Behind Closed Doors [ 01 - Diana ]

I walked Diana back to her apartment, and shuffling down the stairs to my own front door, I took a good minute to absorb the interview we just completed.  What an incredible start to this blog!  Diana is empowering, inspiring, and ironically: Though we've said "hello" here and there and I welcomed her her first day on campus, I truly had no idea the relaxed, California-looking girl just upstairs was among the most diligent and devoted leaders on the campus! This semester I've been very very wishy-washy, and before  knocking on Diana's door to begin our chat, I almost backed out for fear of diving into this really intensive exploration.  I almost didn't even start this very blogging project that has, in one interview session, already impacted me and helped me grow.  Fortunately, I chose to meet Diana, and am convinced it was purposeful: She taught me that having the passion to believe in your own impact, and to truly pursue doing something positive, is the only way to really be an inspiring leader.

To aid my own leadership development, I have this morning tradition that involves drawing a card from a giant deck of inspirational themes: motivation, creativity, connection, power, ect.
Today's card was "Dream: Think Big! There are unseen forces ready to support your dreams."
This blog, a project on conversing with, reflecting on, and getting to some of the actual roots of the campus residents who I've been hired to assist, was a dream of mine that has been sitting on the shelf for a long time.  The idea was conceived during Spring Training when all the RA staff was reminded our purpose wasn't just to be a welcome wagon, run a few food-heavy programs, and say "hi and bye" to our residents on the way to class: We were chosen to empower the people we interact with. We were selected as a leadership body on our campus.  The professional staff challenged us to really evaluate our impact, and what level we have reached out to those we were hired to inspire and help grow.

 Being a RA isn't easy, but there are many instances that shake your doubt, reminding leaders this experience is worth every midnight minute gluing bulletin boards together, finalizing program details for the next afternoon, or performing a lockout.  Diana's passion for leadership busted me out of my exscues and burnout: She is actively pursuing all her dreams, and she was proud, happy, and believing in the power of her own impact.  My thirty minutes with Diana reinvigorated my desire to truly give all of myself to the roles I've chosen to invest my time and heart in.  She reminded me that every moment you interact with another human is a given to you with the potential to inspire change; I guarantee she had no idea the impact she left one me ---Diana just lives her message, and that means she probably touches at least one other person every day of the week.

The next time I go knocking on doors, saying hello, or promoting our next campus activity ---I want to remember that for all the people who will say "hi-thanks-ok-bye," if I can be there or impact just one person in the proccess by interacting with them as a true, passionate leader,
I am not only doing my job, I am living up to my dream of making a difference. 

[RESIDENT 01 - DIANA ]

                The first time I met Diana, I knew someone dynamic had moved into UP 200.  She was full of energy ---but had a carefree attitude that screams: “I love life.”  The self proclaimed-purse addict can interview like a pro, and, blending confidence, cheer, and a genuine desire to make a difference, Diana is an epitome of a student leader.  I felt like I’d made a good friend after just thirty minutes with Diana, and I think University Place 200’s new Building Representative is meant to impact others and smile her way to success. 

Diana started pursuing an education major, but even after student teaching and entering with a genuine love of children (Diana has nannied for years!), she decided she wasn’t passionate about the job to make a teacher’s smaller salary.  Not after years of investing funds in college, anyway.  Where’s a driven, ambitious girl to go? To marketing classes, of course! “Now I’m involved with Pi Sigma Epsilon, the marketing fraternity,” she adds “I love doing business, and all the aspects of business.”  When I recommended she look into other forms of student leadership (as this girl has GOT it!), she said she was considering pursuing an RA role: “I really like to be in charge of stuff; I love working with people and doing creative stuff, showing people what to do and helping others out…”

Every moment of Diana’s day is filled with opportunities that involve her creatively with others.  Here are some facts about her average day:

-She instructs Junior Achievement at McClure Middle School, where she teaches students the basics of business and ideas of entrepreneurship since the fall.  For an hour a week, she inspires younger students to look into the field, and states “It’s really interesting to hear what kids pick up from hearing what their parents have told them (about business.)”

-She does the dishes. Even if they aren’t hers.  When asked her number one roommate pet peeve, she answered:  “Leaving dishes . I’ll just do the dishes, just because I hate dishes in the sink.”  I hear a lot of roommate conflicts start over this issue ---and it doesn’t surprise me a person like Diana chooses to just power through it and take care of the problem before it escalates.  That’s dedication!

I’ve always observed students graduating high school with the thought: You have no idea who you are about to become.  When my little brother walked across the stage in 2008, I could never have imagined the inspirational leader he would become today.  Diana, likewise, has underwent a lot of alterations in her years at Kennesaw and a university in California ---which, she went to because her dad challenged her: “If you are gonna go out of state, it’s the same price ---why not just go to California?” So of course, she did!  Of her personal change, Diana notes,

                “In high school I was more concerned about being friends with certain people, and having the best things ---I was really materialistic.” As opposed to? “Now it’s about having a few really good friends, really great friendships, and helping people out, I’m really close to my family now.  It’s so cool to see high school people and they tell me: You’re really nice now!”  She laughs, but it’s true ---I would never peg Diana as a materialistic person.  She oozes of love for life, and others. 

                In her own world, she enjoys many things, and is inspired by many people ---but her relationship with her father seems to have built a lot of the foundation she now stands proudly upon.  A now successful stock market player who started three failed enterprises, yet never gave up, Diana views her dad as one of the greatest sources of motivation.  Diana’s father built the very house she was raised in, and he lived in it, half built, without power, for years, until his business endeavors triumphed.  “My dad really inspires me to not give up, it’s cool to hear ---he just kept going, drove all the way from Marietta to Stone Mountain every day. He still lives in that house and it has been 25 years.”

                We talk about her family, and though her parents are divorced, Diana is positive about their ability to still connect and be a family. She is equally proud of her little brother at Clemson.  Little, but she says: “When I look at him I see my big brother because he’s so big, I forget he’s younger than me!”   He is always watching out for Diana, and you can see the joy in her eyes when she mentions his part in her life.
                For fun, we shifted the conversation to love and money ---and oddly enough as the topic was for giggles, this is where Diana’s wisdom truly shined: Love or money? 9/10 times a person will say Love. “So many people just say love, like you don’t need money …but you really do,” She adds, “I think money is more important, I think you have to have a good balance between the two because if you don’t have money, it’s really hard to truly love ---you have your mind on other things!”  As finances are one of the key reasons couples divorce in 2012, and a key factor in all of our lives, she has a point.   “Love is always there, but it’s easier with money.”

                Responsible and organized, talkative, and energetic (or lazy depending on the task ahead): That’s how Diana describes herself.  Me? I see her as 100% motivated and MOTIVATING.  In the next year, she has a lot of plans: “I want to make my mark after joining SMIF, the Student Management Investment Funds.” SMIF invests fake money in stocks, and if they flourish, real money will back those students’ investments in the future.  Diana wants to be in the Coles College by Fall 2012, and meet new people to inspire and be inspired by.  As we part ways, even her handshake says: “I’m going place.”  Whether to Coles, next semester, or New York to play Wall Street –Diana is on the road to success, and all along, I’m constantly amazed by how excited she is.  Like her dad, I believe she will never give up, or stop moving forward with a smile.