Phi Sigma Pi Personal Statement

From a young age, my father would constantly repeat two sayings to me. The first was the saying “Be careful!” The second was a phrase that continues to resonate with me: “Be a leader, not a follower.” Throughout my life and undergraduate education, I have tried to follow this mantra for my own wellbeing but also for the wellbeing of others. My parents stressed the importance of quality leadership and cultural competency from a young age. However, my personal understanding of the importance of leadership truly began during my junior year of high school, when I was a Rotary International Exchange student to Poland and acted as a student ambassador for my country. This was my first experience representing my native country, language, and culture, and grew to understand the importance of strong leadership while effectively listening and working with other student
During my time as an undergraduate student, I was an active member of the Phi Sigma Pi Honors Society and acted as a leader in the Pitt student community. I was an active voice for the fraternity and served on the scholarship committee, the career and professional development committee, and the service committee. As a member of the Phi Sigma Pi, I was able to give back to the Pittsburgh community by volunteering at the humane society, participating in service events on campus, helping with philanthropy events, as well as volunteering at Jubilee Soup Kitchen. A second leadership role that I held on campus was that of a peer educator at the Stress Free Zone. This leadership role provided me with the opportunity to promote the health and wellbeing of students on campus by advocating the space, educating students on Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Techniques (MBSR) and working with my team of other fellow peer educators on outreach events and other promotional