I went to a charter school from graders 6 - 12th and leadership was a word that we always heard. From the teachers to my principal they would always preach, “Leadership , Leadership & Leadership“. They would ask questions like “How do your core values help you understand leadership? ” To me, the word leadership used to only mean standing up for myself and being different from others. As much as the staff said the word, no one actually taught me the real definition of leadership. I always believed the meaning that I assumed it was and took it and tried to apply it everywhere I went. It was not until after I went to Missouri S&T University for their “Building Leaders for Tomorrow “ camp that I found out the true meaning of leadership. In one short week, I saw myself change to a better person. The week taught me the real meaning of leadership. I grew as a person and it taught me more responsibility, integrity, communication skills, and understanding people and their different cultures.
The responsibility of being a leader came naturally, knowing that I would be away from my parents for a week. It gave me a real life example of how Fall of 2018 would become at my future college. In the past my mother was my alarm clock every morning when it came down to getting up out of the bed for events. However, during camp I had to trust in myself to do it on my own . The whole week we had classes, activities, curfew, and meal-time that required our punctual arrival. It allowed me to become independent for myself and not depend on my mother for everything .
In conjunction with my leadership skills, my sense of integrity withstood the test while being away from home. I was around different people who had various upbringings, but I still stayed true to myself. I was determined to be honest with myself and others while simultaneously respecting the diversity. To be in an atmosphere with people from different regions, cultures, and ethnicities felt enlightening.
My communication skills grew significantly during my time at camp. It helped me to open up to more people and discover new friends. Being able to communicate effectively is essential to personal growth and building friendships. I made many friends while at camp with people all across the United States. I find value in the fact that my new found friends are from different places. These relationship push me to learn more about myself and the world outside of my hometown.
Leadership, integrity, and effective communication are essential to my future experience at college. These core values will grant me the opportunity to use my skill set at a progressive college and make positive change happen on the campus around me. It is inevitable that my skills will only get better as I advance through college. It is because of my camp experience at Missouri S&T University that my eyes are more open and that I am better prepared for the journey ahead.
Life & Professional Aspirations:
All my life , I felt that my desire job in the future would be a registered nurse in a hospital in any part of the United States . When I became bored at the time I chose to look up the job description , the different nurses title , and the color uniform that I would be wearing to work everyday. These little steps help me to see the reason why I have to go and push hard everyday to make it to my goals that I have set . I took the ACT test in school last year and the score that I received was not going to get in the nursing program at a college of my choice . I had to stop thinking that I can not become a nurse , because the scores that I have would be impossible that I get in a four year university . The imagination that I had and still got have me thinking about it everyday :therefore , I would do some that I love to do .
To start with , I was giving the opportunity to start an internship program with a program I’m in called Reach Memphis . I was at a hospital for two months of my summer before the beginning of my senior year . The opportunity , resources , and networking that was in front of my eyes was a true blessing that I had to take advance of . It allowed me to get my feet wet to see do I really want to care for someone for the rest of my life at work . The next day came which I started looking up ACT requirements , top 10 nursing programs at college , and etc. it really started to feel real after looking up everything . “ Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about “. - Winston Churchill After viewing this one quote up on my school hallway just gave me confirmation to never give up . I thought about being a Registered nurse for 365 days for four years in my life ; therefor , I’m not going to stop until I have the job I desire .
Furthermore , I have decided that I can not give up on anything in my life . If I stop now then what would I tell my kids and grandkids in the future about everything I have did that made me into who I am . The stress level in life right now is hard to actually be the first grandchild on both sides of the family to graduate college .
Then , the impact have became so real to me that I can not stop til I get it . For example , It is like a shinning light at the end of the tunnel . It is a must to get there I have been working so hard that It’s a must for me .
Eventually , I had a dream and a desire to become a Registered nurse . It’s been a dream every since I learned the role and the steps to try to become one . The first day of school it was a quote that shined a light to me by Winston churchill that gave me reinsurance in my life that lifted me up . It gave me all the hope that was needed to inspire me to keep going in life and stop looking back .
