LeADERS Reflection

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. In this LeADERS ePortfolio, it lists of my experiences in the areas of Leadership, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, and Service Learning that supports my personal and professional development.

I heard about this program on my first semester at Old Dominion University as a transfer student studying at Mechanical Engineering Technology (Fall 2021). During my first semester at Old Dominion University, I was taking part of the First-year Monarch experience where varieties of actives going on in Old Dominion University main campus before the upcoming Fall semester classes. In one of the monarch experience program, I was taking part of the academic enhancement meeting where it details all types of academics program going on on-campus. As I was listening to each program during the meeting, I heard about the LeADERS that explains the entire curriculum in this program where I basically take 3 to 5 certain courses for each area of the program. After doing more research on this program from the Old Dominion University website, I gracefully to be part of the LeADERS program that can be successful as a Mechanical engineer. The reason why I join LeADERS program is to gain varieties of experiences when being part of a big community and at a high-rate industry positions that may required innovation thinking, strategic solutions and planning, and well constructed knowledge that can be helpful when dealing with difficult and unclear problems.

When taking my LeADERS areas, I faced multiple problems that requires communication with other students and people which is my major challenge when taking courses in this program. The reason for this is that I feared that the project cannot be completed by the deadline if members of the group do not understand the ideal goals and steps in completing the assignment. However, when taking these areas, it made me realized how collaboration is the absolute key when working in the workforce. For instance, the leadership area taught me how to manage and scope the project while cooperating with other people who are difficult due to unfortunate situations. The diversity area teach me the value of culture within the workspace especially for does who are not speak english fluently. The Entrepreneurship area taught me how to the determine the necessary requirements for creating a product as well as working with other people to determine the design needed for building it. And the service learning area helps me on how to share necessary information for students and people can able to learn and enjoy. Through this experience, I learn how valuable collaboration is a huge part of when working with other people that requires experience, trust, and knowledge to succeed as a engineer.

After being part of the LeADERS program, it enhance my career as an engineer where I work with other students and faculty members to help help inspire to becoming a successful engineer while working in industrial workspace environment. The core areas of this program helps me become more discover and acknowledge my skills as a engineer when applying into high-level industry jobs with a massive potential of being hire beyond the requirements and qualifications for these positions. My vision after completing this program is that it can me support my professional and practice as a future Mechanical Engineering Designer.