I have two passions in life and one of those passions has been working with youth. My
passion for youth started when I did my first year of AmeriCorps and was placed in a youth
center. I went on to work in the nonprofit sector, typically working with youth but not limited to
that demographic. Later in life, I realized I needed a degree to support my work history and
credibility, so I went back to school to finish my undergrad degree majoring in youth
development with a minor in Deaf culture, which leads to my other passion–helping people
understand how to work with or have clients that are Deaf and not make them feel less simply
because they cannot hear. I have first-hand knowledge and experience related to people who can
hear struggling to withhold or educate their negative opinions about people who are deaf. Those
negative misconceptions are painful, and I want to see mutual understanding and respect take its
place. Also, another key factor is the church (it is not immune to those thoughts), and, in my
experience, church is one of the most challenging places for Deaf people. "Deaf and hard of
hearing were marginalized and generally excluded from salvation" (Kvicalova, 2018, p. 24). I
see my long-term goals connected in two areas, which could be working with Deaf youth. I
realized in my AmeriCorps years that I connect with teens well and working with them and
helping them comes easily to me. I am not entirely sure in what capacity I will serve just yet. I
know a goal I have is consulting with companies and organizations working with or serving Deaf
people.
Starting the Doctoral in Strategic Leadership (DSL) at Liberty University for myself has no
right, wrong or perfect time to begin. It was mainly searching for a program that worked with
how I want to see my future while complemented my other degrees. It is my short-term to
complete the DSL program and I do not have short-term career goals. Currently, I am solely
focused on school and being successful in it.
The DSL program at Liberty will aid me in my future career because being Deaf, I will
need to prove myself more. Unfortunately, the majority of people assume Deaf people are
uneducated and unable to thrive in the workplace. With the goals I have for the future, a Ph.D. in
strategic leadership will allow me to go into any situation with confidence and the ability to lead
even when people doubt my capabilities simply because I cannot hear. The expectations I have
of the DSL program are that it will give me a well-rounded education with both a worldly and a
Christian view. I expect it will prepare me to lead in a multitude of situations, not only in the
easy situations, but the ones that are unexpected and challenging. An article I read said,
"strategic leadership that is a combination of absorption ability, which means learning ability,
adaptability ability, which is ability to change, and management ability that combines
discernment and appropriate timing, communication and job satisfaction in organization can be
further improved" (Yun & Lee, 2021, p. 747). I look forward to the day when I have my
Doctoral in Strategic Leadership and these things can be said about me.
Something I remind myself often is a verse from the bible that says, "’For I know the
plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a
future, and a hope’" (New Living Translation, 2021, Jeremiah 29:11). This verse has become a
vital inspiration and reminder in my life and is something I have tattooed on myself. I try to
remind myself that my plans of when I go to school, where I live, and many other things in life
may not always be God's plans. For example, I thought I would have spent my whole life in
Minnesota without finishing my undergrad degree. However, I completed my master's degree
three years ago and moved to Texas. Now I have started my Ph.D., and I will be moving to
Florida in the next few months.
References
Holy bible new living translation. (2021). DaySpring; Candace Cameron Bure
Kvicalova, A. (2018). Hearing difference and cultural construction of deafness.BListening and
Knowledge in Reformation Europe,B47(1), 25–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-
03837-3_4B
Nam-Sik Yun, & Seok Kee Lee. (2021). The effect of CEO’s strategic leadership on
organizational satisfaction through communication: focusing on the moderating effect of
management trust groups. Ilkogretim Online, 20(3), 746–756.
https://doi.org/10.17051/ilkonline.2021.03.80
Responses:
Jason Selph
I also went back to school after living some adult life. I was a paramedic for a few years
and worked in talk radio before returning to school in my late 30's. I went to an on-campus
program and often would look at my peers and realize I could be their parent. But I know for
myself not going back to finish my undergraduate degree until I was in my late 30's is exactly
what I needed. I had lived life and knew what my passions were. So going back to school then I
was able to take degrees that fit that passion. If I had gone right to university out of high school, I
am not sure where I would be. I know I would not have pursued degrees that benefit my current
goals. "Main priorities are to gain knowledge and skills that will be directly relevant to the
workplace" (Hagelskamp et al., 2013). I know if I stayed in college in my 20's that my main
priority would not have been what will the best for my future but what was the path of least
resistance.B
I was reading an article about ethical goal setting for our discussion post, and I found this
helpful "ethical goals are set within larger life goals" (Illathuparampil, 2017, p. 4). It seems
evident for most of us, especially with the university we chose to go to. But it is something to
keep in mind.BUltimately, we know God will be on our side as long as we keep him a part of our
plan. "May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed" (New Living
Translation, 2021, Psalms 20:4).B
References
Hagelskamp, C., Schleifer, D., DiStasi, C., & Public Agenda. (2013). Is college worth it for me?
How adults without degrees think about going (back) to school. In Public Agenda. Public
Agenda.
Holy bible new living translation. (2021). DaySpring; Candace Cameron Bure
Illathuparampil, M. (2017). Goal-oriented ethics: framing the goal-setting
concretely.BReligions,B8(10), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel8100228B
Jason Philson
I love seeing that you are constantly setting short-term goals. I guess in my own ways, I do
as well but not to the same level as you do. Because of some life circumstances, I do daily (short-
term) goals. Most would look at it as a to-do list. But for me, it is a list of things I am hoping to
complete. For some, those kinds of goals are big things to achieve. But, I know even as small as
they may be, God is going to be by my side. "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the
Lord establishes their steps" (New Living Translation, 2021, Psalms 16:9). Then you take
physical therapy, there is something called "SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable,
Relevant, and Timed)" (Bexelius et al., 2018, p. 850). I believe this is something that can be used
in all areas of life when goal setting.
I appreciate your hustle. Knowing sometimes, getting your foot in the door can lead to
great things. I feel like sometimes it easier to do it that way than to expect to be able to walk into
the top floor. Over time people get to know your work ethic and trust it as well. "grit was
operationalized as a unique construct representing an individual's perseverance and passion for
long-term goals" (Brooks & Seipel, 2018, p. 22). Reading your post, it sounds like this fits your
drive.
Sidenote I will be moving to Ocala, Florida, at the end of August. Any tips or tricks I need
to know about it?
References
Bexelius, A., Carlberg, E. B., & Löwing, K. (2018). Quality of goal setting in pediatric
rehabilitation-A SMART approach.BChild: Care, Health and Development,B44(6), 850–
856. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12609
Brooks, N. G., & Seipel, S. J. (2018). Grit and the Information Systems Student: A Discipline-
Specific Examination of Perseverance and Passion for Long Term Goals. Information
Systems Education Journal, 16(1), 21–32.B
Holy bible new living translation. (2021). DaySpring; Candace Cameron Bure
