In our book, Exploring Leadership, by Susan Komives, Nance Lucas, and Timothy McMahon in Chapter 14 speaks of leadership being exhausting, challenging, consuming, and stressful. It reminds me of the need to understand your body, renew yourself and find some kind of sprituallity to avoid burning out. 
Throughout my academic carreer I have been challenged on various levels. Somehow I been able to keep my G.P.A above most, work a 19 hour a week job, run a college newspaper, attend a 16 hour a week practicum seminar and raise my 7 year old son. Trust me it has not been easy yet its been extremely rewarding. Now that I see graduation in the near distance. 
I think back to those challenging times that I have been able to overcome and a huge smile lights up my face. I remember my first day on Manoa campus as it was yesterday. I remember the first social work class that I attended. I will keep the teacher anonimous but he did tell us that we always need to make sure we take care of ourselves first or we will be useless to others. He explained that burnout, stress, and loss of intrests happens to many people who do not find time to take care of themselves. He taught me to understand clearly that social work can be extremely rewarding but it can take a lot out of you too.
I never understood what stress was until I found myself in the hospital about a year ago.
I was going to school fulltime, attending a mandatory 16 hour a week practicum, working part time 19 hours a week, dealing with my son’s mother and raising him as a single father. My mind was telling me everythings fine however my body did not agree. 
I broke out with a severve case of hives during finals week. I had a few large papers due but the big one I was worried about was a 20 page research paper which was due in a day. I had everything in place and begun to work on the assignment. My body completely broke out in an itch and hives begun to accumulate all over my body. My hands were so itchy that I felt the need to go to the emergency room. No matter how much I scratched the itch was uncontrolable. Mind you this has never happened to me in my life. I didn’t feel stressed out but my body told me differently. School, work, my practicum and life got the best of me that day
I was overwhelmed without really knowing I was overwhelmed. Today, I understand what Chapter 14 is all about. I realize what stress can do to a person under pressure. I understand what stress can do to people as well as social workers. Leaders are constantly under pressure as well. The ways I deal with stress today have a huge impact on my clients, co-workers, family, but most of all myself. I have learned the hard way about stress and what my stressors can do to me. 
I have learned always to make sure to take time out for myself. I play darts once a week for relaxation, I walk everytime I start to feel down or angry about something, I have found a higher power whom I speak to everyday, and I make sure to enjoy every moment I can with my son. Kalani spoke today about shapening your saw physically, mentally, spritually and socially.
As a leader and friend I ask all of you to take care of yourselves. Take a mental day off when things are not going so well for you. Step back and relax when you get overwhelmed. Make time for yourselves because only you can renew yourself. Your mind body and soul deserves it. A hui hou everyone. its been my pleasure being besides you all in our EDEA 360 class. 
ALOHA
