This year has been an amazing year full of learning, growth, and development. I got the chance to network more, meet great people, but above all else make life-long friendships and learn lessons that will help carry me through life.

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First, I decided to do a self-designed experience at Accessibility Resources (AR) here at UC because I wanted to impact a widely misunderstood community. As one would expect, during this experience, I encountered different types of challenges, some more challenging than others. However, I will admit that each one taught me something new. Even though I was only working as a front-desk assistant, a position that most people would simply consider customer service (only taking phone calls, giving information, providing services, etc.), I quickly realized that while it is true in some cases, it was not in this one. In a way, I realized just how important and significant that role was in the lives and experiences of the student who came through that office. I learned more about disabilities, how they impact people, how we treat people with disabilities, and other things that I would have never learned elsewhere. The most important of them, and the one I often share with people, is:

 

Just because 2 people have the same disability doesn't mean they are dealing with it at the same level. If you don’t know and would like to learn more, either ask (politely) or wait until they are comfortable sharing more details with you about their disability. NEVER GENERALIZE OR ASSUME ANYTHING.

 

Second, I decided to join the GE Appliances African American Forum (AAF) Affinity Network during my second rotation with the company. Although I had initially denied the opportunity to do so over the summer of 2018 (during my first rotation), I saw the potential value in gaining knowledge from such an experience. To me, it was a gateway into seeing how professional networking and communication works at a corporate level. Above all else, during this experience, I learned the importance of empowerment. I learned that when you give someone the belief that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to, no matter how challenging it might be, they will exceed your expectations. You will see an increase in their productivity and will give them the drive to do more and the desire to succeed. Here is something I now share with people as a result of this experience:

When you empower someone or show them that their work and efforts are being appreciated, they will constantly try and go the extra mile because they want to repay the trust and belief you have in them. They desire to take on more responsibility.

This prompted me to reflect on the following question: How do I need to empower those around me?

 

Finally, I decided to start yet another self-designed experience, this time as a youth goalkeeper coach at Cincinnati Soccer Club, aka Cincy SC. I want to use this opportunity to truly impact the lives of the kids I will be coaching. I want to be a good example for them and I want to be a coach to them for more than just soccer. I hope to impact and help improve their school or life experiences. I always wanted to have a coach growing up, one that tracked my progress throughout the years, but sadly never got one. Now, I get the chance to be what I always wanted for someone else and I couldn’t be happier.

 

In a nutshell, this year has been amazing. I have gotten the opportunity to grow, use my skills and strengths to impact different communities, but more importantly, get closer to my goal of becoming a global citizen scholar.