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