Initiative

Initiative, as defined by Google:

Noun The ability to assess and initiate things independently. The power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do.

Initiative in action happens every day.  Initiative could be something as simple as walking with a friend and being the first one to open the door when walking into the Union; initiative could also be taking the time to call or email a potential employer.  Whatever the action may be, there has to be a certain level of motivation and confidence to be able to take that step.  Taking initiative is a key step in leadership; those that take initiative are the ones that stand out as leaders.  Leaders realize that actions will not happen unless they themselves are the ones that make the moves first.  That is why it is highly emphasized in BLF. My mom recently started a second job.  The job entails building a client base, attending trainings, and selling the product.  Since my sister is going to college next year, she recognized there was room for something new in her life.  She put the energy out to the world and came across the opportunity to start this business, and then took the necessary steps to get involved in this company.  This is a very recent endeavor, but she has two people working under her and is moving forward to build her reputation in the company. The biggest take away I got from the Young Alumni panel was the importance of mentorship and networking connections.  Having the confidence and motivation to take initiative is important, but having a mentor helps in guiding your decision of where to put your energy.  Cynthia constantly cited mentorship as a large part of her continual success.  Through Matt's stories, I could see the importance of networking in his success.  By simultaneously starting his nonprofit and his pet care company, he created this network that was not only sustaining him through the beginning steps of his career but also ones that are playing an important part in creating the foundation for his nonprofit. I think I have taken a tremendous amount of initiative thus far in my college career.  Everything I have done has been because I took the initiative to get involved or apply for it.  I think that everything I'm doing or have done in the past has been beneficial to my future, but I think I need to focus on the networking and mentorship components (which is probably why I remembered it so much from the panel).  As my junior year is coming to a close, I am recognizing that though I have motivation to take initiative, I sometimes feel like I lack direction and I am apprehensive about what the next step is after school.  I do not want to be cavalier about where I put my energy; I need to identify someone as a mentor to be able to bounce ideas off of about my post-grad opportunities.  As for the networking piece, I think I have made some great connections, but making the connections is half the battle.  The other half of the battle is maintaining connections and creating relationships, which is more important. I see the areas I talked about as being interrelated.  In the process of talking to people and building this network, I have the opportunity to identify a mentor.  All it takes is the wherewithal to take the necessary initiative.