In 2018, I started off my college career at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a freshman in the college for the Division of General Studies. I remember being so eager to explore my fullest potential and to take advantage of all the opportunities that seemed to exist around every corner. Mentally I had built up so much stamina that I was ready to just get started… but I had absolutely no direction.
I had my work cut out for me.
My involvement with the ILC began when I first heard about their available workshops and i-Programs from my freshmen orientation course. I was definitely interested, but was it something I could see myself doing?
I knew one thing for certain: I had never considered myself a leader.
I decided to go for it - we all have to start somewhere. After looking through the ILC website, I learned about the Illinois Leadership Center's Leadership Certificate Program and decided to attend the first informational meeting. From here, the rest is history! I was assigned to my leadership coach within a few weeks of enrolling in the program and was set on my leadership journey.
Leadership education was something entirely new to me. It had never quite occurred to me that being a leader was a skill that could be developed. In the beginning, I had so many questions: Did I have what it takes to be a leader? What does a leader look like? Think like? Act like?
From here I found my starting point: self-knowledge.
The ILC’s leadership philosophy states, “Leadership development begins with self-knowledge—understanding one’s passions, motivations, strengths, limits, and personal values. Leaders are committed to continual self-discovery, reflection, and learning.”
My leadership certification experience was incredibly transformative. Once I started to look within myself for answers, my growth persisted in a ripple effect. As I worked my way through the program’s requirements, I was challenged to define myself as a leader and to seek opportunities that would strengthen my abilities.
The ILC’s Model of Leadership consists of four levels of practice: personal/self, interpersonal/team, organization, community/society - constructed from the 21 leadership competencies.
Leaders are learners, and each new experience was like unlocking a new piece to the puzzle. Immersing myself in leadership education, workshops, and I-Programs in the pursuit of understanding myself within the context of the leadership competencies was incredibly rewarding. Unexpectedly, I gained confidence. My fear of failure started to disappear and my appreciation for the learning process was replacing it.
I became proactive in seeking leadership opportunities where I could apply my newfound knowledge and skillsets. Looking back, my introduction to the Illinois Leadership Center was the stepping stone to accessing my fullest potential. It’s fair to say my leadership journey may have started with the certification program, but it certainly did not end upon its completion.
Today, I am a leader.
As I reflect on my experiences from the past four years with my anticipated graduation in upcoming May 2022, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I had such little idea how large of an impact the Illinois Leadership Center would have on my personal, academic, and professional success. Writing this post from my desk at the ILC as I finish up my senior year feels a little bittersweet; working as a graf intern for our education team is definitely the full-circle moment of my leadership journey.
To all the readers out there, I hope that you find a way to challenge yourself and embrace the leader that exists within you.
