|
Leading by Serving
For a student involved in so many different groups and projects, Brittany Talley of Shawnee, Kansas, is consistently described by her peers and her mentors with two simple words: servant leader.
Brittany, a psychology major, admits that she has taken advantage of every opportunity she could at Jewell. “You get to try so many things here,” she said. “I’ve had the opportunity to learn about myself and now I know what I’m good at.”
Brittany’s involvement on- and off-campus covers a wide spectrum of engagement with the community. On campus, she is a Pryor Leadership Fellow and a member of the leadership team for the Emerging Leaders Conference. She also served as president of UNITY Association, coordinating the African American Step Show that this group organizes on campus each year.
Brittany’s involvement has extended beyond these campus commitments. She spent a semester interning for the Truman Scholarship Foundation in Washington, DC. And during this past winter break, she traveled to Kenya, where she helped Dr. Chip Kingsbury, a Jewell alumnus, and his wife dig a water tank for their community.
Among myriad opportunities to lead and serve, Brittany discovered her passion when she worked with the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) for her Pryor Leadership internship requirement. After discovering her ability to help others in this way, she has continued volunteering for this organization.
As a MOCSA hospital advocate, Brittany rushes to the emergency room at a moment’s notice to meet with victims of sexual assault. She provides emotional support during the examination for evidence and the process of filing a police report.
What started as a project to fulfill an internship requirement has meant much more to Brittany. “It has been the most rewarding experience I have ever had,” she said.
Her work with MOCSA exemplifies the type of leader Brittany is. “I don’t think you can be an effective leader of any sort without being a servant leader,” she said.
Although her service has taken her to Washington, DC, and Kenya, Brittany’s work with MOCSA is what has motivated her to spend her life in service to others.
Brittany remembers one specific instance when she spent time with a young woman close to her own age. After the police officer left the room, the woman said to Brittany, “I felt like he thought I wasn’t telling the truth. It feels really good to know that you believe in me.”
This experience hit home. “After a while, you realize it’s not about you, it’s about that other person,” she said. “People need someone to believe in them. And that’s what servant leaders do.”
Brittany’s work with MOCSA has influenced her plans for the future. She plans to earn a Ph.D. in Psychology and then work to develop mental health resources for underserved communities.
For Brittany, leadership is about serving the community. “Part of being a leader is taking your followers where they need to go,” she said. “You need to know what it’s like to give of yourself, because that’s what true leaders do all the time.”
|
