MSLD 500 Module 2 - Tell Your Story

Tell Your Story

We all have been shaped by our personal history, influenced by associations, family, values, activities, environment and so forth. Our life story usually guides us on how to respond to the situations we face and which standards we follow to react to these situation, or in short terms, how our mind works on our relationship with the world.

          My life story was mostly shaped by non-critical- thinking standards, with some hints of critical thinking. While a child, I have watched my parents looking for joy. Along with my brother, we all went out to catch up with my parents’ friends during weekends, on environments surrounded with a lot of people, music, dance, and always on outdoor activities during the day. At least once a year, two things could not be missed: theme park and a holiday at the beach. Apart from that, sports were always present on our daily life, especially team sport. With that, I can say I was shaped by the non-critical-thinking standards, listed by Nosich (2012, p. 153), of fun, exciting, feels good and spontaneous. Some deeper non-critical-thinking standards were there in that phase of my life as well, such as free and loving.

          The great thing about it is that my parents did not let me grow only with these standards. The implement of some of the critical-thinking standards were always present which made me keep my feet on the ground, in harmony with the world around me. I have been grown in a well-organized and reliable environment, with plenty of clearness more than just obedience. Everything was always explained to me in order to make me understand the reason behind the rules. Honesty was always present as well, meaning it could be fun and full of joy but never without morality on my actions.

          My primary and extended family played a crucial role in my life story, and how I responded and still respond to all aspects in my life. I acquired my standards mostly from them. At school I just learnt alphabetization and all subjects in order to prepare me for my professional life. Value as discipline and respect were taught at home, and my parents never counted on my scholar education to that.

          One very interesting non-critical-thinking standard influenced the way I critically think indeed: freedom. The fact I was free to think, to say what I though, to ask, to choose anything I wanted (with my parents’ permission afterwards by all means), to argue when not agreed (to understand the reason behind), and have always been explained about everything, made be face the world in a critical way. These questions were always there: but why, why not, but if, if not, for what? I had plenty of arguments with teachers, professors, priests, and so forth. Until I was not convinced with reasonable aspects of a subject, I was not satisfied.

          My standards did not change dramatically over the years. I just learnt, while in college and during daily adult life (which still is going on by the way), how to calm down, to think before saying, to analyze if it is worth arguing or convincing someone. I have learnt how to choose people I want to be with and environments I want to go into. I have more obedience, due to my professional experience. I realized some aspects cannot be explained to me and full stop, which was hard at the beginning but I have learnt how to live with it peacefully.

          Currently, the way I face situations in my life is more reasonable, logical, rational, relevant and still deep. Work experience, relationships and life style changed in few aspects the way I think, but the way I respond to situations is, thus far, influenced by the values learnt throughout my childhood.

          So, after all, what is the point of going through our life history and understand how our life story was built? The most important aspect of becoming conscious about our influences and how we have been shaped is stated by Nosich (2012, p.39):

“That then lays a foundation for you to become more intellectually autonomous, to gain substantially more ability to shape your own present and future through critical thinking.”

Nosich, G. M. (2012). Learning to think things through: A guide to critical thinking across the curriculum (4th edition). Boston, MA: Pearson.

MSLD 500 Module 1 - Intellectual Perseverance

Intellectual Perseverance

Intellectual Perseverance is not just a simple intellectual trait. I acknowledge it one of the most crucial, considering the contemporary society. According to The Critical Thinking Community, Intellectual Perseverance is:

• having a consciousness of the need to use intellectual insights and truths in spite of difficulties, obstacles, and frustrations;
• firm adherence to rational principles despite the irrational opposition of others;
• a sense of the need to struggle with confusion and unsettled questions over an extended period of time to achieve deeper understanding or insight.       

       Having this definition as a bottom line, I define Intellectual Perseverance as the ability to reason through challenging situations and believe fiercely on it, aiming to achieve the best outcome and solution, considering all the parts involved.

       Lately, we live in a dynamic world, surrounded by constant political, social, professional and personal changes and challenges. Difficulties are all over, and our capacity to overcome them adopting the most reasonable way, it is what defines us as good leaders towards the world and ourselves.

      All important step taken, independent of the sphere of our lives, brings up difficulties, which can be an obstruction or a stepping stone, a grievance or a triumph. The capability to turn negativity to positivity and failure to success is upon us, on our perseverance and intellectual skills.

      With my studies would not be different. Taking a new step on my career, I decided to major a master after being seven years away from an academic environment. The comfort zone held me for quite long time, but even knowing about all the obstacles I would have, I still took the decision, applied and registered on a Master of Science in Leadership in an aeronautical university. I am passionate for the subject and in love for aviation, and this alliance is what moved me forward to complete the step taken.

       Not being an English native speaker and registered in a north American university for the first time, being away from academic studies for a long period of time, having a job with different shifts every single day while working in aviation, are the most relevant challenges I believe I will face during the program, but considering my passion for the fields in question, my ability to see and turn positivity through negativity, the belief I have on my own intellectual capabilities, it what makes me go on. I will not give up and I am sure I will achieve my goal with delight along the journey, overcoming the difficulties. My intellectual perseverance will play a valuable role on this new phase of my life.

       As good leaders we need to have the knowledge besides the will, we need to be up-to-date, to free ourselves from convenience, we need to be more than critical thinkers and decision makers. We must to be part of the solution and along with knowledge, actual information and analytical thinking, we need to persevere intellectually through hard times!

The Critical Thinking Community. Valuable Intellectual Traits. Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/valuable-intellectual-traits/528