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"Being a leader does not mean you know everything. Ask questions and share your thoughts."
Hello there! My name is Alicyn. I am a recent graduate from the University of Minnesota. During my time at the University of Minnesota (U of M), I was fortunate to connect with the University YMCA, which we often call the UY. I want to tell you about my involvement in the UY and what I learned from my time there.
First off, the UY has a passion for leadership development. When you invest in the UY, they will invest in you. For myself, I know I have become a better person, and leader from my time here. There are many ways in which the UY has helped me become a leader. Now, I will share my journey.
My first semester at the U of M was the Fall of 2013. I was a transfer student and had only a few semesters left to finish my degree. I was determined to make the most of my time. My degree is in Nutrition Studies and one of the course requirements was community engagement, or in other words, bringing life experience and education together.
During my search for an internship, I reached out to the UY and I was excited to find out about their new pilot program called Healthy Kids Matter that was just about to be launched. With the help of my amazing supervisors, we developed an internship position within Healthy Kids Matter that filled my course requirement.
The goal of the Healthy Kids Matter is to provide opportunity for college-aged student mentors to act as positive influence with elementary-aged youth in an after-school setting by incorporating elements of health, nutrition and wellness.
During Spring 2014, I had the opportunity to be a student mentor for the kids at site and behind the scenes in program development and organization. I loved the opportunity to interact with the youth of the program one-on-one. It allowed me to observe what the students liked and disliked about the program which improved the organization of the program.
Going into Fall 2014, I transitioned to a more permanent role in program development. During this time, I supported and encouraged the college mentors by leading biweekly group meetings as well as individual meetings. It has been incredible to witness the transformation of Healthy Kids Matter.
Through my UY experiences, I have learned that questions are good. It is better to ask questions for clarification in order to develop good communication. Being a leader does not mean you know everything. Ask questions and share your thoughts. Asking questions can also lead to new opportunities. Sharing your thoughts promotes creativity and collaboration. These skills generate great new ideas that cannot come from just one person.
I am so grateful that the UY invested in me and showed me that anyone can be a leader. I have learned I make a strong leader when I strive to build relationships. It has also helped me to recognize how much I value forming connections with people. I am excited to find out how I will incorporate my new leadership skills in my future career!
