The foundation for critical thinking defines intellectual perseverance as having a consciousness of the need to use intellectual insights and truths in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or frustrations; firm adherence to rational principles despite the irrational opposition of others (http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/valuable-intellectual-traits/528).
In various careers today, especially those in leadership and managerial roles, intellectual perseverance is something that is visited on a daily basis. In my short professional career and in my time as an undergraduate student, I have had numerous opportunities to use my intellectual perseverance to overcome an obstacle, solve a problem, or succeed in a certain position. Being able to make the right decision at the right moment could mean the difference between success and failure, and as I progress in my educational and professional career, this term has never been more pronounced. Intellectual perseverance requires certain traits from an individual that come with experience and those that don’t. Courage, patience, and understanding are three very powerful words that come to mind when I think of this term. Having the courage to make decisions, talk through them, and deal with the consequences is enormous when pursuing a graduate degree, or facing a challenging situation at work. The same can be said for being patient with the process of succeeding, as success does not come easy in most tasks, and also for understanding the situation and views of others well enough to make informed decisions. Intellectual perseverance requires a higher degree of thinking that can be achieved through higher studies, so being able to develop as a critical thinker is pertinent to my success as a student and as a leader.
While I pursue my graduate degree with Embry-Riddle, I will draw from my past experiences as a leader to be successful. To me, intellectual perseverance and good leadership go hand-in-hand. Characteristics of a good leader include relating well to others, having the courage to make decisions, and understanding all view points before making the decision. Different strengths of different leaders can be leveraged to achieve different goals, and ultimately good leaders are respected, admired, and liked by their peers and followers. Building relationships with my peers in class and drawing from their knowledge, skills, and abilities is one way to help me maximize my learning potential as a graduate student. Also, understanding their viewpoints and taking them into consideration during discussions is essential to my development. I want to be able to actively engage the class and offer viewpoints that will help with their development as well.
I never thought I would be enrolled into a graduate degree program, nor did I think I would be a leader in my field, but the opportunity for me to prove myself as an effective and efficient leader has presented itself, both in my academic and professional careers. I have the opportunity to influence others who share the same desire to graduate with a degree in leadership, an opportunity to use my intellectual perseverance to complete challenging assignments and strenuous timelines. Just as I have made difficult decisions, removed obstacles for my team, and built relationships to accomplish tasks in my professional career, I will do the same in my educational endeavors. Some say good leaders are born, not made. In my opinion, good leaders can be made if they possess intellectual perseverance.
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