#26 - idols

I'm really thinking Leadership Class should do a cool dance or song or something! Because this year, leadership really is head of this school. We are the ones who people look up to, and it'd be so cool to do something crazy dumb, maybe give people courage to be a little silly sometimes!

#25 - festive fun

One fun idea for festive fun could be to do Candy Grams. I know that those are something that people can feel upset about when they don't get one, but what if leadership gave them anonomously, from "Santa" or something, and writing a really positive message on each one. If others want to buy more for friends,  that's fine, but this way everyone could get at least one. :)

#24 - challenge day. challenge week.

Well.. Challenge day was absolutely incredible. It really changed me. I feel like the entire school has been impacted, even if they themselves weren't able to go. I wasn't able to go to the assembly, but I heard crazy good feedback from it! I really don't think Challenge Week was anything. Nothing happened. Was there even really a challenge week? What happened to everything? I kind of wish I myself did something, but it was quite difficult to because of how short the week was and I was only in attendance two days. Something to learn from.

#23 - Joe Paterno

This man is one that many looked up to, and when this sad story was told, it probably devastated many. To not tell anyone about this is something that should be just as bad of a crime. Thankfully, something was finally done, but I don't feel like this coach really means anything to anyone, especially his past players, because the whole time he had a huge secret just hiding within him, and he never shared with someone to stop what was happening.

MIDTERMMMM.

I forgot to hand in my paper, but here's my midterm review:

Within the past half of the semester, I have tried to participate in as many things as I could.
I enjoyed being on the stair climb committee, as well as going to gr. 9 home rooms in the mornings. I also enjoyed the media violence confrence and beginning to work on Speak Up ideas for our in-school confrence!
I've become a role model for other students, but my work is only just beginning. I don't feel I have done enough this half of the semester, but I will do my best during the rest of the year.
My percentage : 85%.

#20 - challenge week

For Challenge Week, I think we need to go to all classrooms and have discussions about bullying. It needs to be more than just our gr. 9 homerooms. Yeah, they matter, but what about the rest of the school?

#19- stair climb

Stair Climb was fantastic! This was my first year going, and I really enjoyed it. For next year, I think that it needs to be announced more directly throughout the schools, whether it be leadership students going to all classes or pledge forms being handed out to every student in their home room. From the United Way perspective, I think it was well run, and I don't think there is anything I would change about it.

#18 - teen suicide

Teen suicide is a very sticky topic. I feel that the awareness of this subject is not known well enough in schools, and I also feel that the schools make absolutely no effort to stop teen suicide. I don't think that schools themselves could ever completely stop it, but by raising awareness of suicide and depression, I think that numerous lives could be saved.

#17- steve job's speech

In the speech that Steve Jobs gave to the Stanford grads, he made numerous good points about life. He overcame so many things in his life such as cancer, not graduating and getting fired from his own company. He really made me think when he said that you cannot connect the dots forwards, you can only connect them backwards. His life was a mess, but the things he got out from all of his experiences were incredible. He inspired me to live my life no matter what others think, and just have fun because in the end, things will work out!

#16- quarter term

If it wasn't for grade 11 leadership, I would not be in the place I am in now. This semester alone, I have already began to get involved in Pep Rally, and am the representative the the United Way Stair Climb Comittee. I look forward to participating in Challenge Day, and doing everything I can to make sure the day and the following week is a success.

#15- leaders and leadership

I think a lot of leaders have given up the spirit of leadership and are concerned about what they want instead of listening to what the people want and need. Their involvment with young people in minimal probably because they believe that we really don't matter, and that only the present matters..

#14- why do white people have black spots?

These children are absolutely incredible. Questions that we would have NEVER thought to ever ask anyone are the first ones that come to children's minds. I continually think about this video because of how intulectuale these uneducated childeren are. Their outlook on life is just so much different than ours, and it's inspiring to see how happy and curious they are, even though they don't have the supposedly "better" lives that we have.

#13- the hundred

I really believe that going with the choice of a lottery is a good way to choose the hundred people. That way, we eliminate all the questions, because it really is just a luck thing. It's really the best way to do it.

#12- her side of the story

I love that she realized what was happening and tried to change it. She did the right thing by giving that money back to an organization that would be able to use it for the good of others. She wants to give back to the other countries without giving the money back in a disrespectful way, and to the wrong people, where the money may not get used properly.

#11- comments

Just like the banting comments, I believe that everyone just needs to mind their own buisness! She did what she thought was best, and if it wasn't the better decision, then move on! Everyone makes mistakes, that's how the world works. I think that everyone harrassing her about it makes the whole We Day and Free The Children Foundation look bad as well for "accepting blood money", but if they leave it alone, it's really no big deal.

#10- Nelly Furtado

I don't think it matters where the money came from, but the fact that she gave money is what matters. She could have just not given anything and looked bad, but since she gave a million dollars, which just happened to be the same amount she got paid for singing, makes her look bad too. I don't think it matters that she got paid for singing for someone that most people don't like, but the fact that all that money is going towards a good cause is what really matters.

#9- poster

I was exteremly happy with the poster that was created by myself, nicoletta and anthony. We created the CREATIVE poster, and I believe it turned out wonderfully! It was a good word because we have many creative people in our school, and a diversity of creativity.

#8- Jack Layton's Letter

Wow. I can honestly say I did not expect that. He seemed like a wonderful leader and it is a shame that he had to pass. I feel as though his thoughts were expressed well, but that it was a bit odd for a letter to be written to Canada. I mean, why not just make a speech? I loved what he said, and it was touching to know that leaders do actually care about the people they're leading.

#7(b)- Real Heroic Behaviour

I can honestly say I have never been in a situation or seen a situation where a true hero was needed. I find myself thankful for that, but unfortunately cannot tell my own story.

#7- Book of Awesome

BOOK OF AWESOME.

That feeling you get after accomplishing something great.

You know that moment when you've accomplished something amazing, and everyone is cheering and clapping for you? That moment when your adrenaline is going and you're just so happy to be alive, loving life, and so glad you did what you just did. It's like taking a bow after an incredible show, or scoring the winning goal in hockey. The feeling you get that makes you feel like you could explode, and fly, and yell all at the same time.

Awesome.



CHALLENGE DAY- HECK YES BABY. I want in! =)

#6- Emotional Debate

I think that others need to leave the school alone. It's their tradition. They love it. Now leave it. That's all I have to say to them. No one needs to get their noses in another school's  buisness. No one is forced to do something they don't want to do, therefore there is really nothing wrong with it. If the students, teachers and parents are okay with this, then that's all that should really matter. There should be no discusion needed.

#5- Banting School Initiation

BEST. IDEA. EVER. I LOVE IT.
I really think that if we started to introduce this at IDCI, we could accumulate more school spirit and have an overall better school! This is absolutely something that would get grade nine's, and everyone else, pumped up for an awesome school year! Who cares if it's embarassing!? It's so much fun! Sometimes doing something embarassing is the most fun a person can have, and I personally believe that IDCI could benefit greatly from an activity like this.

#4- Pat T. A hero.

Pat Tillman was by far a hero. His actions to leave everything he had behind, knowing the consequences of what he was getting in to, was one of the most heroic things someone could do. The fact that he stepped down from the peak of his career shows that he really did care, and should inspire others to know that their world isn't all that's going to matter. That small act of courage and realization made him in to a hero, instead of just another NFL Football Player.

#3- ineffective habits

1. Complaining
-If you complain, you're not doing anything but telling people that you don't care about what they've done, and look like you think you know everything.

2. By-Standing
-By-Standing causes issues in numerous situations such as bullying. If you don't by-stand, your opinions and actions will be taken into account and acted apon.

3. Cockiness
-If you're cocky, get out. It gets you nothing but a bad attitude. no one wants to work with a cocky know-it-all.

4. Procrastination
-Procrastination makes things so much more difficult on a person and applies un-needed pressure to situations that could have avoided pressure. Procrastination is a terrribly ineffective habit to get in to.

5. Sabatoge
-Sabatoging someone's work can be the same as shooting down the twin towers. Why not just kill all their dreams?

#2- the leader within

I believe that not everyone has leadership qualities. There are numerous people that will walk away from a leadership situation without even a second glance, such as when someone is in crisis, or when a bad, threatening decision may have been made. Some people were meant to follow, and some were meant to lead. Leaders always need followers, therefore not everyone can be a leader.

#1- definition of leadership

Leadership is doing good for others in a way that benefits everyone around and involved with the deed that is being done. A leader needs followers, and without followers, you will not be a leader. Leadership involves courage, decision making skills and passion for the people they are leading.