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.
