am bad at controlling my health, and often I cannot stop working for reducing my anxiety of my grade, but there are three things that I try to do for staying healthy.

Firstly, even though I cannot finish doing my homework, I try to go to bed by twelve o’clock. Instead of continuing these things at night, I get up earlier to finish them, which increases concentration on my work in the morning.

Secondly, I set a time limit for each work. For example, I set twenty minutes for writing a blog and try to finish up in the time. It is difficult to do, but it makes me work effectively.

Finally I try to have time that I stop thinking about my homework. Practicing ballet, singing, studying Korean, and talking with my friends and family are also valuable for me. By having such time, I can do my work more and more with full energy.

It is difficult to take balance of staying healthy and doing my homework perfectly. However, doing above things, I want to manage my health well.

Week Three Writing Assignment

I am writing this blog related to “Optimism and Reality.” (Chapter 3)

Once I am worried about something, I always imagine bad situation even though nothing has happened yet. Especially I cannot sleep well because of anxiety when I try to meet a challenge, which is bad for my health and mentality. Therefore to be optimistic is very important.

The biggest worry that I am facing now is whether I can get more than B grade in “Introduction to Eastern Art.” I need that kind grade for being majoring in Asian Study and to apply for an exchange student.  However it is difficult for me to get all important information because the class is held in English and full of jargon.  Moreover, I could not do well on my demonstration quiz. I am stressed out caused by these facts now.

To release myself from the situation, I have tried to be optimistic imitating to Shackleton. There are three things that have made my stress reduce.

Firstly, I believed that I would succeed to understand the content of the class and do well on my exams as Shackleton believed his success.

Secondly, I tried to check my notes every day to review the class and prepared for the exams. I tried to get relief not only just believing success but also getting knowledge of the class.

Finally, I said to myself that “if I cannot do well in spite of my efforts, it is fate, which is prepared for me.” This phrase might be negative, but it rather encourage me to do my best.

By having done these things, I am getting to be able to reduce my worry. Still I cannot have enough confidence that I will succeed the exams, but I am relieved from the bad situation gradually.