Last time you seen... [Free write]

So I was working doing the weekly routine and we went to the Maricopa Association of Governments Economic Development meeting, and when we was returning my supervisor was talking with Mayor Lewis and was advising that I would be attending a “Town Meeting”. This was not on my calendar of meeting to attend this week so I was interested in what was going on. The Mayor was happy I was going to attend so I thought it was going to be an interesting engagement to attend.

So I got there early and I had a lot of eyes on me, people saying they seen me around the office so I introduced myself. And Mayor Lewis starting talking and called up to the front and introduced me to the Town Council, they were all very nice and opening to me. I wrote down and these names and listened to them and took notes every time they spoke that night. I knew to be better at my job I had to do my own research on them to better educated myself on the council members.

I have never been to a town council meeting or in a town hall or chambers before until now. I mean I have been in our tribal buildings and tribal council chambers for meeting but this was different to me because it was at a whole different level. I was comfortable with the seating, and was impressed with the cameras and speakers providing sound. If you miss a town council meeting you can watch it online as they record it and replay for the public, you can even sit outside town hall and watch the meeting on tv and listen to everything being said, I thought this was pretty cool. Other than networking and introducing myself to everyone I just watched and observed and took a lot of notes, I got comfortable to the atmosphere and truly believe I can get used to this environment.

SKYE MIKE

Interview or a career path I aspire...

In this blog post I am to interview one of my supervisors OR profile a person who has a career that you aspire to... I thought about this for a day or two about how I was going to go about writing this and which side was I going to approach. I thought if I were being honest, and interviewed my supervisor, or wen about the profile a person who has a career that I aspire, it would be the same person. My supervisor at the Town of Gilbert, Leah Hubbard, who was the head of Intergovernmental Relations and then got the opportunity to take the Assistant to the Town Manager position.

I first met Leah when she came to my Reservation Economics class last year, and spoke to us about her position with the Town of Gilbert Intergovernmental Relations department. And as she broke down here job responsibilities I started to realize that her position in Intergov is basically the same thing I would be doing if I pursued a position with my tribe in tribal politics after I graduate from ASU. As a sovereign nation I would be basically be involved in government-to-government relations for my tribe, dealing with all the different governments. Instead of helping the Mayor of Gilbert I would be involved with our tribal council and the chairman, the same but different. I know she was first a lobbyist and worked her way to intergovernmental relations, that is a path I would be only hopefully I could take and gain that experience. Leah is a very educated individual with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Masters in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas. I have been given nothing but advise from Leah, and she continually asks me to ask her any questions to help better my knowledge to get to where I want to be, she wants to help me be successful.

Through all I have gained so far I knew I made the right decision in applying for this internship and I was lucky enough to make it past all other candidates. I know I will learn a lot with my time at the Town of Gilbert. And I hope maintain a good relationship with the Town and staff after my time here is up.

SKYE MIKE

How does leadership play a role in your internship...

So this blog post is structured to answer questions given to us about leadership. And I am very comfortable answering these questions involving leadership because, I am learning a lot from the department I am in. I believe I stated it before, but everyday I learn something new from the people I work with and I observe and soak up everything I can from this opportunity.

How does leadership play a role in your internship?

Leadership plays an important role in my internship because I am surrounded by a very influential group of people, that all have different necessary roles to add to the department to provide a positive team work atmosphere. Through my direct supervisor I learned a lot more about leadership and I got to see some leadership aspects I have studied in classes be implemented the town government sphere.

Are you able to demonstrate any leadership skills?

I believe I am able to demonstrate a little of my leadership skill but my main purpose is to absorb and observe the government structure of the Town of Gilbert. I think my direct supervisor ables me to have wiggle room in making some decisions for my work projects but I know she is leading me to areas to improve in becoming the leader I strive to be.

How do your co-workers or supervisor display leadership capabilities?

The leadership style of my supervisor toward me are democratic with a little bit of authoritarian, and I believe this combination is what she seen in me and how I described my leadership style to her when asked in a one-on-one meeting. Through our one-and-one sessions we discussed how I wish to lead, my leadership style, and what I hope to gain from the internship to improve my leadership style. And from the information I gave she then started helping me learn more about leadership, by discussing different leadership style I see at different events and by emailing me leadership articles on a regular to read up and educate myself.

I believe I answered the questions for this post to the best of my knowledge and while re-reading what I wrote I am learning more and why some of the stuff was presented to me in the manner it was at the time and in the future.

SKYE MIKE

Modern Man's Hustle... [Free Write]

So I did not know what the Career Service write up was, and when I checked my syllabus I realized I did not do that yet so I cannot write a post for it. Well the issue I am dealing with lately is time management. Time management because as I said before I am a father first, a student and a young professional. My kids have been very forgiving of me and my time management so far, I mean I am committing hours during the day to the internship, after that I still have a part-time job at Target so I will go there for my night shift and then I make it home. I will be tired as... well let's just say I'm tired. I usually will cook or attempt to have a meal with my kids. Then they know I have school work so they just lay by me and watch tv while I do my work. I usually then finish, move them to their bed or just lay with them and go to bed. I am missing a lot of valuable time with them lately, but they are very understanding for being this young, I think they understand that my hard work will pay off when I finish. I remind them all the time everything I do I do for us. I sacrifice sleep, food, and family time for them. But eventually it will pay out for all of us. I better go to sleep, I got another long day tomorrow.

SKYE MIKE

Room with a View... [Free Write]

So I have a daily meet up with my supervisor in her office, she has the bigger office for the Intergovernmental Relations department, and a big window. And a majority of the time because she is busy, during our one-on-ones we get disturbed by a co-worker, a phone call, or something random. I have gotten used to this and I understand the level of importance of her being the boss and needing to know all the different information that will be pushed her way. So every time we are interrupted I just stare out the window, watch cars drive by, watch people walking outside, and just look at the clouds. The view is something I can see as some importance, like a big frame for your college degree on the wall. A sense of accomplishment, a trophy telling of your hard work. I say that because i'm still paying dues as an intern, just glad to be in the building, doing whatever they tell me and working hard to get noticed. As the office I am in has no windows, barely enough room for two-chairs for people to sit in my office and talk to me. So to look at what I have been dealt now with no windows to her office the whole wall a window, I look forward to advancing and earning that BIG window.

SKYE MIKE

Trying to Find a Balance... [Free Write]

So the internship is fun and full of adventure, everyday is different. And everyday I learn something new and useful to put to my future career. So I have my work badge now, and it is used to get in and out of the building. I wear it on my belt loop, and when we go to different places during networking time and meet and greets people seem to see my badge. It's like a pass for a low-income minority to get into places where normally I would not be. Being around the different Arizona lobbyists, Senators, Mayors, and Town Managers. I know my role, or I am starting to understand it, during networking times it is for me to meet people and expand my network contacts. And to use this contacts, when they tell me if I need them for anything take them up on the offer, stay in contact with the people I do meet so I can be relevant to them because if and when I do reach out for that favor they can say, “yes, I do know him”. All joking aside, the people I do meet at these hour or so networking opportunities we get before the event are always interesting. 

SKYE MIKE