Allie Stutting, Nathen Spitz & Colton Musser

Leadership Before our trip

Before our trip, each one of our team members had a different idea of what leadership was. Our team's definition of leadership was incoherent and rather sporadic, considering everyone had diverse and varying leadership experience. While having different, individual ideas of leadership can prompt confusion and friction, these varying opinions and experiences ultimately improved our team's overall leadership efficacy in Little Rock. Before our trip, we thought that leadership was based on us, as individuals, going into a new city in order to provide service for the people of Little Rock. This collective understanding was soon deconstructed when we realized that true leadership is not doing service for others, rather with others in order to create a sustainable impact. We, as a team, revolutionized after this key concept was embedded into our understanding of leadership. Through this catalyzing mindset change, we were able to approach our trip with a more empathetic and humble hearts in Little Rock.

Before our trip, our team did not have the understanding that leadership is not solely about being the person in charge, telling others what to do. In fact, we had the understanding that leadership and service we mutually exclusive. After our leadership and service education, we soon realized that you cannot be a leader unless you are providing sustaining service with other. This concept is something that we really focused on in preparation for our trip. -AS

Leadership During OUR TRIP

It was finally time to put our time spent in and outside of class learning about leadership to the test in our service opportunities in Little Rock, AK. During our time in Little Rock, we served with community partners at Our House--a homeless shelter for men, women, children, and families that also serves as a career center and educational facility for youth of Little Rock; Women and Children First--a shelter for men, women, and children who have experienced Domestic Violence and need a safe place to escape their situation; and Arkansas Children's Hospital--one of the largest pediatric healthcare facilities in the nation, and the only prominent pediatric children's hospital in the entire state of Arkansas.

Some shining examples of our understanding of leadership put into action are pictured below. With the picture of Ashley pictured to the left, Ashley is demonstrating leadership by taking on less envious tasks by herself, setting an example for followers to soon take action as well. By Ashley stepping up and doing that, HST members quickly felt more comfortable to follow suit and begin their own tasks. To the right is a picture of a group of HST members showcasing their knowledge of leadership by buying into a shared vision and enacting change throughout that vision. With a shared vision of each person doing their part to put together craft bags for children in Arkansas Children's Hospital to do, this team was able to put the group goal above their own to accomplish their goal in an effective and efficient manner.

Although we obtained some images of us in action, it was agreed upon by everyone in our group that leadership is not always tangible, and was not always able to be photographed or recognized. Leadership was also be seen in words of affirmation or encouragement to inspire those around them; leadership was seen in people offering to take hard jobs; and leadership was seen in continuously having a positive and encouraging attitude to make sure that everyone on our trip was inspired and bought into our shared goal. -NS

A picture of HST member Ashley Sitzman at Women and Children First, demonstrating her knowledge of leadership by setting an example for others to follow by doing less envious tasks.

A picture of HST members Colton Musser, Allie Stutting, Nicole VanErsvelde, Sarah Harding and Carolyn Lo exhibiting their knowledge of leadership by all buying into the shared vision of making craft supplies for children at Arkansas Children's Hospital.

Leadership After OUR TRIP

After our trip, we put our knowledge of leadership obtained both from lecture and our experience from service in Little Rock to use in our shared community of Iowa City. From learning about what it means to an active citizen in the classroom to putting our skills into action in Little Rock, we developed as leaders through every step of the process. After the trip, we were able to work together to orchestrate a spring themed party in the Stead Family Children's Hospital for the kids who were staying there.

As per our understanding of leadership, service does not end after an experience--it is just started. We took initiative in inspiring our group to get excited to go into our own community and make a difference with our newly developed and refined skills by continuing to pursue service opportunities. -CM

This is University of Iowa Stead Family Children hospital, the location of our after service project. We demonstrated our developed leadership skills by preparing and executing a party for the kids receiving treatment there.

This is a picture of our group outside of the Arkansas Children's Hospital. We were able to work with kids, create projects, and learn about the hospital while there.

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