Personal Vision Statement

When I first tried to write this week's blog, I sat in front on my computer for about 15 minutes and realized I had written nothing.  I was surprised because I view myself as a pretty reflective person, but thinking of a personal vision statement required much deeper thinking.  I found it easiest to simply reflect on my own experiences, background, strengths and weaknesses, as well as how I've actively applied them to deal with complex situations.  I'm not going to lie...I sort of ripped off a saying that is familiar to many of you actively involved on campus to create my personal vision statement.

"I strive to lead, learn from, and serve my peers and community"

It sounds and looks simple in writing, which is partially a reflection of personality, but truly living this ideal is a challenge that I look forward to everyday.

I will begin by discussing the second part of my vision statement because I feel that this is a prerequisite for the other two things to occur.  Learning from your peers and community is a lifelong process, but it especially important when you encounter new situations, people, or co-workers.  It is vital to gather input on how things function, the history behind a community, and why things are viewed the way that they are.  Only then can you truly understand the root causes behind issues, which is necessary for social change.  The last leg of my personal vision statement, "serve", can take place simultaneously or after learning.  Serving your community is two-fold because it directly impacts the community positively, and it shows your commitment to others.  You will develop a mutual respect with your peers that will create a trusting environment.  The last step is to lead, which is the most important step because now you can implement social change.  In closing, I wish this entire process was as easy as me writing this blog, but it is not.  The process is complex, multi-dimensional, and takes an immense amount of commitment.  But in the end, the indescribable feeling of "reward" that comes from helping others and being happy trumps all of the exhausting work.