1. Michael Cortez
TLC ReflectionPaper
November10,2016
ID: 003423716
LeadershipGrowth
Before enteringthe TLCprogram I had alreadyhadleadershipexperience inhighschool onsport
teams,incollege asa Bible StudyLeaderandI am a leaderincertainvolunteerprogramsIhelpoutin.
However,the TLCprogram gave me skillsIhadnot learnedinotherleadershipresponsibilitiesIhave had
inmy life.Forinstance,Iam a fourthyearcollege studentatCal State San Marcos andalmostall my life I
have takenclassesonhistory,math,science,english,physics,sociologyandclassesrelatedtowhatmost
people are learning.TLCgave me trainingonskillsthatcouldplace me above andbeyondother
competitioninthe workfield.TLCtaughtme thingsthatmay seemlike Ishouldalreadyknow like how
to give someone afirmhandshake,howtobuildaresume,properwaysof talkingtopeople andother
skillsthatan abundance of youngadultslack.One thingI learnedaboutmyselfisthatI still have alotof
improvementandworkskillsIneedtoimprove on.Forexample,Istruggle tremendouslywithpublic
speakingandespeciallyinaclassroomwhere Ilackto voice myopinionorknowledge.IlearnedthatI
needtoface these fearsandworkat thingslike thisthatcouldholdme back fromgettingthe careerthat
I wantor beingagreat employeeorboss.
One of mygoalswas to earn bettergradesand studymore that I had made withmyTLC leader.
The reasonI made thisgoal isbecause I know I am veryluckyto have the opportunitytobe incollege
whenthere are so manypeople inthe worldwhohave neverhadthe opportunitybe partof higher
education.Inessence,Ididnotwantto waste myopportunitybynottryingmy bestinschool so I have

2. improvedmytestscored,spentmore time readingandIhave spentmore time studyingwhichisagoal I
planto continue forthe restof my life.
TLC has remindedme thatI cannotjust focuson myclassesat CSUSMand expecttoqualifiedfor
a job whenIgraduate college.TLChas taughtme tostart workingonmyresume while Iamin college,to
do researchonhow to improve the skillsIlack,the importance of gettinginvolvedinmycollegeandin
my communityandskillssuchashavingconversations,businessattire,the importance of phone calls
rather thanan email andotherskillsthatwill prepare me formycareerchoice.AsI mentionedinthe
introductionof thisreflectionpaperTLChastaught me skillsthatare for the most part not taughtin
classesinthe publiceducational system.TlChasemphasizedtome the importance of communication
and howto handle conflictwithpeople ingeneral buttobe specificinthe workfield.Aswe all know
there mostlikelywill be people workingwithuswhowe have disagreementswithorwhowe don’tget
alongwithinour careersor jobsand TLC hastaught us how to overcome those obstacleswhichmany
people todaystruggle with.AtCSUSMthissemesterIhave hadto workwithotherpeople ongroup
projectsandthe TLC program relatedtogroupprojectsina classroombecause duringthose group
projectseffective communicationwasessential inorderforthe groupprojectto be successful andearn
a good grade.
For my campusengagementhoursIwentona fieldtripthrougha programon campus called
StudentSocial Services.The playwasabouta black boywhogrew up withouta fatherandmother.The
boygrew upand as he got olderthe motherwholefthimas a baby wantedtocome back intohislife as
a teenagerwhichunfortunatelymanyAfricanAmericanpeople sufferthrough.The mainpointof the
storywas to challenge racismandremindthe audience thatwe are all equal.The biological motherof
the black boywas lookedAsianmore thananyotherrace.This remindedme how nomatterwhat
someone looksliketoyouwe are all equal and nobodydeservestobe judgedorhatedbecause of their
skincolor.The civic engagementIparticipatedinshowedme the needof volunteersandthatthere is

3. plentyof volunteerworkthatneedstobe done by me and otherpeople.The TLCtaughtme effective
communicationskillsnotonlyforwhenIapplyfora job or whenIam workingina careerbut alsowhenI
am havingconversationswithastranger,friendandanyone elsewhocomesalongmypath.
Thank You TLC staff for teachingme these lifeskillsandinformingme withcivicengagementand
campusopportunities.