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Brianna Schuck

VALUEEnd of Year Reflection

Justin Greenleaf

The Journey Through Uncharted Territory

Summary

When I first learned of my acceptance into the VALUE program I knew I

had to get a jump start on what my project or research would entail. After

finals in the summer of 2016, I began a new journey working as a part-time

keeper for Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. At this facility, I would

be working in the Hoofstock Department. Animals within the department

included: giraffes, zebras, antelope species, bongo, duiker, two rhino species,

and others. I took a particular interest in the female herd of giraffes and their

shifting or movement each morning and evening from the barn to their

outdoor enclosure. I began picking the brains of keepers who have worked

with these animals for years and came up with the idea of examining their

shifting order within their sequence and wondered if age had any influence

on that order.

My overall objective for the project was that age played a role in

influencing the shifting order of the female giraffes in the morning and

evening time frames. From there, a new journey beganwith permission

from the supervisor of the department, gathering data for two months, twice

a day, accompanied by the other keepers, the project was quickly in full
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swing. After returning to campus it was time to get in the lab to run proper

statistical tests to analyze my hypothesis.

Midway through the semester with the aid of other VALUE students I

decided to write to publish my work to a European Journal. This writing

process is still ongoing, but nearing the end of the journey. The overall

outcome of my results challenged my hypothesis. The statistical tests

showed my null hypothesis (no correlation between age and shifting order) to

be true in this particular case within my study. Such results were shown over

97% of the data gathered throughout these two months. These results were

freeing for keepers in that it doesnt take a certain individual to make the

shifting process happen, there is no rhyme or reason for the order to which

they shift, and age did not play a role in dominance, or dynamics within the

herd. There is a great deal of work still to be discovered about this animal's

function, social interaction, and behavior and I am hoping my study can start

this trend to peak the interest of other zoologists in the field.

Operations

At the beginning of the semester I set these incredibly challenging

goals for myself within the program. Some goals were achieved and

exceeded within the first and second semesters, but the execution of some

goals failed to meet their mark. For instance, the writing process for journal

submission was set to be completed by the end of April. I have worked to

prioritize other schoolwork, group projects, co-curricular activities, and many

other things to enjoy my last semester here as a Fort Hays tiger. Its not that
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I havent worked diligently to see this goal come to fruition, this goal was set

against an almost impossible time frame with regards to my school schedule

and life schedule. It took me a great deal of time throughout the course of

this journey being ok with not meeting or exceeding every mark or

checkpoint. It took realizing that it wouldnt be the end of the world, and that

I would not be punished because I failed to turn in a mentor reflection or that

I didnt complete all my writing for the submission on my specific timeline.

The journal is not going anywhere, it will still be there tomorrow, next week,

and after Aprilafter the passing of my deadline.

Goals are wonderful accountability marks in every task anyone wishes

to complete, they are encouraged in every setting and I enjoy setting such

benchmarks for myself in anything I am involved int. But they are not what

defines us in terms of being a success or failure. Success is not based on how

many times you exceed or miss your mark. That is probably one of the most

important lessons I personally have learned regarding a life lesson while

being a member of the program, something I will carry with me for many

years to come. Its not about the wins and losses, goals should be looked at

as a way of progress in some cases. That is how I choose to look at this

because I made progress in order to finish my journal submission but life

creeps in as always and managed to delay some of the work to be done. And

thats life.

Collaboration
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Collaborating with others is something that always sparks my interest

in that through coming together your project or ideas generally become

stronger and more developed. This was the case when I was paired up with

my mentor Dr. Brittany Adams-Pope. It was neat to learn about her journey

as a student and professor teaching in the Department of Agriculture

focusing on the Leadership entities within the discipline. She has written and

published several research articles, however, most of her studies dealt with

humans as opposed to animals. Though she knew the writing process quite

well, she could guide me in my writing, offer feedback for finished sections,

and tips on making my first experience a positive one. She never failed to

ask about my personal life and morale regarding school since I was

graduating in May. Her heart for my success was pure and genuine

something any mentee would have prayed for.

Justin was of vital importance in the classroom and to the success of

my project, not because he was the professor, but because of his honesty

and helpful tips as he is a researcher himself. He offered conflicting

interpretations that not only made my journey clearer and less stressful, but

he helped make me a better writer. He along with the other VALUE students

provided insight in areas where I felt blind or misled in. They helped me

reach the final conclusions when choosing a journal to write and submit my

research to when it was completed. The other students offered emotional

support when the task before me became too daunting or overwhelming,

they understood what I was going throughto a degreeas we each had our
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own struggles within the program, as was expected. Their support was vital

to my focus which resulted in higher accountability, openness, and honesty

which quickly became group norms over the course of the semesters

together.

Reflection

If I could sum up this year in the VALUE program in one word it would

be transparency. Transparency was something I truly experienced in so many

aspects within the program. From the students, to our faculty professor, to

even my individualistic transparency to be real with myself and my own

limitations. Through collaboration with other students and other participants

who attended the Kansas Leadership Center conference in November, we

were nothing but transparent. This was so encouraging for me due to the fact

that I was currently walking in uncharted territory trying to find my way and

each person that came across my path helped guide me to a clearer vision

as a person, student, and researcher. Through this transparency, I learned

how to be vulnerable with others in providing conflicting interpretations

when they needed it. I was able to help them raise the heat within their

project or offer suggestions as they diagnosed the situation in the early

stages of development. Transparency was as clear as day, no pun intended.

The truth is leadership is nothing without transparency, vulnerability, and

self-discipline. Each time we met I knew it was an opportunity for me to grow

as a person. More importantly, it was a time where I could help someone else

grow, realize their strengths, improve their weakness, and overcome fears.
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To me, that is an experience unlike any other. This year has broadened my

horizons mentally and physically. This year I developed a deeper confidence

in my education, ability, and drive to ensure the job was well done.

Often, I look back and think about my early expectations and who I was

as a person back then, but its difficult to look back and remember who that

person was. Growth comes in all shapes, sizes and colors, but without it life

would be much more boring, uneventful and mundane.

At the beginning of the year I developed an adaptive challenge as we

were preparing for the KLC conference. My adaptive challenge was How to

gain credibility amongst esteemed scientists, faculty and community

personnel? I attended the conference, went through the peer consultation

process only to realize second semester that it was a technical challenge the

entire time. In life, it is simple to make out a situation as having no means to

an end, when really the end was just around the corner or even in your

capable hands. I am guilty of this quite oftena weakness pointed out from

other students I need to work on. In a sense, we are our own biggest

competitor, stressor, and worry-wort. At the same time this experience has

only helped me to know myself better from an individualistic standpoint. I am

equipped with a sounder mind, knowing my limitations while understanding

when it is time to manage self.

Without the help of Homer this experience would never have been

possible. Even though my project dealt with the research track this project
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was definitely a collaborative effort, and an experience to propel me to

bigger, better, and most of all more VALUEable things.