Welcome to my leadership portfolio!

Core Values:

Growth: 

The process of evolving and improving yourself, whether that be mentally, physically, or spiritually. A commitment to maintaining growth in my life keeps me on a track that is always moving forward. If you are in a place where you are never being challenged to grow, you are not living your life to the fullest. To me, growth means taking every opportunity and challenge presented to me. By simply saying yes when opportunities arise, you open yourself up to learning you could not imagine. If I lacked growth in my life, I would become bored and complacent in my ways.

Authenticity: 

The quality of being your true self. Being real or genuine with others. Acting without outside influence. Leadership revolves around relationships with others. Good relationships have a foundation of authenticity underneath them. A favorite saying that I have heard is “it's hard to hate someone you genuinely know”. To know someone authentically is to know them deeply and intimately. In my life, I try to be real with my friends and family, and it is important that they are real with me too. 

Thoughtfulness: 

The intentional act of considering the needs and wants of others. Thoughtful, empathy, and connection were all in the same column on the worksheet for me. Thoughtfulness in others towards me is that I feel loved. When I am doing an intentional act of thoughtfulness, I feel good too. When I think of emotional needs being met, being thought of is a core one. Thoughtfulness is one of the best ways to show that you care for someone and think that they are important enough to be thought of. 

Security: 

Feeling safe, emotionally and physically. Being in a state of fearlessness. Security is an important value for me because it allows a lot of my other values to come into play. From a psychological standpoint, feeling fear sends us into fight/flight/freeze/fawn and paralyzes us. As a person with an anxiety disorder, I am even more volurable to the affects of fear. Feeling safe – in my relationships, abilities, and physically allows me to focus on the things that I want. It gives me control over my life. 

Commitment: 

Sticking to your choices, despite the challenges you face. The ability to continue things (relationships, jobs, responsibilities) over a long period of time. I struggle to make choices (decison fatigue is real), so when I do it is very important that I take this value of commitment seriously so I don’t go back on that decision. Commitment does not mean that you stay on the same path forever, but it means that you don’t change paths just because it got hard. Commitment is required for so many aspects of my life (including this class!). When I think about the best leaders in my life, they have all had firm commitments to their teams, relationships, and values.

Unique Leadership Identities: 

Outdoor Enthusiast: 

As an outdoors enthusiast, I value the importance of nature and its impact on personal growth and development. I believe that spending time in nature helps to cultivate important skills and qualities such as resilience, problem-solving, and adaptability, which are essential for effective leadership. In addition to its impact on personal growth and development, I believe that spending time in nature is also essential for fostering creativity and innovation. The natural world is full of complex systems and patterns, and I find that exploring and observing these systems often leads to new insights and ideas. My time in the outdoors is exploratory in nature and rejuvenating; without it, I wouldn't be me. 

Community Supporter: 

My identity as a community supporter is grounded in the belief that everyone has the potential to make a difference and that it is our responsibility to support and uplift those around us. I believe that by working together, we can build stronger, more resilient communities that are better equipped to face challenges and overcome adversity. I believe in the power of giving back and building stronger communities. Through my various volunteer experiences, I have learned the value of service and how it can positively impact both individuals and the community as a whole. For the past few years, I have tried to make supporting my community an important part of my weekly routine. 

Hard worker:

I am deeply committed to putting in the time and effort required to achieve my goals. Throughout my college career, I have worked a variety of manual labor jobs that have instilled in me a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for the value of hard work. I understand that success does not come easily and that it is often the result of long hours and hard work. My commitment to hard work extends beyond my job experiences. In all areas of my life, I strive to give my best effort and approach challenges with a positive, can-do attitude. I understand that success is not just about natural talent or ability but also about putting in the time and effort required to develop and refine those skills.

My “why”:

I am motivated by the opportunity to lead by example and inspire others to bring out their best selves. My why for leadership is driven by my belief that treating others with kindness, respect, and empathy is essential for creating positive relationships and achieving collective goals. Central in this way is the belief that we should treat others how we want to be treated. This old saying has stood the test of time and continues to be a simple but not a small mantra for living life. 

Future Goals: 

Leadership is an ongoing process, an iterative process of refinement. There is no destination to be reached or end goal to be met. My commitment to leadership is to continued growth and learning. As I enter my career, I will be faced with new challenges that I will need to overcome through the leadership frameworks I have learned. Within this goal of growth, I would like to focus on my development of antiracist and culturally inclusive leadership. To me, this begins with a recognition that I am not perfect, but when I do mess up, I should own up to my mistakes and learn from them. Leadership is an everyday practice present in even the most mundane of tasks., I commit to using my leadership skills in all settings, with strangers and friends alike.