Additional Educational Experiences:
Education and Work Experiences:
During high school, I was involved in many educational and extracurricular activities. I enjoyed many educational camps throughout the summers. One of the most impactful camps was a government camp in the summer of 2019. The center was designed to get students involved in politics by learning about the specific processes of each power in government. For instance, we toured the Raleigh capital's legislative, judicial, and executive buildings. This camp was thoroughly educational for me and inspired a love for the political process I still maintain today. Along with the annual government camp I experienced, I was immersed in apologetics camps and debate camps as a student. I could learn from these experiences and apply them to my education. In addition to my educational experiences throughout high school, a significant part of my life has always been working. I have worked as a lifeguard at the local YMCA since the spring of 2020. My job as a lifeguard has been one of the most well-rounded experiences. I have learned about customer service, handling high-pressure situations, and connecting with members while I have had this job. When I first started, I was shy and quiet, but I have made my best friendships as I have worked there. With the experience I received from the YMCA, I have applied it to my other jobs. I worked as a lifeguard at Chick Fil A shortly after the busy season ended. At Chick Fil A, I learned how to take my customer service experience to another level. I learned how to work with demanding customers and showcase my people skills to my managers. This opened the door for me to begin an office job in the spring of 2022. I proved my young self worthy of maintaining a tough job. I worked as a customer service rep for a crawl space company. I learned how to take care of adult customers and scheduled specialists. I also learned about the products sold and how to run an office on the front end. My educational experiences from camp helped me understand the world I am entering, and my different jobs showcased my strong suits in the workforce.
Leadership Roles:
While working at the local YMCA, I could showcase my abilities, and my superiors noticed me. I was promoted to lead guard during my second summer at the YMCA. The promotion provided an entirely different side of my job at the YMCA. My superiors recognized me for my work ethic and my efficiency at the position. Lead lifeguards were respected and depended upon. While my promotion reflected my skills when it came to doing my job as a lifeguard well, it also gave me insight into my weaknesses as a leader. I had a hard time commanding authority like I wanted to. However, my inability to be an authority to my coworkers became something I learned to overcome. I challenged myself to do something each day at work that would require me to be assertive and authoritative. Quickly, I overcame my fear of being the leader of my coworkers and became someone that people respected across the board.
Similarly, as I have worked at my job as a customer service representative, I struggled to feel respected because I was the youngest in the office. I challenged myself to use my youth and personableness to succeed at this job. Since challenging myself, I have witnessed many people's applause and approval of my abilities to achieve in customer service. I am complimented for my efficiency by customers, and my superiors recognize me. My leadership abilities have seen growth in my place in the workforce. Still, I am confident in my work ethic and respected by my peers.