Concordia University-Wisconsin

Outside engineering, my two biggest responsibilities at CUW had the same core problem: leading people who were my peers. As an RA I was responsible for 30+ residents, with two out of three years with upper classmen. As captain of the baseball team I led a roster of 60 men, earning the role of captain from a player vote. Neither role gives you much authority over people your own age. Both only work if people trust you.

Building genuine connections with individuals who I did not have strong natural chemistry was awkward at first. Through reading and studying what it takes to be a leader, I learned that you cannot lead people if you do not like people (John C. Maxwell, 5 Levels of Leadership). In my athletic career, I earned players respect through hardwork, and not being afraid to hold others accountable and preach team above self.

Both roles eventually required telling a peer something they didn't want to hear. In my recent RA role, it pertains to guiding freshmen through their first year of college and that sometimes comes with tough conversations. In athletics, it means forgetting the past and focusing on what is ahead after a rough stretch of games, or it means staying optimistic when others doubt.

Between being an RA, captain of the baseball team, and leading CEN, I was fully diversified with who I was responsible for leading on an hour by hour basis. This is to say that respect from others comes from doing and having the fruit on the tree they strive after, and caring enough to share what you know with others.

Through it all, I learned the need to seek mentorship. Although I may have been a leader to my peers, I was far from perfect and recognized a need for someone to guide me as well.