About Me

My leadership teacher, Mr. Kelly, taught me everything I know about leadership when I was only fourteen years of age. My most vivid memory of Mr. Kelly is when he recited an anecdote shared by a student named David Foster Wallace entitled, “This is Water.”

 

The story surrounds two young fish in the ocean who are asked by an older fish how the water is, in which the young fish turns to the other questioning, “What is water?” Much like these fish swimming in the ocean, there are moments in our lives that we are not truly aware of what surrounds us. The passersby we come across in our everyday lives have their own sets of dreams, frustrations, joys, and pains that may not be visible to the human eye.

 

The story’s meaning continues to hold true, especially within the industry of user experience. I have learned the importance of leading with empathy because this is the very quality that has allowed me to build deep connections and opens up the opportunity for me to learn from what others have to say. By opening myself up to others, I have discovered my love for problem-solving and built new-found energy to bring when collaborating with clients and classmates.