Beyond my role as an RL within DRS, I have also had opportunities to demonstrate leadership skills during my coursework while studying for my Architecture master's degree. To be a leader is to set a positive example for the people you lead. Design evaluations in my course of study can be tasking and wear some. I, therefore, make every effort to encourage my colleagues and provide support in every possible way. I have often been able to facilitate group discussions where we deliberate over happenings in our coursework and I answer questions team members may have as well.

A notable example was during a group project at the peak of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020; SRD764, a very intense unit that required lots of studio hours working virtually alongside other students none of whom were in Geelong at the time.

The unit turned out to be even more challenging as the group consisted mostly of international students who were still in their home country, and thus we had multiple timezones to work with.

At the outset, we struggled a lot with communication and direction, which made me realize someone had to take charge and direct the group’s affairs towards cohesion. I volunteered and helped my team navigate through the Deakinsync to ensure we had cohesion. I subsequently subdivided the group into two breakout teams according to time zones.

I recognized Zoom as the most suitable form of communication within the team then planned and organized tasks for each subgroup while constantly shuffling between the two teams to keep tabs on the progress of work. This meant I sometimes had to schedule and reschedule multiple zoom meetings at different times of the day to ensure the entire group’s participation.

Being the only one in the group who had access to our site at Waurn Ponds due to restrictions and lockdown, I also had to take up the responsibility of on-site investigation and inventory which would have been done as a group in pre-covid circumstances.

The end justified the means as we were able to scale through the unit and I was able to be an organized, effective, reliable, and positive team member in the group. Through this experience, I learned the importance of taking charge, cohesive decision-making, and delegation as a leader.