Intellectual Perseverance
            After reading the assignment I thought this was just a generic assignment, just giving my definition on what intellectual perseverance is and what it means to me. But after clicking the link “This is an ePortfolio” and watching the Youtube video “Why Build a Portfolio” I got a much deeper and better understanding of what it could do for me. In the video, it states if it is done right a portfolio could help me become a better learner, thinker, communicator, and also a better leader. If I am willing to follow the process, opening up, and reflect on my experiences. Using the process, opening up, and reflecting on my experiences can help cause change. And for me that’s changing my thought process and my self-image.
            I have never considered or thought of myself as an academic. I never seek out knowledge. I only took interest in things that interested me. I only knew of what was in front of me. And that didn’t include Intellectual Perseverance. It only included Personal Perseverance.
I would lose focus or interest all together in some if not most subjects or topics. To me growing up in the intercity, school was just a place where you “HAD” to go. There were very few if any teachers that were there to reach a student. They were there to make it through the day and collect a check. And to me that what learning was, just a chore to make it through the day.
            I went to college because that is what I was told you had to do if you didn’t want to use your back all your life to make a living. I want to use my head, plus I thought I was to cool and good looking to do hard labor. But my entire college career I was just attending classes to past the class subject. Yes, I past he class. But how much did I really retain?
            This course has already challenge me to think and explore myself and what I want out of the Masters of Science Leadership Degree. After 8 years of schooling back and forth despite the frustration inherited in the task I have persevered to start working to the complexities of what I want to accomplish with my schooling.
            I have been in aviation for 17 years as a mechanic, inspector, management, and now as a engineer. I have always used what I called tribal and learn knowledge. I’ve had success in my career and life. As some would say “coming where I’m from”. But I want more.

            And this leads me to my definition of Intellectual perseverance. Intellectual perseverance is the ability work through complex problems that are both frustrating and difficult. Intellectual perseverance isn’t just find the first answer and moving on. I requires a commitment to think through the problem or issue. Intellectual perseverance requires a commitment to seek to overcome obstacles that are in the way of achieving the stated goals. Intellectual perseverance is the pursuit of true and reasonable belief. And knowledge.

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