A letter from February 9th, 2021

MSCLE 529 – February 8, 2021 Personal Leadership Insights Special Topics in Creative Enterprises  If you told me 10 years ago at my graduation of undergrad with my fine arts degree that I’d be at Northwestern University, let alone in graduate school, I would have laughed my little head off. At the time, I had no plans to ever go back to school and thanked my lucky stars that I passed with very satisfactory grades. If you told me 5 years ago at my minimum wage retail job that I’d be at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, I’d say you got the wrong person. All I wanted to do was make enough money so I could go out to my local dive bar and waste away in my hometown. In December 2019, I was driving home from being yelled at by a boss of my minimum wage in my hometown, I decided right then and there I was going to prove to everyone I can do better. I deserved better. I needed to prove to myself that I deserved to be part of something bigger than I allowed myself. I was always afraid to try harder and when I found the MSCLE program at Northwestern, I knew this was the program that would change my life and build the confidence I needed to improve my outlook on myself and my future. Upon entering in the winter during a global pandemic to a remote style of school, I felt very unsure I was doing the right thing until I started Personal Leadership Insights class with Professor Booth. I didn’t understand Zoom yet and it seemed like everyone already knew each other in the cohort. I didn’t have Wi-Fi in my apartment and had to figure out a good place to have my classes so I felt embarrassed and extra shy. Each week in class, I grew more confident to speak up in class and throughout all my classes. After each reading, I was able to reflect upon myself and learn how to use my strengths in class, in this program and for my future. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I wanted to make sure we were all connected and able to work together in the career I want to be part of. Who would have thought I cared about my family so much? I sure didn’t think so but my classmates through their acknowledgments were thrilled how deeply connected I was to my family. Never before did I think I was someone who valued family so highly but each week, I seemed to circle back to the idea of family friendly events and the importance of my family in my upbringing to figure out what I loved to do in my future industry. This class was only 5 weeks long and I haven’t had the chance to talk to too many people yet in my cohort, my university, and my new city. I was starting to feel like I’ve made a mistake by leaving my comfortable yet unfulfilling life in San Diego. I left my days of drinking away the day in the sun with my quarantine household and just letting the days go by without a thought of the future. And all of a sudden, I finally got the reality check that I needed to leave and rebrand myself by moving to Chicago. It’s been a difficult ride and an overwhelming welcomed change that was needed to get my mind out of the gutter of self-pity and no hope. Thinking back to starting this class, I wouldn’t have guessed how important this class was to getting me off the ground and on the right path. So far in my short time at Northwestern and in Chicago, the best moment that had happened to me was my one on one coaching session with Professor Booth. Considering I hadn’t talk to many people yet I was very nervous to chat with Professor Booth. I signed up to be one of the last students to talk to her from my class and I felt like an “imposter” being in the program. The more I talked to her, the more welcomed and accepted I felt by my professor. It was as though she was giving me a pep talk with a very caring, virtual hug. She let me know I belonged and gave me the boost of confidence that was missing since I started school and my life again. The other piece of acknowledgement that really stuck to me from this class was by a student named “Woo”. She kept saying how much I always find the silver lining in everything I seem to do. How does one person see right through me so clearly in such a short period of time just through a few short classes? How did I not know this about myself before? It makes such perfect sense on how I look at life as a whole and I feel like I can take that aspect about myself and use it for the rest of my life and professional career. Personal Vision: The year is 2031, already? I’ve entered my early 40s, already? It’s been 10 years since I hit the restart button of digging up my West Coast roots and headed back to the city I was born in. After a solid year of reflection and personal boot camp, I was able to get my professional self polished again to enter the work force. We as a people were able to come together yet socially distanced to fight off a global pandemic that completely shattered our event industry to a jarring halt. We came out of the MSLCE program stronger than ever with leaders ready to hit the ground running to bring our arts, entertainment, and events back to the people. For the first time in generations, we had a blank slate to work with and we were able to safety shape and bring back our creative world to fruition. I went off to work for the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and then the Illinois Arts Council Agency. I was able to help bring back events throughout our community, city and state while making them accessible, safe, and family friendly. Budgets and spreadsheets will still turn my brain to mush but I’m happy to be out and about at these free events for all to enjoy. Leadership Statement: As a future leader, I want to be a good example of someone who took many twists and turns to create their own narrative and success. I want to give guidance and hope to those that don’t have the traditional, already in place path. To me, is important to have an open space to work together to achieving our collective goals and always bring each other up with constructive feedback and positive reinforcement. ENFP Campaigner Enneagram: 9 Peacemaker/Mediator Values: Fairness, Change/Variety, Humor, Energize, Helping Others Strengths: Includer, Positivity, Empathy, Woo, Arranger Needs: To Do the Right Thing, To Share Honesty, To Be Included, To Satisfy Others