More About Me

While many go through their lives set to master one particular skill, I believe the best form of holistic development comes through the pursuit of various interests. Though I see the value in specialization, I choose to spend my life realizing multiple interests rather than mastering just one. By doing so I'm developing a breadth of knowledge that makes me a more well-rounded person. 

 

Two of my current interests are aviation and art. When I tell people that I am engaged in these activities I often receive a quizzical look because on the surface these activities have nothing in common.  

 

While aviation requires strict rules and structure, art is freeing, allowing room for self-expression and mistakes. In choosing to pursue both interests, I have emerged in two wildly different fields, reaping the benefits of both. As I have developed, I have learned to blend the values of each to become a diligent servant leader and a more holistic individual. 

 

Aviation has taught me control, resilience, and poise. In this field, I’ve been forced to change and develop my leadership skills to handle unexpected situations with grace. Passionately indulging in an interest that can be life-threatening is no simple feat. It almost became normal to feel my heart sink and head pound with anxiety, and it didn’t help that my former British Royal Airforce instructor was also a royal pain. He led with an iron fist, allowing no errors. Once I shifted my focus to flying instead of avoiding a crash, I regained my love for it and realized what I’d hated was my instructor's leadership style. Therefore, I learned to take the information I needed from him and separate it from his harsh words and tone. I often went without constant encouragement and could ignore constant disparagement. 

 

YAYA is an after-school studio that provides young aspiring artists with the tools and training to develop their artistic identities. My journey, as an artist, is founded upon connecting with and inspiring others. I accomplish this by giving life to concrete ideas using fun mediums such as glass and ceramics. The values of this field manifested in an expressive and empathetic environment–one focused on guiding people rather than controlling them. This style keeps an individual's spirits high and can allow for mistakes. However, the strengths of this environment are not without their weaknesses. I would later learn this while leading a community service project at YAYA–a situation that would require me to create my own leadership style.

 

The job was organizing and documenting the art supplies at the studio so that YAYA would be able to keep track of its supplies. With only four people, the job felt near impossible. I tried using the more relaxed leadership tactics that I learned at YAYA; although everyone was enthusiastic, the job was not being done. Though conflicted, I defaulted to my flight instructor’s overbearing leadership style. I became the royal pain to my friends, which almost cost me these friendships, but after a few days of deep introspection, I realized my mistake. Leadership needs to consider both the task at hand and those completing it. My friends were not pilots, they were volunteers, and they were not artists; they were at YAYA to help. From my mistake, I learned to blend the good aspects of my flight instructor and art instructor’s leadership style. I sought to be simultaneously gentle and direct, earning respect from my peers. I had created my own style of leadership. One that could be enforced while maintaining high spirits. This preferred style became my default and has taught me much about myself.

 

My brand of servant leadership combines the best of both worlds - the emotional intelligence of my artist experience with the performance, poise, and control of an aviator.  I look forward to my journey as a leader in college and beyond.