From Weekly Posts to Lifelong Lessons

It's Not Goodbye, But See You Later...

As the semester comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on my academic journey with the feeling of bittersweetness and excitement. It feels like I’ve been holding my breath for months, but now, I can finally exhale. There were moments when life felt overwhelming, but looking back, I realize how much this semester has provided a lot of growth in me.

There were times when I felt like I hit a plateau. But also at the same time, I felt like I was constantly accelerating, but now with graduation around the corner I can just cruise.

Writing these weekly posts gave me the opportunity to intentionally set aside time for myself. It was almost like self care. In the middle of a busy semester, sitting down to write about my life and experience was a luxury I overlooked. But that dedicated time allowed me to pause, reflect, and realign with my goals.

My Biggest Takeaways:

One of the most significant takeaways from this experience is how much I’ve learned about myself and my potential to contribute meaningfully to the professional world. This class has been one of the most people-oriented experiences in my HTM program, diving into the dynamics of leadership from both the leader’s and follower’s perspectives.

Although there wasn’t a lot of group work, I realized that less can truly be more. It was so refreshing to focus on myself and explore how I can lead others and contribute to an organization from a different lens. Like an outsider looking in, versus being in the group work and all that.

Lifelong Lessons I’ve Learned:

1. Stay True, But Adaptive
   

I aspire to be a leader who remains authentic and true to my values, yet is adaptable when the situation calls for it. Throughout my life, I’ve admired leaders who are unapologetically themselves, yet remain flexible and accommodating when needed. This balance of authenticity and adaptability is something I hope to cultivate as I grow into my leadership role.

2. Momentum is Slow and Steady
   

Inspired by the flywheel effect from Good to Great, I’ve learned that greatness doesn’t come from rushing towards successes, but from consistent, focused effort. It’s about committing to daily progress and making gradual improvements over time. My high school track coach, Coach Trieu, always said, “If you take shortcuts in practice, you take shortcuts in life.” This lesson resonates with me, as it reinforces the importance of consistency. It also highlights the value of celebrating every small win along the way, recognizing the progress we make, no matter how small or big.

3. Be Accountable
   

I’ve come to understand the importance of taking responsibility for my decisions and actions, both in the short and long term. Being accountable means considering the lasting effects of my choices and owning the outcomes, which is crucial to effective leadership. Accountability fosters trust and shows others that I am someone they can rely on.

4. Who is Driving this Bus?
   

I really enjoyed the chapter in Good to Great, that emphasized that it is "not about where you drive the bus, it is about who is in the bus and who is sitting in the right seat." This was incredibly moving for me because it genuinely makes sense. Anyone could state a vision but to get there it depends who is going to be with you along the way.

Moving Forward...

I’m excited to put these lessons into practice after college. These practices will help me lead with authenticity and effectiveness. Additionally, from these blog posts, I want to continue developing the habit of reflection, ensuring that I stay true to my values while striving for both personal and professional growth.

I was constantly reminded the entire semester that good leadership isn’t about having all the answers or behaving a certain way. But it is more so about being adaptable, emotionally intelligent, committed, and so much more.

I’m actually very excited and eager to explore these concepts and look forward to applying them in real-world scenarios.

As this chapter ends, I’m excited to share my professional e-portfolio, which reflects my journey through HTM. Feel free to explore it here: