Making Connections

“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 team-work, creativity, and dependability have supported my personal and professional development.”

REFLECTING BACK

• Why did you join LeADERS?

I decided to join LeADERS because I felt as though this program was going to provide me with the skills I needed that well help me in the future profession endeavors that I plan on taking. Another reason I joined this program was, I had already completed one experience which was doing Innovate Monarchs. Lastly, thankfully to Mrs. Jenn Grimm who was definitely an advocate for the program, the way she spoke about the program as well made it sound worth wild.

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

Some of the significant challenges that I did encounter throughout out my LeADERS experience would be in the beginning, I wasn’t taking the time out to completely get things done. Such as taking extracurricular courses that could help me select the other requirements for this program. Another challenge I faced was having the major I had, not a lot of my courses met the program requirements. Though, I really appreciated the option of explaining how and providing evidence on how some of the course could be used, I waited too late to do so. How I overcame these challenges would be by making the LeADERS priority at the top of my to-do list this Senior year.

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

Some significant successes that I did have during my LeADERS related experience would be being able to be apart of the Innovate Monarchs program and be able to create a concept that could help he students and even staff members on campus. When I was in this program, I worked with others and we completed the design process of creating a concept. With this knowledge, I was able to be a helpful resource when it came to me helping as a team member in one of class projects where we worked with fifth graders to create bird feeders. Luckily, I had knowledge in how prototyping, designing, etc. worked.

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

How I see all of my specific LeADERS experiences connecting to one another would be by being able to take the knowledge and information I gained from all three of them to help me in the future. The specific areas I gained experience in would be Academic Internship, Diversity, and Entrepreneurship. These three areas can be connected by knowing how to create, design, and market a concept where everyone would feel involved and included. For example, during my Junior year as a member of the Innovate Monarchs program, my teammates and I designed a concept for students on campus. Down below is a screenshot of the site along with the link!

LOOKING FORWARD

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

After graduating this upcoming May 2022, I plan on returning back to school to get my Nursing degree and become a Pediatric or Neonatal Nurse. In these upcoming months, with my degree in Education, I would like to have more experience with children in an educational setting. With this experience, I can take what I know to provide me knowledge and supportive facts to potentially help children and their families in the healthcare field. Also, I would love to have more hand-on training working in a healthcare setting where I can know how and what to do as a potential Nurse. As for professional goals, I hope to use the experiences and skills I have gained over these past four years to help me with my future endeavors. Lastly, when it comes to my personal goals I would like to accomplish more fast-paced environment experience, work with families 1-on-1, and taking time for myself since I’ve been on the go since Junior year.

• How have experiences within LeADERS prepared you to achieve your goals after graduation? Use specific examples.

How the experiences I have gone through within LeADERS prepare me for my goals after graduation would be by helping me working in more team structured in environments which is something I am definitely going to be dealing with in the hospital.