Key Moments of Learning
Moment 01: Women in White Panel - April 2019
The Women in White Panel was a turning point in my leadership learning because it taught me that power and the ability to speak out can come from anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and age. I went to this panel when I was at a crossroads about my academic path. I was a freshman uncertain about the future I had envisioned for myself. However, as I sat at this panel, looking at women who looked like me, that cared about politics, equity, representation, I knew that one day, I would take a seat at that table.
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In a reflection that I wrote on this panel, I said, "These influential women of color sat on this panel... and absolutely let loose the fire they keep in their bellies. It was fierce, powerful, a force to be reckoned with. I want to be them when I grow up....They also know to not let those intersections be their only defining traits. They use their histories to propel themselves forward to make sure change can happen. They are leaders, and damn powerful ones at that." At the time, I failed to recognize that I, too, have that same force, the same conviction to make a change. Leadership is about knowing that you, no matter what you look like or where you come from, have unique experiences that make you capable of change, and if there isn't a seat at the table, you have to pull up a chair.
Moment 02: Relationship with Dr. Johanna Maes 2018-Forever
My relationship with Dr. Maes has been instrumental to my success at CU Boulder. The way that she practices leadership is striking; she commands the attention of a room, even when she hasn't uttered a word. She asked our cohort to think critically, never letting us take the easy way out. She introduced me to the work of Dr. Brittney Cooper, thus opening up a world of black feminist pedagogy to me. Part of being a transformational leader requires one to tell the truth, even when it is hard to hear, and she lives by that principle always.
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​The biggest lesson she has taught me in leadership is that relationships, empathy, and care are crucial components to effective and intersectional leadership. I am used to being independent, and I used to mistakenly believe that asking for help made me weak. It doesn't. No leader can brave it alone, there is strength in numbers. Leadership is not always about proposing solutions. Sometimes, it is just about showing up for people and supporting them when they need it. You don't have to be alone. You can find solace in community, and having people that will go to bat for you is worthwhile. The connections you make, the stories that you not only tell, but absorb, are the ones that'll shape you forever.
Moment 03: PCDP Bridge - Summer 2019
This was a big step in leadership learning because my role shifted from student to peer mentor. Having been on the other side as a participant of the program, I did not have a clear idea of what went into planning a 3-week summer bridge program. When my role became peer mentor and IA, I suddenly had to figure out how to build a syllabus, activities, and work collaboratively with my peers to make sure the incoming students had a productive time in the program. It was hard at times and taught me that leadership is more than just knowing the theories. It is about navigating new challenges, trying your best, and acknowledging where you could have been better.
Moment 04: Peer Mentoring in a Pandemic - Spring 2020
In Spring 2020, I was a peer mentor for the MLS freshman practicum. Working with Derek Lefebre and other members of my cohort, I was able to again be on the other side and learn what it meant to facilitate a group. Things were going great and the students were working on their respective outreach projects. Then things changed. On March 11th, 2020, we received word that all courses were going remote due to COVID-19. Suddenly, our small class was relegated to the confines of a Zoom window. All of us were at a loss about how to proceed.
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COVID taught me that leadership has to be fluid, adaptable, and that we did. Those students had gone through so much; freshman year is hard enough (even without a pandemic). But they pushed through with their projects, did the best they could given the circumstance, and I was so proud of them for being able to do that.
Moment 05: Joining the CCI Team at the Research Hub - Fall 2020
Joining the Critical Civic Inquiry (CCI) team in October of 2020 was a huge change for me. At times, I wondered if I was even right for the role considering that I had never conducted formal research before. However, as I jumped straight into the work, I grew more and more excited because the goals of the team aligned directly with my passions. As we compiled data about students addressing problems in their school communities and proposing policy, I knew that I was in the right place.
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Working with the CCI team has taught me that leadership is collaborative. When we meet with each other, we set the norm that everyone has something of value to contribute. We bounce ideas back and forth, we try and try again until we are all satisfied. We reflect collectively, we celebrate, we acknowledge oversight. When we were able to present our findings back to students and teachers, I was so incredibly proud of the work we were able to do together.
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Reading the students’ work also taught me that students and the youth are capable of incredible leadership. They are best equipped to address the problems in their communities because they are the ones that experience them directly. That's what leadership is: standing up from wherever you are and deciding that you have the power to change your community and your world.
