Reality Check
This Easter weekend, I was able to stage a surprise appearance for my mother’s 50th birthday. This unexpected reunion provided valuable time for my family and I to catch up about the ins and outs of our daily lives, information that is often perceived as irrelevant, when in reality these details are what make up the majority of our lives. As I began to share my initial impressions of the courses I am taking this Spring Quarter of my sophomore year, I found myself interested in discussing the challenges and lessons I have encountered through this experience in the Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative.
My mom, the Director of the Center for Digital Learning and Innovation at Seattle University, another Jesuit university, was ecstatic that I had signed up to participate in a course that is so indicative of the value of a Jesuit education. Her active enthusiasm diminished as Winter Quarter wore on, as her hectic life overshadowed her interest in my coursework. But as we sat on our living room couch, with Law and Order SVU playing in the background, our conversation was dominated by discussions regarding NPI and Licia Imports. It was in this moment that recognized the immense value of working with individuals of a dissimilar background than my own. As I simultaneously am enrolled in Management 160, we are discussing the importance and value of culturally intelligent employees, and the concrete benefits of a cohesive and functional office. While much of my conversation with my mom detailed the challenges of our the project, the resounding conclusion was that this experience is invaluable.
I sincerely believe that there is no better method of learning than through experiences. Working with Licia Imports has been an honor and a privilege, most importantly because I know that the tools of communication I develop here will become aspects of my character that I value for the rest of my life. Furthermore, in any experience, not necessarily overtly positive or negative, it is wise to reflect and identify how the event can be utilized to better yourself personally, professionally, or both. My advice to others: be grateful for every moment, event, and experience: you never know how you will be able to capitalize on this moment in the future.