No Less Than Jess - Blog 1: Creation

What's in a name?

The name of this blog, Learning to Love the Skies I'm Under, is inspired by the song Hopeless Wanderer (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/mumfordsons/hopelesswanderer.html) by the British folk band Mumford and Sons. While I don't consider myself a wanderer, I do adore this idea of loving the skies you're under. To me, this is essentially the idea of being happy with where you are in life, wherever that may be. We don't always have the power to control our situations, but we do determine how we respond to them. I'm choosing to be happy. This is me, learning to love the skies I'm under.

Mumford and Sons

Now on to My Name

I'm Jessie Elizabeth Hearn. I'm eighteen years old. I think my life is best summed up by the Tom Petty lyric "She's a good girl, loves her momma. Loves Jesus, and America too." (You'll find I relate most things back to music.) I have what I consider "classic values." I love my family, Jesus Christ, and this beautiful country. 

My life thus far can be measured in three stages, all of them involving "speech" in some way. As a child, I had a severe speech impediment, resulting in intensive therapy twice each week until fifth grade. Between grades six and eight, I was learning to find my voice. In high school, my voice found me: speech and debate. The competitive speech program at my high school served as my outlet for self expression, and is responsible for my self confidence today. In a broad sense, speech has been with me in every step of my journey. I began by learning how to say things, matured into deciding what I wanted to say, and finally discovered how best to make others want to listen. I went from describing my first day of pre-K as "playing wit de bees and gils" (boys and girls) to a valedictory speech, "I'll miss these boys and girls." Along the way, speech has played a tremendous role in my life. Expect this theme to reappear. 

But do others know my name?

Leadership is so much more than the number of people that know your name. To me, leadership is dependent upon relationships. Those you lead should genuinely want to follow you. In fact, as John Maxwell writes in Developing the Leader Within You, having healthy relationships with those you lead is one of the highest attainable levels of leadership. In my opinion, I have yet to reach this level. But that's okay, I'm only eighteen, and I have years to go. Right now, I consider myself what Maxwell calls a "position leader." I've just gotten started in a new environment. As I've yet to establish myself, others only follow me when they have to. Yet, I'm determined to change that. As I get to know new friends here at OU, join organizations, and start to forge my path, I'll climb the leadership ladder. I truly care about the people around me, and the relationships I form with them will help me attain my leadership goals. I'm not there yet, but I'm growing. 

But how will you get your name out?

Simple, by using my strengths. I recently took a U-Zoo personality assessment, which told me I was a "koala." Basically, this means I'm a caring, careful, people oriented person.

Self Portrait

 I agree with this, as you can probably see from the post thus far. I'm excited to see where this assessment takes me. It came as an affirmation that concern for others is a strength, not a weakness. I plan to use my personality to my advantage, without taking advantage. I hope it takes me far. Leadership, here I come.