This course set the stage for who I want to be as a leader, my goals, values, and personal leadership philosophy. The course showed me that leadership starts from within; if I don't know who I am as a being than how can I lead others? It taught me to be vulnerable as a leader and that perfection is not the goal, vulnerability, learning, and continual growth is the goal. Brene Brown’s TedTalk is something I will never forget as it taught me that vulnerability is not a weakness- it is a strength to gain trust and build connection with others. In The Courage to Teach, Parker Palmer stated, “Good teachers possess a capacity for connectedness. They are able to weave a complex web of connections among themselves, their subjects, and their students so that students can learn to weave a world for themselves."  Through readings, reflection and dialogue I have started to shape myself into a leader who builds the type of connections Palmer discusses. Leadership is not only challenging yourself and meeting goals but challenging others to help meet their own goals.