Throughout this Masters Program, the importance of leadership in the animal shelter workplace has become evident. I found a deep understanding of what leadership is and started to reflect on myself critically.  I have learned to assess myself personally identifying both my strengths and my weaknesses and how they will affect my ability to lead in a role with the animal shelter.  I have learned to develop leadership skills such as dealing with stress, managing conflict, decision-making, and giving and receiving feedback. The ability to work with a team and establish partnerships is a critical skill that aspiring workers in animal shelters must develop to bring about change and reform to animal welfare.  As I move forward in my professional life developing my leadership skills is imperative to my success as an animal shelter professional. An animal shelter can be a very stressful and emotional place to work due to bullying, time management, compassion fatigue, and trying to solve animal welfare and overpopulation problems. Leadership is going to play a key role in my job placement and satisfaction in the future. I have realized the importance of setting goals and developing a plan of action to achieve my goals.  Achieving the goal of earning a master’s degree in shelter medicine opens opportunities in the workplace such as the potential to become a supervisor or manager in an animal shelter and make positive changes in animal welfare in my community. The goal to better confront and manage conflict in my current working environment will help me to avoid major work-related conflicts in the future.  I am on track to achieve both goals in the next two years and throughout this course I have realized the importance of achieving both of my goals.  I have a support system - my team- in place to help me reflect on and celebrate my goals and I am truly excited about making these necessary changes.  I will be able to celebrate my successes throughout the year with my team by having a monthly reflection time over lunch and a vacation to Florida with friends to celebrate the completion of my master’s degree.  I plan to continue looking for ways to improve my leadership skills, especially in managing conflict and providing feedback while working with the Tipton County Animal Shelter, teaching high school veterinary science classes, and managing the Munford Spay-Neuter Clinic.