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 Leadership, Academic Internship, and Research have supported my personal and professional development.”

Reflecting Back

• Why did you join LeADERS?
  
  • I saw the LeADERS program as an effective path to expanding my experiences outside of the normal range of classes. The assistance in securing connections with people outside of the normal school purview was also very enticing.
• What significant challenges did you encounter throughout your LeADERS courses and related experiences? How did you overcome these challenges?
  • As with most of my challenges, this one revolves around having enough time to do everything that needs to be done. As a full-time employee of both school and work, it can be difficult to find time for extracurricular activities like what is required for the LeADERS program. I overcome this challenge by doing everything I can until the last minute, I don’t set deadlines that I know I can’t meet, I just work at any time that’s required to get things done.
• What significant successes did you have during your LeADERS courses and related experiences?
  • I acquired an internship with the assistance of the LeADERS program. The internship was with senator kaine office in Virginia Beach and it was one the most eye-opening experiences in regard to the bureaucracy behind menial government work. With this knowledge, I believe I was better prepared for my independent study class, for I had a multitude of ideas and thoughts to process and put down on paper

Looking Forward

• What are your professional, personal, and/or educational goals after graduation?
  • I wish to become a lawyer, or at any point to hold public office. It is an aspiring thing to have the people of your community vote for you, and I wish that we can change people to vote beyond the title of a party and instead look at the character of a person and their actions.
• How have experiences within LeADERS prepared you to achieve your goals after graduation? Use specific examples.
  • Depressing and Angry phone calls during my time at the internship are what first spring to mind. I don’t blame these people for their actions or their frame of mind, they only believe what they have been exposed to and taught by their formers. This does not make them right, but when dealing with someone a dismissive approach is not the correct way to correct someone. This series of incidents has been the greatest evidence for my already fervent belief.