Lead By Example

           I take pride in the leader I have become over the last 3-4 years of my life. My definition of leadership has evolved as I have had about six different jobs since I was 16 and have collaborated with a variety of different types of managers and bosses. Especially during the pandemic, when I wasn’t working, I was able to take that time to take a step back and recognize where I needed to improve myself as a person, and it forced me to make necessary changes in order to become the person I am today. I used to just “go with the flow” of life, but as I’ve matured I now realize that everybody is in charge of their own destiny. A major, life-altering chapter of my life was discovering my passion for fitness. Fitness has helped me learn lessons that I’ve been able to carry with me through all aspects of life. This lifestyle has helped me not only be driven to trying to lead a healthier lifestyle, but it has also inspired me to work my hardest in my professional career as well.

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          My course work in HTM over the past few semesters has also made me realize my strengths as a leader. Especially when assigning roles for our project at the beginning of the semester in HTM 490. When choosing the position of President, I thought of about five other people in the group who could carry out the position better than I, but everyone turned to me and asked if I would fill the role. In that moment, I realized the influence I have on others and my peers are able to rely on me to do the job and do it right, but that I also make others comfortable enough to look at me for guidance. 

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          I used to despise my parents for making me have a job the past 5 years of my life, but it was these experiences that have shaped me into the leader I am today. I would love to say I’ve become the leader I am today because of the way my managers have led in the past, but truthfully, it is because I’ve seen such bad leadership present in my bosses that I’ve learned how to not lead through them, and make the right choices instead. Getting the outside perspective of being just an employee at several businesses has provided me this insight I will take with me for the rest of my life. 

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        Through all of these lessons, I like to think I lead by example. I would never preach anything that I am not willing to do myself. At the end of the day, it is not what you say, but it is what you do and that is what gets noticed by the people you work with. I think by working my hardest, it inspires others to do the same.

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