Michael Cortez

TLC Reflection Paper

November 10, 2016

ID: 003423716

Leadership Growth

Before entering the TLC program I had already had leadership experience in high school on sport

teams, in college as a Bible Study Leader and I am a leader in certain volunteer programs I help out in.

However, the TLC program gave me skills I had not learned in other leadership responsibilities I have had

in my life. For instance, I am a fourth year college student at Cal State San Marcos and almost all my life I

have taken classes on history, math, science, english, physics, sociology and classes related to what most

people are learning. TLC gave me training on skills that could place me above and beyond other

competition in the work field. TLC taught me things that may seem like I should already know like how

to give someone a firm handshake, how to build a resume, proper ways of talking to people and other

skills that an abundance of young adults lack. One thing I learned about myself is that I still have a lot of

improvement and work skills I need to improve on. For example, I struggle tremendously with public

speaking and especially in a classroom where I lack to voice my opinion or knowledge. I learned that I

need to face these fears and work at things like this that could hold me back from getting the career that

I want or being a great employee or boss.

One of my goals was to earn better grades and study more that I had made with my TLC leader.

The reason I made this goal is because I know I am very lucky to have the opportunity to be in college

when there are so many people in the world who have never had the opportunity be part of higher

education. In essence, I did not want to waste my opportunity by not trying my best in school so I have

improved my test scored, spent more time reading and I have spent more time studying which is a goal I

plan to continue for the rest of my life.

TLC has reminded me that I cannot just focus on my classes at CSUSM and expect to qualified for

a job when I graduate college. TLC has taught me to start working on my resume while I am in college, to

do research on how to improve the skills I lack, the importance of getting involved in my college and in

my community and skills such as having conversations, business attire, the importance of phone calls

rather than an email and other skills that will prepare me for my career choice. As I mentioned in the

introduction of this reflection paper TLC has taught me skills that are for the most part not taught in

classes in the public educational system. TlC has emphasized to me the importance of communication

and how to handle conflict with people in general but to be specific in the work field. As we all know

there most likely will be people working with us who we have disagreements with or who we don’t get

along with in our careers or jobs and TLC has taught us how to overcome those obstacles which many

people today struggle with. At CSUSM this semester I have had to work with other people on group

projects and the TLC program related to group projects in a classroom because during those group

projects effective communication was essential in order for the group project to be successful and earn

a good grade.

For my campus engagement hours I went on a field trip through a program on campus called

Student Social Services. The play was about a black boy who grew up without a father and mother. The

boy grew up and as he got older the mother who left him as a baby wanted to come back into his life as

a teenager which unfortunately many African American people suffer through. The main point of the

story was to challenge racism and remind the audience that we are all equal. The biological mother of

the black boy was looked Asian more than any other race. This reminded me how no matter what

someone looks like to you we are all equal and nobody deserves to be judged or hated because of their

skin color. The civic engagement I participated in showed me the need of volunteers and that there is

plenty of volunteer work that needs to be done by me and other people. The TLC taught me effective

communication skills not only for when I apply for a job or when I am working in a career but also when I

am having conversations with a stranger, friend and anyone else who comes along my path.

Thank You TLC staff for teaching me these life skills and informing me with civic engagement and

campus opportunities.