Sienna

    PCS has been an amazing way for me to grow in my leadership. I have been given opportunity after opportunity to grow and push myself to become the best leader that I can be. This trip specifically has broadened my leadership qualities and helped me to step out of my comfort zone. Being part of the MarCom committee for the conference and conversing with Italian students within my small group have been just a couple of ways my leadership has been able to grow while here. Through reflecting on myself this trip I have realized that I can often be a silent leader, but I will step or speak up when it is needed. I do not see this as a bad thing, but as we go forward with the rest of the trip, I hope I can learn to not try to be so behind the scenes when it comes to group decisions and leadership as a whole. 

    I totally agree that the decisions we make will reflect the type of person we are. I always try to strive to do what is right and when I feel the group wants to make risky decisions that may have some unfortunate outcomes I often speak up and say that we shouldn't do that and instead point us in a better direction. Some important decisions that I have made while here are listening to our instructors, tour guides, and just people in general when others may be talking. I think this showed others that I am attentive, truly listen to people when they speak, and that they should stop what they are doing and listen as well. Another decision that I have made while here was to show up 5 minutes early to wherever our meeting spot is. I know that this is expected, but still some people like to lag, and I think by me making a conscious effort to remain disciplined it shows others they need to do the same if they want to get the most out of this experience.  

   At home, my peers have always told me that they admire and respect me. I truly appreciate and value their respect and love that I can be a positive influence in their lives. Sometimes though this makes me nervous to make mistakes and I understand fully that this is not how I should feel, but I never want to misrepresent myself and what I value, and it affect the way my peers view me. Here I have felt my peers view me the similarly. They have used phrases that they love me, think I am wholesome, and that they just love me. Hearing these things makes me feel so good and I know I do not have it all together, and it makes it that much more special that I am viewed this way despite my mistakes I have made along the way. I think our actions and the way we speak to people has a major factor of how we can influence others which is why I always try to speak kindly to those around me and make good smart decisions. 

    I totally look up to other people every single day. One of my favorite people that I look up to so much is Grace Valentine. Grace is a social media influencer, but also a passionate Christian author. I was actually telling Kari about how I look up to her so much because she is just real. She is everything I strive to be, and I think this is how I can be a better leader and individual myself. I can observe others throughout my daily interactions by how they act and speak to others. Actions mean a lot and often speak louder than words, but how you speak to others reflects your heart. Observing others in this way can play a positive role on me by influencing me to see where I am falling short as a leader or maybe how I can be better if I am observing something that I do not like from others.