ALL ABOUT ME
Core Values
The core values that are important to me are diversity, growth, honesty, love, and vision.
Diversity
Diversity is created when there are people present that can offer different perspectives based on the different identities they hold. It allows all voices to be heard and all perspectives to be seen. Diversity is important to me because there are so many identities that I hold, and because of those identities I have different lived experiences, voices, perspectives and I want all of those to be expressed and be seen by everyone.
Growth
I believe that growth is inevitable so no one will ever stop growing. Growth is important to me because growth in all aspects is how someone continues to better themselves. It is how we learn who we are, what we are capable of, and what we can offer the world.
Honesty
Honesty is telling being transparent. It is important to me because being able to be transparent. This means that you show what you are capable of doing and you are vocal about what you are not able to do. This builds a stronger relationship with others because you are showing strengths are areas you can grow in.
Love
Live with love is a personal mantra of mine that I lead with every day. For me, it means to start every day with positiveness, assume the best in others and to be happy. Love is important to me because you have to love what you do to enjoy it, and if you love and enjoy something, you will be great at it.
Vision
Vision is something one has/sees about the/their future. It is important to be because a vision is the first step to working towards what you want. Vision is important to me because once I visualize what I want, there is no stopping me, I will get it.
Unique Leadership Identities
Three leadership identities that apply to me are coffee enthusiasts, social learners, and intercultural pioneer. I am a coffee enthusiast because I work as a barista trainer at Starbucks and have been for about a year now. I am a social learner because I utilize my knowledge and the knowledge of others to help strengthen my employability skills. I am an intercultural pioneer because I created the first Fijian Indian registered student organization at the University of Washington, Fijian Indian Student Association, to unify Fijian Indian students.
Why I do What I do
I do what I do because of many reasons, but the most important one that ties everything together is being a first-generation college student. It was a very important and pivotal moment for not only me but for my family as well when I got accepted to the University of Washington because I am the oldest child and my parents did not get the opportunity to go to college. Being a first-generation college student, I am not only going to school for myself but for my family, I am the one setting the example for my sister and cousins. Also attending a place like the University of Washington, you can feel isolated, but being first-gen, you have a group of people that understand what you’re going through. This leads to the values that drive me which are: ambition, confidence, diversity, encouragement, happiness, leadership, motivation, and unity. The goals that motivate me is to be a good role model for my family, creating a place of diversity and inclusion, creating meaningful connections.
Future Plans for Leadership
In the future, I envision engaging in leadership by giving back to the leadership opportunities I have been a part of at the University of Washington. I plan to come back and be a guest speaker for the Fijian Indian Student Association, share my marketing strategies with the incoming Student Gift Council, and giving feedback to help improve the Educational Opportunity Program Peer Mentor role. I also envision engaging in leadership within my career by joining and/or creating organizations for people who are underrepresented in my work community.