Leadership Vision

Integrity, Loyalty, Sincerity

Living with these unique core values, I hope to influence positive change in my community. In my eyes, integrity means striving to do the right thing, even when nobody is watching. Integrity means taking responsibility for your actions. Keeping your promises to yourself and others. Standing up for what you believe in. And most importantly, being kind without expecting an award. Integrity takes a lot of courage and self-awareness. 

I am so lucky to have been raised by a family with strong moral character and principles. Thanks to their example, doing the right thing was never very difficult for me as a kid. Whether playing a sport, studying for a class, or working on an art project, I always gave my best. I rarely skipped practice and treated everyone around me with respect. As an adult, integrity is still one of my core values. Having integrity makes me a more reliable friend, student, and coworker. It also helps me be more respected and admired by my peers. When I act with integrity, I make more confident decisions and am my most authentic self.

I believe integrity is the foundation of good leadership. Any organization will crumble under a leader who lacks integrity. When the importance of integrity is forgotten, leaders blame others, make excuses, and waiver under peer pressure.

As a leader, I plan to lead with integrity by consistently making ethical decisions, even behind closed doors. I will be accountable, follow through with my commitments, be a trustworthy mentor and subordinate, and take responsibility when I make a mistake. My career path may change, but I will always strive to embody integrity.

My second core value is loyalty. Loyalty is essential for any lasting relationship and is the number one quality I look for in friendships. Loyalty means being supportive, honest, faithful, and generous. Loyal people have more reliable friends, relationships, and work relationships. Growing up, I was always reminded of how important it is to “show up.” Whether a commitment big or small, people will remember you being there. The little things really do matter.

I plan to lead with loyalty in my personal and professional life by setting healthy boundaries, giving honest feedback, and defending the people I care about. I will avoid gossip and be happy for others. 

If I ever open my own business, which I would love to do someday, I will create an environment that fosters loyalty. A loyal environment encourages employees to celebrate each other’s successes, stand up for one another, make sacrifices, and perform their best. As for my personal life, I will be loyal to my family and close friends by continuing to show up and be there for them. I will also continue to seek and choose friendships that foster loyalty.

Lastly, sincerity is another one of my core values. Sincerity goes hand in hand with integrity and loyalty. Sincere people are open, genuine, and wholehearted. They live a life free of hypocrisy, and people gravitate toward them.

I plan to be a sincere leader at work by being approachable, friendly to all, and actively listening. I will strive to align my actions with my words and always speak from my heart. By leading with sincerity, I hope to generate enthusiasm in others, build trust, and motivate others to be better. I hope I can inspire goodness at work and in my personal life.  

The older I get, the more I realize how important personal values are. It is important to know your values, but it’s even more important to demonstrate congruence between them and your actions. Staying true to yourself and your beliefs can lead to greater happiness, self-esteem, and fulfillment.

Integrity, loyalty, and sincerity aren’t things anyone can master in a lifetime. However, reflecting on my experiences, decisions, goals, and the people I admire, I realize I value these traits most. 

I’m still unsure what I will do after graduating from UT next summer. Given my personality, strengths, and passions, I know that I want a career that is dynamic and creative. Whatever the future holds, I know that I will always strive to lead with integrity, loyalty, and sincerity.