MANAGING EDITOR – VICTORIA OLGUIN
Part of St. Mary’s University’s mission is to shape leaders for the common good through faith, a quality education, family spirit, service, change, and adaptation. By focusing on this mission, St. Mary’s has been able to successfully shape leaders of the future who will no doubt create a lasting impact not only at the University but also in San Antonio and beyond. To be a great leader, students must first understand what leadership means. Junior finance and risk management major and president of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), Ethan Stein shares what leadership means to them.
“Leadership is not necessarily being the best at something but making those around you better. They make the organization better, they know when they need to take the backseat and be a follower, but more importantly, they understand when they need to step up and set the example,” Stein said. “I get to watch individuals grow. I watch people who may not know what they want to do yet identify goals and find ways to adapt and pursue them. It’s honestly just amazing to be a part of a process that betters the professional development of others,” Stein continued.
“I have never had so many people dependent on me… This has taught me that it’s okay for a leader to struggle, that there is always room to improve and grow. There is no one size fits all leader. We all have drastically different styles. NSLS has [shown] me what I needed to improve on, and I’m working my way there,” Stein said. For other students like sophomore digital marketing major and President of the Catholic Student Association, Arty Cantu, leadership involves problems and finding ways to solve them effectively and inclusively. “Leadership to me means being able to take different perspectives on solutions and aiming to make sure that everyone is heard and represented,” Cantu said. “[The] Catholic Student Association has helped me learn to be accepting of failure and embracing disagreements because, with disagreements, we sometimes get our best ideas,” Cantu continued. When asked the same question regarding disagreements, senior international business major and President of Christians United for Israel, Alondra Lozano agreed. It is especially in this organization where sometimes, difficult topics must be discussed. “Leadership to me means listening to others, being able to teach the truth, and being wise as to how to solve issues,” Lozano said. “CUFI educates the St. Mary’s community on what’s happening in the Middle East, because when Israel is attacked, so is America… they are our biggest allies. So, by informing students about the issues and how to speak the truth, we help by teaching others what’s beyond San Antonio, Texas, and the United States of America,” Lozano continued. Leadership for other students means taking a step out of their comfort zones. Senior music education major and president of the Student Musicians Committee, Jared Barry thinks the same. “This is only my second time holding a leadership position with any organization. I was always afraid of being a leader, but this opportunity has really changed my view. It has shown me how to take the views of my fellow students and create a common goal for us to strive towards. I have been fortunate enough to be involved in a growing and determined organization that fosters leadership,” Barry said. Students have been able to practice what leadership means to them within their own organizations. Senior English major and President of Enactus, Morgan Kuchta has already been creating an impact in her community through community service. “Enactus is all about enacting positive change, and we’re accomplishing this through our community service projects. We’re inspiring each other, helping communities, and taking steps to expand our scope of help, and I find that it’s impossible to not love it!” Kuchta said.
“Enactus is an incredible help to numerous communities, and with more members, we can make greater impacts.” Kuchta continued. Junior international business marketing major and Vice President of Enactus, Stephanie Flores commented, “Enactus has allowed me to express my ideas and implement them to actually make a difference. With the projects, we have planned this year and the members we have, we should be able to reach a lot of people and really make a difference,” Flores continued.
Similarly, senior exercise and sports science major and psychology minor and President of Health Occupations Students of America, Aileen Macias has helped her community through leadership. She has worked to bring resources and connections to students at St. Mary’s. “Since we are a healthcare organization, we bring in professionals from all different fields of healthcare to guest speak at our meetings. I believe that this is a very helpful way to network and explore different fields if you are interested in going into healthcare,” Macias said. “I love that we are able to make connections with many different professionals, support organizations with donation drives and help our community through service. These are the exciting things that we get to do as an organization,” Macias continued.
Sophomore entrepreneurship and innovation major, communication studies minor, and Vice President of the Women’s Affairs Council, Sophia Phelan is another leader who works to bring networking and a safe space to the university campus. “This organization has given me a home. It’s given me a group that is supportive and understanding. We share and empathize, we learn and analogize. We talk in a safe space and work to create that for others,” Phelan said. “We often take for granted the structure of society. Women’s Affairs Council seeks to question and research intersectionality. This helps to dissect structures and build them better and fairer than before. The council also helps to make us more aware of how we treat people and why,” Phelan continued.
Many students have had the experience of leadership not only in student organizations but in internships as well. As developing professionals, this can be a vital experience. Sophomore engineering science major, exercise and sports science minor, and intern for Student Life, Brianna Valadez shares her experience with Emerging Leaders, “Emerging Leaders has allowed me to grow as not only a leader but a peer to others. The connections I have made are priceless. I have been shaped as a leader by developing my knowledge of my leadership abilities in order to more effectively pursue my personal goals [and] professional goals,” Valadez stated.
For junior computer science and application system major and Mariachi President, Sophia Rodriguez, leadership has personally helped them grow. “The organization has shaped me into someone who is dedicated, determined, caring, and open-minded to everything that can come my way,” Rodriguez said. Through faith, a quality education, family spirit, service, change, and adaptation, St. Mary’s University has succeeded in developing leaders on campus. There is no doubt that an impact will be made not only at the University but in San Antonio and the greater community.