Reflections Relationship with My Preceptor and Other Staff

                Making friends growing up came easily, at least in my mind; unfortunately, the perception of other people’s opinions was not what I had expected. I would mull over a specific situation or event many nights, and the conversation would play out like a broken record stuck on repeat. Sometimes I change the scenario hoping for a better outcome. It was no different when I met my preceptor at my children’s school winter event, where I presided as the Parent-Teacher Association president. She was a former president that created the winter event nearly six years ago. The initial encounter was limited, and the discussion of interning with my preceptor was a possibility. As time passed and I got to speak with Suzette regularly would become my preceptor, and we got to converse and collaborate on what both of us were attempting to accomplish. We further discussed our expectations from the project she wished to focus on and the areas that I familiar with, which interestingly led to food accessibility. The role that Suzette played is multifaceted in that supported our open ‘no offense taken’ style of conversation so that we can understand each other’s culture, background, and knowledge.

                The leadership that Suzette displayed is quite exciting and something that I am not familiar with. She utilizes a shared leadership method, where she empowers the student to decide which direction to go. Suzette supports my approach and even provides alternatives and suggestions that can help me accomplish my goal. Her support is unique for me as I grew up in a more authoritative leadership that incorporated transactional leadership.  Suzette ‘s push on more transformational leadership has allowed me to disclose my faults so that we can work through my self-imposed challenges.

                I do have to disclose that due to the pandemic and shelter in place, I have not met any other staff members. I would like to have met and worked with Dr. Vicki Alexander, the board president at Healthy Black Families, and co-chaired the City of Berkeley Measure D campaign in 2014 to taxation sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB), also known as the soda tax.¹ Her efforts led to the reduction of SSB. Most importantly, it helped fund the Berkeley Unified School District garden and nutrition program in three preschools, eleven elementary, three middle schools, and one high school.²  Although the current pandemic is preventing me from meeting others; I am very hopeful that our paths will cross on possible future projects.

Reflective question

In the search for an easy, comfortable life, would you rather receive 10,000 alms offerings or give 10,000 alms offerings?

Figure 1.1 – Moving up in life requires trust and collaboration with others to build a tower.

References

1. Board — Healthy Black Families Inc. https://www.healthyblackfamiliesinc.org/board. Accessed November 13, 2020.
2. Hicks T. Where are the millions from Berkeley’s soda tax going? Lots of places — Berkeleyside. Berkeleyside. https://www.berkeleyside.com/2019/02/07/where-are-the-millions-from-berkeleys-soda-tax-going-lots-of-places. Published 2019. Accessed September 22, 2019.