Reflect on your experiences and articulate the connection between them and how they have contributed to your ability to articulate how co-curricular in

Reflection: Strategic Planning Competency – City Urban Orchard Project

Coordinating the City Urban Orchard Project allowed me to directly engage in strategic planning, offering practical experience in setting clear goals, crafting a compelling vision, and recognizing the importance of ongoing professional development. From the outset, I understood that for this project to be successful and impactful, I needed to articulate specific, measurable, and achievable goals that guided every phase, from the initial approvals to community outreach which is still ongoing. I led the development of an internal project timeline and goal framework, which included obtaining soil testing through IFAS, identifying Florida friendly fruit tree varieties, securing grant components, and designing an interactive educational component in partnership with local organizations and schools. These articulated goals helped clarify expectations among all involved including the community and allowed us to monitor and track progress.

Developing the project’s mission and vision was equally critical. I collaborated with the Florida Forestry Service, Tree and Beautification Board, and our local IFAS Extension Office to ensure our mission reflected the values of sustainability, community ownership, and education. The vision we co-developed positioned the orchard not just as a beautification effort, but as a legacy project that honored DeFuniak Springs’ historical roots in Arbor Day while providing a hands-on environmental learning space for generations to come. We tied this vision into our communication materials to generate community buy-in and partner support.

Throughout this process, I recognized how essential professional development is in executing strategic initiatives effectively. To better manage communication and inter-agency coordination, I enrolled in urban forestry webinars and had meetings with state-level experts. I also reviewed USDA and DEP guidelines to strengthen my understanding of compliance and long-term maintenance considerations. This investment in professional development deepened my knowledge base and sharpened the leadership skills I need in my long-term goal of advancing sustainable community projects through public service.

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MS CSL Reflection: Self-Awareness and Development Competency – City Urban Orchard Project

Coordinating the City’s Urban Orchard Project was a defining experience that strengthened my self-awareness and commitment to personal development. The project involved working with several federal and local partners, including the Florida Forestry Service under the Florida Department of Agriculture, the Tree and Beautification Board, and our local IFAS extension. Throughout the process, I found myself consistently returning to my core values: environmental stewardship, community engagement, and accountability. Ensuring that the project aligned with these values helped me stay focused on long-term impact rather than short-term recognition. For instance, I advocated for a community-led planting day to create shared ownership of the orchard and fulfill our vision of education and sustainability.

This experience also motivated me to pursue self-development. I took initiative to learn more about urban forestry best practices, grant compliance, and inter-agency communication by attending state-led webinars and reading materials provided by IFAS. By doing so, I was better prepared to facilitate productive meetings and keep the project on track.

Most importantly, I became more aware of my leadership style, collaborative, resourceful, and detail-oriented. I learned how I respond to pressure, where I need to improve (especially in conflict mediation), and how my strengths can bring stakeholders together for a shared goal. This project deepened my understanding of both the work and of myself.

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Personal Behavior Reflection 

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Personal Behavior Reflection

I applied the same behavior competencies that are explored in this reflection when I was Marketing Coordinator for a city government organization formerly. I recognized an opportunity to boost our social media presence in the community which I acted on. I started a new campaign to get the community involved and this effort needed collaboration with several internal and external groups. The initiative was greeted positively and more people now join local events, indicating that making an effort really matters. I was very determined to make sure the campaign ran smoothly, by overseeing everything from idea creation to supervising results and adapting decisions according to feedback. I often monitored performance and teamed up with colleagues to adjust the way we worked so the campaign succeeded.

I needed to behave right and accept responsibility for what I did to earn the trust of others. I made sure to be clear and ethical when handling both public money and community relations. The spring and fall sessions were tough when the school endured budget cuts and when instructors were absent. I dealt with the issues by being flexible, checking our resources and coming up with answers that didn’t affect the quality of our output. The project’s ongoing success depended on remaining adaptable and flexible throughout all changes. Furthermore, I focused on keeping work and personal life apart and made sure I took good care of myself. Thanks to these strategies, I continued to feel good while also excelling at work because I was manage my stress and stay ahead of my tasks.

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Interpersonal Interaction

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As a student leader for our campus's sustainability effort, I spearheaded a trash reduction campaign with student workers and the Facilities Department. This conversation demonstrated interpersonal conversation competency through several key activities. At first, I led weekly planning meetings with students and teachers with varied perspectives to demonstrate my teamwork skills. I gave everyone an opportunity to speak, set goals, and maintained contact. Providing a firm yet flexible structure let everyone feel like they controlled the project.

I realized I could motivate and help others by giving them leadership roles depending on their skills. I chose a confident, visual designer volunteer to lead the marketing subcommittee. This improved advertisements. I acknowledged team members' efforts publicly and personally. This boosted morale and commitment. I created a collaborative online office where volunteers could publish ideas, comment, and stay in touch to maximize their work. We didn't have to repeat anything and could build on one another's work in real time. Our initiative, which increased recycling by 40%, relied on this cooperative structure.

Finally, by mentoring new volunteers, many of whom were freshmen, I made actual connections. I advised them to take more responsibility, listened to their anxieties, and offered to help when we checked in. Mentoring helped our group develop abilities for current projects and the future. Many mentees led other ventures.

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Civic Responsibility Involvement and Reflection

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Civic Responsibility Involvement and Reflection

My involvement serving on the events committee for the city of DeFuniak Springs has provided numerous opportunities to demonstrate civic responsibility competency through meaningful community engagement. As a committee member, I actively contribute to planning strategies that ensure our community events are accessible, inclusive, and representative of our diverse population's needs and interests.

This role motivates me to act in a socially just manner by advocating for equitable resource allocation and ensuring that event programming considers the financial constraints and accessibility needs of all community members. When planning our annual festivals and cultural celebrations, I consistently push for budget considerations that allow free or low-cost participation, recognizing that economic barriers should not prevent community members from engaging in civic life.

My committee work promotes diversity and understanding of others' circumstances by incorporating multicultural elements into our events and actively seeking input from various demographic groups within DeFuniak Springs. I have spearheaded initiatives to include local ethnic organizations, senior groups, and youth programs in our planning process, ensuring their voices shape our community programming rather than simply being invited to participate in predetermined activities.

Through this service, I engage in inclusive behavior by facilitating discussions that welcome differing perspectives and by advocating for accommodations such as multilingual signage, wheelchair accessibility, and programming that spans different age groups and cultural backgrounds (August,2023). This experience has deepened my understanding of the value of serving the community and being socially responsible, as I witness firsthand how thoughtful civic engagement can strengthen community bonds and create spaces where all residents feel valued and represented.

References

August, K. G. (2023). Access, Inclusion, and Accommodation. In  Women in Telecommunications (pp. 285-334). Cham: Springer International Publishing.