Making Connections

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"Old Dominion University’s "LeADERS" program connects students to courses and real world experiences in the areas of: Leadership, Academic Internship, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Research, or Service Learning. This LeADERS ePortfolio shares how my experiences in the areas of Leadership, Academic Internship, and Diversity have supported my personal and professional development".

 

Reflecting Back

• Why did you join LeADERS?

During the summer of 2019, before I attended my first classes at Old Dominion University, I received an email about the program, LeADERS. I was not aware of the program and immediately decided to do some research. After looking through the course description and requirements, I knew this would be an impactful and beneficial experience. As an incoming first year student, I wanted to hit the ground running and learn how to become a leader on my new campus. 

• What significant challenges did you encounter throughout your LeADERS courses and related experiences? How did you overcome these challenges?

Last year, during my junior year, I was a night desk receptionist, working from midnight to 6am. During this time, I had to find a way to balance my sleep schedule, personal life, and most importantly, my coursework. This presented a challenge at first, however I was able to create a balanced schedule, which I found effective. In order to maintain a proper schedule, I worked ahead on future assignments, completed assignments while working as a desk receptionist, hung out with friends and did various activities when I was not working. The hardest part of this schedule was finding a proper sleep schedule. It was not consistent, however I managed to get enough rest on a daily basis. 

• What significant successes did you have during your LeADERS courses and related experiences? What contributed to your successes?

Throughout both my LeADERS courses and related courses, I have held three internships as well as various jobs on campus. This is something I am very proud about, as it has opened up many doors and opportunities for me currently. With my internships and recent experience, I have built meaningful relationships and connections with managers, directors, and with both previous and current co-workers.

• How do you see all of your specific LeADERS experiences connecting to one another?

During my time at ODU, I have taken a good amount of leadership courses. Through these courses, I have not only learned how to be an effective leader, but how a leader is well versed in several different areas. After learning about the foundations of leadership and developing an understanding of global leadership, I was able to connect some of the similarities. Leadership, for the most part, is universal, although the styles may change depending on the individual. 

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Looking Forward

• What are your professional, personal, and/or educational goals after graduation?

After graduation, I plan to move back home to Maryland, to consider my next moves and save some money. I have been applying for positions as well as looking into getting my law degree or certification, to work with legal contracts for professional athletes. I have an interview with a sports company located in Maryland, which I believe will be a good starting point in the sports industry. 

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• How have experiences within LeADERS prepared you to achieve your goals after graduation?

Within my experience with LeADERS, I have worked in team environments, learned how to be an effective communicator, become a better team player, and further developed my computational skills. Through various assignments and projects, I have gotten the opportunity to increase my skill set. When I completed my coursework for the Global Leadership course, I created a powerpoint about Egypt and their society. I increased my knowledge with powerpoint and conducted research, as these are skills I will need in the future.

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