Integrative Coach Training - Coaching Resource Site
  • Home
  • Integrative Intelligence ®
    • Integratively Intelligent Companies
  • Free Training
  • Business Launch for Coaches
  • Blog
    • Articles
    • Newsletter
  • Contact
Picture

BLOG
Resources, Videos & Articles

"C is for Clever"

6/4/2016

Comments

 
​I’m sitting bright-eyed in the lair of my Sociology class.   I’m 20 years old and have a budding crush on my instructor, whom was probably twice my age, if I were to guess.  But everything he said illuminated my thoughts… he seemed to exude a rare wisdom.
 
My fantasy of wisdom and illumination came to an abrupt halt one morning.   He completely stumped me. 
 
“Your new assignment is to write a 3 page essay outlining a time in your life that you experienced racism personally and to describe how this impacted and shaped your life.”
 
The assignment was given a few weeks after we were taught that the majority of Caucasians in the US do not experience racism, or even perceive it when it is happening to others. 
 
My class was comprised of a variety of ethnicities.  Those of you that know me, may know my ethic background consists primarily of Irish, German and Cherokee.  On paper I’m listed as “Caucasian”.
 
This was the perfect assignment for me, I thought.  I’ve never experienced racism, until my Sociology class!  By his own teaching, the probability of Caucasians having a racist story to personally reflect upon would be low to none.  Being that he knows this statistic, demonstrated to me that he banked on Caucasians flunking the essay.
 
I wrote my quirky essay, which brought in “Stars Upon Thars” by Dr. Seuss, alluding to the racism existing within this very assignment. 
 
I sat down in class feeling a bit glib the day our papers were to be graded and handed back to us.  As mine surfaced to the top of his pile, he looked stern as he approached me.  He held out my paper in front of me and with a halfway smile said, “C for Clever.”
 
What did I learn?
 
Not turning in anything was a strong consideration.  However, taking no action would have resulted in zero credit and brought my GPA down.  That was not an outcome I desired though.
 
Being rude in my essay was another consideration.  After all, how dare he put any of his students in a position to fail an assignment.  Yet, that was not an outcome I desired.
 
I once heard that our third reaction to something is always going to be the best reaction.  I’m not sure where the idea stems from, but it did help me find the Goldilocks alternative of “just right.”
 
I decided to take the middle road, turn in an essay, use my creative resources and attempt to bring to light the challenge and conundrum before me.  While I didn’t get an A, I was very pleased with my “C for Clever.”
 
What in your life calls for a creative stand to be taken?  If “C” stood for “Challenge”, what would you do differently to make the world a better place?
Comments

    By Laurel Elders, PCC

    IICT Founder / Senior Faculty

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015

    Categories

    All
    Climbing
    Coaching Advice
    Coaching Resource
    Coaching Skills
    IICT Faculty
    Integrative Intelligence
    Intuition
    Networking
    Outsourcing
    Pivoting
    Potential
    Purpose
    Self-compassion
    Spiritual Intelligence
    Success
    Transition
    Virtual Assistance
    Virtual Assistant

    RSS Feed

This coaching resource website is hosted by:
The Institute for Integrative Intelligence

Elevating Human Potential 
Through the Art & Science of Masterful Coaching
www.IntegrativeIntelligence.Global


Copyright © 2012-2022
Photos used under Creative Commons from puroticorico, Shadowgate, Toronto Public Library Special Collections, nubobo, Yoshikazu TAKADA, lifelovelynn.com, Jeffrey, symphony of love, "Besenbinder", contemplicity, Swallowtail Garden Seeds
  • Home
  • Integrative Intelligence ®
    • Integratively Intelligent Companies
  • Free Training
  • Business Launch for Coaches
  • Blog
    • Articles
    • Newsletter
  • Contact