My "Sprouting"

I consider the first chapter of my leadership journey as the first stage of a flower’s development - “Sprouting”. With light exposure, availability of oxygen, water and warmth and passage of time, the primary shoot gradually emerges from the germination of seed to begin its initial phase of life. Sprouting plays an important role as it allows the new plant growth and helps form the first pair of leaves.

 

During the first year back to campus after COVID-19 lockdown, my leadership was nurtured and gradually emerged similar to a plant in the sprouting stage - I did not directly start any leadership role in my first trimester back to campus, yet the engagements I shared at university with 5 different faculties and divisions during this time frame all formed essential elements of my current leadership. 

 

In fact, I consider myself as an emerging leader in my own sprouting phase of the journey to grow my capacity of leading. My leadership mindset encouraged me to first start dedicating myself in the university environment where I could pay it forward as I was very much grateful for all of the support, generosity and kindness that Deakin staff had shared when I was a new student at lockdown time. When I reflect on this part of my journey, I realise that without the valuable work and volunteering experience I gained on campus, my leadership would not be shaped as it is today.

 

I hope that throughout the stage of my own version of sprouting, I had proven to Deakin new students that we would never be alone in the pursuit of our passion, and that if they need to seek support for any matters or simply need someone to give them a pat on their back, Deakin staff and resources including myself would always be available and willing to help.