Why Do I Do What I Do?
Overview
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I have had many moments in my life where I could have easily fallen through the cracks. Cracks in the education system, cracks relating to resources for different socioeconomic classes, cracks in systems of social support, etc. However, I had people who saw me, who encouraged me, who challenged me in growth, who connected me with resources, and who walked alongside me and lent me their strength until I found my own strength again to carry on. These people saw my potential and my heart even when I began to lose hope and reminded me of my values and who I am and who I want to be.
My Why
So why do I do what I do? I want to step forward and support others now in the way so many did for me. I believe - no I KNOW - there are a lot of students who go unseen and who feel they are or who truly are under supported and who fall through the cracks of the Education system. I want to use my own agency to elevate their voices, process with them, and help facilitate the same growth and resource connection and empowerment that others did for me for them. I really care about people and their stories and I believe that everyone has a story that matters and experiences everyone can learn from, and I want to partner with people in a way that lets them know that they are seen and that they matter.
My How
I approach my "why" by using competencies that push me to be in just relationship with others and that challenge me to stay curious and stay kind. The competencies that I find myself relying on the most are collaboration with diverse groups towards a common goal, courage in big and small moments, empathetic listening, self-understanding of my personal positionally in circumstances and my own internal biases, grace upon grace for others and for myself, and my ability to simultaneously have a big picture vision and to see small picture actions steps to achieve that vision.
My Future
So What's Next?
In the future I envision myself continuing to engage in leadership, whether because of an actual title I am given or simply by how I choose to show up in spaces and places. Since my understanding of leadership has already evolved over time, I think the more I lean in to opportunities I am offered and seek to stay true to my values while simultaneously stepping into expanding my own perspectives, the more my understanding of leadership will continue to evolve. I hope and plan to continue to seek out ways to be a leader in the Higher Education context. Already I am applying to jobs and focusing much of my job search around work environments that emphasize leadership, personal development, and chances for me to expand on the student support, advocacy, and development skills that I have been learning through my leadership opportunities as an Undergrad. Eventually I hope to go back to grad school, maybe even in UW's Leadership in Higher Education program, to further my more formal studies in Educational Leadership involvement. Overall though, right now I desire to use any future positions of leadership to raise people up and grow myself, and I hope that a next step in that process will involve Academic Advising in a Higher Education setting sooner rather than later. But regardless, I am excited for what the future holds.
My team sitting outside and looking forward to the next Costa Rican sunset
PC: Jake Enslin, 2015