Projects

Before my time in Public Leadership Scholars, I believed that leadership was something that people were born with rather than a skill they could improve. I had thought that extroverted, outspoken people were destined to be leaders while introverted, quiet people were resigned to be followers. However, as my time in the program progressed, I realized that this is not the case. While it may be that leadership comes easy to some people more than others, there are effective methods one can use to develop their leadership ability. Personally, learning about different leadership tools throughout PL increased my confidence to lead.

My leadership philosophy follows the Red Hat theory proposed by Dr. Edward De Bono. This involves using your intuition, kindness, and emotional intelligence to help you lead. To me, being compassionate and humanizing the issues I care about is an important part of my moral code. I believe that positive person-to-person interactions not only increase loyalty but also create a productive atmosphere. As an empathetic person, this leadership style helps me use my gut-feelings and people skills to interact with others in an effective way.

Several projects of mine have deepened my understanding of leadership. In my first semester at UMD, I wrote a position paper about Oprah's Leadership Academy, which had been opened in South Africa to educate young girls. From my research on this topic, I learned that if leadership is used inappropriately, though one may have well-meaning intentions, the outcome is ineffective. It shed more light on how important it is to be critical of our leaders. This year, I outlined my leadership style in an essay that detailed the effectiveness and morality of being an empathetic leader. This project allowed me to evaluate my own leadership skills and goals. Overall, the paper made me see leadership as a more personal and relevant concept. Lastly, the most powerful influence on my understanding of leadership is a research paper I wrote this semester about South Asian women's experience of domestic violence. Doing an in-depth analysis on how South Asian women cope with abuse made me realize that leadership on an individual level is just as important as leading others. Battered women with little resources who have the courage to endure abuse and eventually leave are the most poignant leaders I have ever learned about.

Personally, the most valuable element of leadership that I have used from my studies in Public Leadership is public speaking skills. A variety of different projects in classes I have taken within my scholars programs have given me confidence and helped improve my ability to speak in front of other. Before this program, I did not enjoy public speaking, as my anxiety surrounding speeches overwhelmed me. Now, however, I have become more self-assured not only in formal speaking presentations but also in general interactions with others. For example, during my time in Public Leadership, I have interviewed for various positions, including research opportunities. After incorporating helpful instruction I learned from class into my preparation for interviews, I have seen an overall improvement in my interviewing skills as a whole. My confidence, ability, and determination have been affected positively by my participation in Public Leadership Scholars.