Who Am I? When reflecting on this complex and somewhat
uncomfortable question, I am reminded of Roy Baumeister, who
believed a well-lived life is one that has meaning, and we as
individuals need to understand our lives and see them as making
sense. To ask a friend or close family member to describe me, the
first word that may come to mind is introverted. I accept this, and
realize that I can be private, individualistic, and predisposed to
my inner mind. In order for me to feel holistically grounded, I
spend a great amount of time evaluating my overall self, and
searching for meaning in my life and work. I find that these
predispositions are essential to how I make sense of the world and
strive to live a full life.As a friend, a daughter, and a partner,
I can say with confidence that I am sensitive, compassionate, and
loyal. I surround myself with a core of friends and family, and
remain steadfast in my allegiance to those who exemplify my
personal values. I am forever grateful to my parents, who provided
me with tremendous foundational opportunities to be an educated and
independent woman. I am motivated to seek meaning and purpose in my
relationships, and find myself separating from individuals and
institutions that do not align with my sense of value and
meaning-making. At the same time, I can be very open and accepting
of others, and go out of my way to make people feel comfortable and
included. I believe this degree of insightfulness, sensitivity, and
empathy serves as an undergirding for the person I look to be, the
work I look to accomplish, and the impact I intend to make on the
lives of others. I am a mediator and a listener. Friends, family,
and colleagues appreciate my ability to be right there during a
conversation. I believe that people need to be truly heard, and to
know that they and their stories command my full attention. I value
harmony and cooperation, and am genuinely interested in people and
their potential. As a higher education professional, I truly care
about the people that our students are becoming, and strive toward
an environment of advocacy for self, others, and community. My
passion for education began early in life, and continues to
manifest itself in the work I hope to embody moving forward. I am
driven to base my practice on ethically sound principles, and
continue to cultivate my ability to listen and lead through
example. If I feel that I can remain holistically self-aware and
make a positive impact on my environment, I will feel confident and
grounded in the fact that my life has purpose and meaning, and
ultimately, makes sense.