Reflect on the value of taking initiative and responsibility for personal behavior, act in an ethical manner and demonstrate resilience and the ability to respond to ambiguity and change.
Student leaders must role model social responsibility at all times but especially when representing the college/university. On and off campus behaviors should match the values of the organization and institution leaders represent. Establishing healthy lifestyle habits while in college also translates into healthy lifestyle habits after college. Balancing time between school, work, leisure, recreation, and family will help student leaders stay emotionally, physically, and spiritually grounded.
Personal Behavior competencies:
Places a value on taking initiative.
Motivated to follow-through on responsibilities.
Takes responsibility for personal behavior and acts in an ethical manner.
Demonstrates resiliency and the ability to respond to ambiguity and change.
Establishes healthy behaviors and satisfying lifestyle habits.
Personal Behavior Reflection
Give a specific example of how this involvement used/demonstrated the Personal Behavior Competency (200 word minimum). Please include an example or mention how the example demonstrates of each of these:
Places a value on taking initiative.
Motivated to follow-through on responsibilities.
Takes responsibility for personal behavior and acts in an ethical manner.
Demonstrates resiliency and the ability to respond to ambiguity and change.
Establishes healthy behaviors and satisfying lifestyle habits.
Full Answer Section
As the event drew closer, we encountered a major unforeseen issue: several key vendors pulled out last minute due to a competing event in a nearby town, creating significant gaps in our planned layout and revenue. This sudden ambiguity presented a real test. However, my motivation to follow through on responsibilities kicked in. I immediately began contacting backup vendors from our waiting list and reached out to local businesses that hadn't initially applied, working tirelessly to fill the empty slots. This also required me to demonstrate resiliency and the ability to respond to ambiguity and change. Instead of getting discouraged, I viewed it as a problem to be solved, quickly adapting the site layout plans to accommodate new vendors and ensuring optimal foot traffic.
Crucially, in my interactions with stressed vendors and committee members, I consistently took responsibility for personal behavior and acted in an ethical manner. There were moments of frustration, but I maintained professionalism, communicated transparently about the challenges, and ensured all vendor agreements were honored or renegotiated fairly. I consciously role-modeled calm and problem-solving, never resorting to blame. Throughout this demanding period, I also made a conscious effort to establish healthy behaviors and satisfying lifestyle habits. Despite the increased workload, I maintained my exercise routine, ensured I got adequate sleep, and took short breaks to manage stress. This self-care allowed me to remain emotionally, physically, and spiritually grounded, enabling me to be a more effective and reliable leader during a challenging time for the committee.
Sample Answer
My continued involvement with the DeFuniak Springs Events Committee provides a strong platform for demonstrating the Personal Behavior Competency, particularly when it comes to navigating the practical challenges of event planning.
A specific example of this occurred during the planning for our recent "DeFuniak Springs Spring Festival," which faced unexpected logistical hurdles. I had been assigned the crucial task of coordinating vendor registration and site layout, a responsibility I took very seriously, demonstrating that I place a value on taking initiative. Instead of waiting for directives, I proactively created a detailed spreadsheet for vendor applications, developed a tiered pricing system based on booth size and amenities, and began mapping out potential layouts for the town square, well in advance of our committee meetings. This upfront work allowed us to anticipate challenges and make informed decisions faster.