Never Give Up

I believe in never giving up. I believe in passionately pursuing your goals & dreams.

Growing up, my parents encouraged me to set goals. They could be short or long-term goals. Once they were set I needed to create a plan and head towards the goal. This was to keep me focused on the right path. Realizing what and why I wanted to achieve something was a significant characteristic my parents encouraged throughout my childhood.

During the race of accomplishing these goals there would be bumps and debris that distracted or hindered the correct path to follow. But my parents instructed me to stay true to who I was and trust positive influencers God had placed in my life. This taught me to stay faithful, and my hard work would evidently lead to achieving personal victories.

As a leader this is who I want to become: a leader who does not give up when an obstacle is in the way. One who is disciplined enough to set guardrails for protection in order to stay focused to the end. A leader who is not afraid to ask for guidance or support when needed. One who can reflect back and apply the knowledge learned from life experiences and education. And, be an individual who will see mistakes, not as failures, but as powerful learning experiences.

I believe in a leader who does not give up on others. Leaders who encourage, support, and challenge someone to always understand the “why” behind their goals. Who sees people as individuals striving for their own dreams. I believe in an authentic leader. A leader who teaches others how to apply their strengths and skill sets to become the best professional possible.

I have not fully developed into the authentic leader I want to become. Living this leadership style is challenging. I am still young in my career; seeking intellectual and professional growth. I let my beliefs and values guide me as a leader. I have to make a choice daily to push through my circumstances and stay focused on the end goal. Some days can be harder than others. During those times, I reflect on why I want to be in Student Affairs. If I understand why, then I can become a better leader and mentor. It brings out my passion to serve others. I want to be remembered as a leader who is focused but uses tasks to develop people not using people to complete tasks.