WHAT IS AN IMPORTANT QUALITY OF AN EFFECTIVE LEADER?

"Foresight, hard work and determination are required as well. When I started out at CCBC, I was still adjusting to a new country and culture. Like me, many first-year students, especially international students, were experiencing the same difficulties and uncertainties...One example is that there was this older student who came back to school, but she wasn’t very good with technology, so I patiently guided her with the submission of assignments and locating subject materials for the whole semester. Also, I helped students access resources on campus. But that was far too ineffective, and I wasn’t able to do as much for others as I wanted to, and so, I stepped into my current mentorship role at CCBC. Therefore, in my leadership role as a First-Year Experience Mentor, I am now able to reach out to more students, regularly communicate with them, listen to their problems, and help them navigate academic expectations." 

WHAT'S A COMMUNITY-BASED ISSUE THAT YOU CARE ABOUT?

"One problem that I have seen on my campus is the limited time schedules for college funded shuttle buses. I always travel from Owings Mills to Catonsville for all my classes. Last semester, I could not take two of my Engineering classes, because they were from 6PM to 9:30 or 10 PM. The last shuttle from Owings Mills to Catonsville was at 4:30 PM, which I could use to go to Catonsville, but there was none that came back to Owings Mills. That’s why I had to give up those classes. This issue affects many students like me who rely completely on college transportation. I hope to get students’ feedback on this issue, use that to back my claims for extended hours for shuttle buses, and work with student government association leaders to make this problem known to college leaders and faculty." 

TELL US ABOUT SOMETHING OR SOMEONE THAT INSPIRES YOU?

"A quote that inspires and guides me as a community-engaged student leader: 'Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. The best is yet to come.' – Zig Ziglar. This reminds me that the path that I am walking on to improve me and my community may be difficult right now, with overwhelming struggles, but it is there to teach me the resilience, patience and other qualities that will help me reach that destination: a better person, a better community, and a better world."