BUS 374 Week 13 Reflection

 This week, we learned about disciple leadership and how it relates to social innovation. The readings this week were all spiritual in nature and reflected on how social innovation and the gospel work together. We are all children of God and we should all do what we can to help others. Being a disciple leader means taking on causes of social innovation by seeing the needs of others and working out ways to help them.

My favorite reading this week was Elder Holland's talk "Are We Not All Beggars?" This talk was a great reminder that Christ himself came from poverty and even homelessness. We all have needs of one kind or another and and different points in our lives. Not one person is exempt from this. We, as children of God, should do whatever we can to help those around us.

Another thing that I really enjoyed this week was the format of the quiz. Instead of memorizing facts, it was nice to have essay questions so we could focus more on the application of our knowledge. 

As I reflect on my future social innovation goals and the gospel, I wonder if I can merge the two even further. I am interested in helping families with special needs students, specifically those with learning differences. I am thinking about advocacy and after this week, I am thinking about how I can also work some type of social/emotional content into it. I think many of these students and the families they come from can feel insecure because of their differences and I want them to get not only the school support, but I want them to be able to be proud of themselves and see themselves through Christ's eyes.

BUS 374 Week 12 Reflection

 This week, we covered self-reliance and microcredit. The focus was mostly on self-reliance. Changes can come to those that work for them. When individuals are taught how to do for themselves and then have the drive to apply that information, they can make changes to their own lives instead of waiting for companies or charities around them to make the changes for them. Sometimes, however, self-reliance needs a boost. Microfinance is one of those ways. Individuals can be given a small loan to finance something small. KIVA, for example. might finance the purchase of a goat. The goat alone will not bring in income, but the milk from the goat can provide food for the family as well as selling the extra or turning it into soap to sell. The income can then get the individual well off enough financially that they can repay the loan and thrive. 

I enjoyed Paul Godfrey's video on how self-reliance can eliminate poverty. The line from it, "Responsibility fuels action, self-efficacy focuses it into productive activity," really stood out to me. If an individual sees that they are responsible for their own outcome, not the government and not a charity, then they can channel it into self-efficacy or the believe that they can do the hard things needed to make the changes their situation requires. That is when the actions the individual takes play a vital role. The choices and actions they take are what will propel them out of poverty. This doesn't only apply to those in poverty however, it can apply to any situation that you might find yourself in. Knowing that no one else is responsible for you own success and that you hold within you the ability to do the hard work required is empowering and can help you to succeed in whatever challenges you might face.

In my own personal development with self-reliance I think I have come a long way. When I was 17, I started college and after 2 semester, I dropped out. I was frustrated because I had no support and no one helping me. I didn't know how to manage my time and I didn't know how to get financial aid on my own. I thought that I just didn't have what it takes t succeed at college. Here I am now, at the age of 36. I have been married, had 2 kids, divorced, started and stopped school 3 different times. Along the way I have learned so many things about myself. I have learned that I can do hard things. I can do seemingly impossible things! I know that I am responsible for my success and for the health and well being of my family. I also know that I am not destined to be a failure in life. I can still change things around. That is why I am now, almost 20 years later, back in college, and doing well. I have the ability to rely on myself to learn what I need in order to thrive in classes. I will get my degree and use it to pursue a better career so that I can more fully provide for the needs of my family. I am not looking for someone to solve my problems for me. I am able to solve them for myself.