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A Student's Experience With Authentic Leadership
CSB Student Discovers True Leadership
By Adam Ironside SJU '14
For CSB First-Year Molly Peck this past academic year has been a year of learning about what true authentic leadership is. In high school Peck was a very ambitious student that wanted to achieve and excel at everything. Once Peck came to CSB in the Fall of 2010 she also wanted to immerse herself in every activity possible. Simply put she wanted to do everything she had time for and more.
In the Fall Peck became very involved in the Inspiring Leaders Certificate Program on campus. She started to attend almost all of the classes offered in a week and wanted to earn all certificates by years end. She thought by finishing ILCP and getting involved in as much as possible she would be able to change campus for the better.
At one point Peck realized she had no free time and no time to develop her leadership skills she learned in class. "I was involved in so many activities that I wasn't able to contribute my potential leadership skills," Peck says.
Spring semester arrived and Peck decided to change her views about being involved. To her making change in the campus community no longer meant doing absolutely everything. She decided that she was going to invest her time in practicing true authentic leadership. Peck took a step back and decided to focus on her talents and abilities.
Peck knows her decision to invest her leadership skill into the CSB/SJU community was a great one. Instead of earning all the ILCP certificates in her first year she has realized what it means to take a stand in her community. Peck put her efforts into campus organizations and events that she had a true passion for. From this new mindset she has excelled in making CSB/SJU a better place. Her refocused leadership efforts recently helped her to be named to the JEC Executive Board; a position that requires an authentic leader to plan on-campus events. In addition to being involved with JEC Peck was recently accepted into the Peer Resource Program. "Dedicating myself to fewer programs has not only helped me develop my authentic leadership skills but has also help others do the same," Peck says.
In discussing her authentic leadership journey with others Peck hopes that other Johnnies and Bennies will take the knowledge gained from leadership initiatives at CSB/SJU and immerse themselves in practicing true authentic leadership. "I hope that other students will have the opportunity to find their authentic leadership and excel in the campus community," Peck says. She realized that it is not about the leadership awards and being in as many things as one can; it is about developing a sense of self that can be used to make the surrounding community a better place.