What Makes Me A HBCU ALL-STAR?
I consider myself to be an HBCU ALL-STAR because I possess the personal characteristic needed to push forward in spite of circumstances that may try to push me backwards. What is an ALL-STAR? I would define an ALL-STAR as an individual who succeeds when it appears that failure is the only option; refuses to take no as the only answer when there is always the possibilities for yes; and who understands that being successful alone is never acceptable because it is with others that one truly obtains success. There are six characteristics that I possess that make me an HBCU ALL-STAR and if others possess these characteristics as well, they can also be ALL-STARS. In this statement I will share with you my strengths because of the characteristics of passion, ability to persuade, concern/care, empowering, fearlessness and confidence.
Although passion is often defined as the feeling one has for another, it is also a driving force in making dreams come true. When you have passion for something you live it. When you have passion for something you breathe it. When you have passion for something you get up with it on your mind and go to sleep with it on your mind. Passion is a strong desire, embedded in your inner-being that drives you to keep on task as your mission unfolds. Passion is what makes me an HBCU ALL-STAR.
The power of persuasion, the ability to convince people that what you are saying is true with credibility and integrity is essential in being an ALL-STAR. Individuals who have the power of persuasion have proven to be individuals who can motivate team members and others to move in a particular direction. This characteristic is a great one as long as the individual who possesses it is one who does not use it for personal gain, but the good of the whole. I have the power of persuasion but I know it is powerless if I only use it to get what I want when others are hurting.
The strongest most effective leaders I have met are ones who care about people. They have a tendency to show their care and concern by not only their words, but by their actions. As an ALL-STAR I know the importance of caring for others and showing concern for those who are on the margins of not only society, but college life. Because of the concern I have expressed, I have been able to be inclusive when considering the needs of all students not just those who are considered leaders.
I think combining empowering and fearlessness would be appropriate for the point I would like to make about both of these characteristics. If empowering is the ability to make others feel emboldened and not diminished and powerless, then that would obviously mean that once an individual is empowered, they are also fearless. When a leader seeks to empower, they understand that in fact they are seeking to help people overcome the fears that keep them from moving forward and attaining what is rightfully theirs. As an ALL-STAR it is imperative that others feel that what they have to say and contribute is meaningful. That leads to an empowering and fearless attitude.
The last characteristic that really sums up the previous 5 is one of confidence. In order to do anything and do it well, you must have confidence. You must believe in yourself and believe in the value of others. I think too often people take confidence for arrogance because most people are not confident in themselves. As an ALL-STAR people want to know that I know who I am and what I know. However, when I do not know I am not apologetic, I simply say with confidence, “I don’t know”. Not it surely takes confidence to be able to do that.
In summary, I am a campus ALL-STAR because I take all of the above mentioned characteristics and serve my college community through my involvement in various organizations. I am a team builder and very clearly understand that there is no “I” in team. I am honest and believe that my college is a personal reflection of me. Most of all I consider myself and HBCU ALL-STAR because in my heart of hearts I truly believe that HBCU’s prepare students to compete with any other students from other institutions and that we can rise to whatever challenge is put before us.