In my opinion, emotional intelligence is a key component of being an effective leader. I understand emotional intelligence as one’s ability to understand their emotions and appropriately react to the emotions of those around them. This is an important quality to have because it provides space for one to be both self-reflective and self-aware. Self-reflection allows people to understand themselves––their strengths, their weaknesses, why they behave the way they do, and more. With this deeper sense of self-understanding, one can be more empathetic and patient with the lives of others. Developing this skill as a leader is an essential part of effectively serving different communities and adapting to new environments. One of the ways that I have grown my emotional intelligence is through therapy. Because of my upbringing, I used to shy away from the thought of counseling and reaching out for help. The act of prioritizing mental health was something that I had to learn to lean into. I now understand that asking for help is a talent; it demonstrates my self-advocacy skills and willingness to learn. Due to therapy, I have taken up new mindfulness activities such as journaling and meditation. I am still maturing and learning how to show up for myself the way I show up for others, but I know that being cognizant and compassionate will help me accomplish these goals. I am currently a leader as a residential assistant at my college. In particular, I am the residential assistant for 33 first-year residents in an intercultural hall. This position goes beyond simply enforcing university housing policies. My responsibilities also include fostering and promoting an inclusive environment in the community, organizing hall meetings centered on multiculturalism and identity, and being a first responder to resident concerns. Having high emotional intelligence is an asset in this setting because I am better equipped to think critically and handle high-stress situations. I am honored to take on such a role, and I know that this will strengthen my communication, conflict resolution, and time management abilities. I look forward to establishing a sisterhood on my floor and being there for my residents through their difficult times and their accomplishments. Like everyone else, I am not perfect. I hope to continue to grow as a leader by becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. I know that I will not change if I stay in environments that feel too familiar and approachable, and having the humility to listen and learn will take me far. Although adversity can be difficult, it will also challenge me by exposing me to new opportunities in which I can learn valuable lessons. Furthermore, welcoming the unknown of new environments will help expand my cultural competency. I define cultural competency as the ability to understand and respect cultural differences, as well as being able to interact with people from different backgrounds. This is an important component of being a great leader because it allows people to stay open-minded, embrace diversity, and expand their horizons. All in all, I hope to follow in the footsteps of the dedicated leaders who came before me. It is my goal to lead with love not only for the remainder of my college experience, but throughout my life and all my future endeavors.

In May 2023, I went with 25 peers on a school service trip to Kingston, Jamaica. Leading up to our departure, we prepared with weekly discussions. These meetings were centered on developing our active listening and vulnerability skills, learning more about the history and culture of Jamaica, and more. Despite this preparation, though, I was not prepared for the powerful impact that my time in Jamaica had on me. The main place where we did our service work was at the Holy Family Primary School. We were teacher’s aides in the classroom. I worked with 60 students in the infant department part of the school, who were between 3 and 6 years old. As soon as I entered the classroom, I was overwhelmed by a sense of unconditional love. I was a foreigner to these children in so many ways, and yet they cheerfully greeted me every morning and embraced me in assuring hugs. They offered me their snacks during snack time and invited me to play with their slimes during playtime. At recess, they plucked flowers from the small bushes nearby and handed them to me as a gift. Some of these children came from violent and tragic circumstances, but that did not affect their warm treatment toward me at all. I was constantly in awe at their eagerness to welcome me into their lives. Another location that we provided service to was a community senior center. Here, Christian Sisters took care of elders whose families abandoned them. In addition to helping the Sisters clean the physical space and prepare meals for the residents, our role was to come with our authentic selves and simply be there with the elders. We danced with them, listened to stories about their lives, played cards with them, and more. These efforts were continued at various Mustard Seed Communities around the island. Christian Brothers looked after the most vulnerable populations of society at Mustard Seed: children abandoned at birth because of their physical and intellectual disabilities, young men born with HIV, and young mothers dealing with teen pregnancies. We wanted to remind all these folks that they were more than their suffering. They deserve to laugh and make friends and experience joy, too. I created countless fond memories with the people I met in Jamaica, ones that I will cherish forever. During the preparation meetings for this trip, we were told that our time in Jamaica would not be a “privileged experience.” We would not have access to our phones, we would not reside in a 5-star hotel, and many of us would be uncomfortably hot in the tropical Caribbean climate. But during my time there, I found myself feeling so much privilege. I felt the love from all the people I met, not their pain. I am endlessly grateful for my experiences in Jamaica. Moving forward, I am dedicated to leading with love. I do not want to perform charity work in the future. Rather, it is imperative to me that I continue to involve myself with service and community engagement work. Attending this trip has taught me about what it means to understand the realities of these marginalized groups, support them, and truly be in solidarity with those around me. I also gained so much insight into the beauty of Jamaican culture, thus furthering my cultural competency skills and ability to connect with people from different backgrounds. These are lessons that I plan on carrying with me not only for the remainder of my college experience, but throughout my life and all my future endeavors.