Leadership in a Diverse Society by Shelby Smith

With over 850 recognized student organizations on campus in addition to the employment and
volunteer opportunities within the community there are numerous leadership opportunities for each
and every student to take advantage of both on and off campus. During the five semesters I have been a
student at Iowa State University I have dedicated myself to several of these opportunities, each being
very different than the next. My experiences have ranged far and wide from mentoring young women of
Ames and Nevada Middle Schools, to setting the foundation for a campus publication, as well as
planning the 2016 annual homecoming celebration. With two and a half years stocked full of experience
there is a lot to tell, so rather than analyze each one individually, Im going to focus on the much greater
picture and how all of these pieces weave together to form the values that I hold today, as a junior
entering the final semesters of my undergraduate career and the way in which I lead in my day to day
life.
First, let us delve into my most current position as student assistant for the Cultural Ambassador
Program. This program is a piece of the intensive network of resources available for international
students put on by the International Students and Scholars Office. The Cultural Ambassador Program, or
more fondly referred to as CAP, is a partnering initiative that brings domestic and international students
together to learn about one anothers cultures and more often than not forms the basis of long-lasting
friendships. My position specifically, is geared towards maintaining communications among the over
300 participants each semester and creating service and social opportunities for them to attend. It
would be unjust to refer to this as solely a campus job as so many are, as this experience has changed
my perception of the world in more ways that I could have imagined. Every day in the office I interact
with and enjoy the company of students and scholars from all over the globe. We share about traditions
and customs near and dear to our hearts and I rejoice as I see these same connections occur in the pairs
Ive created within the Cultural Ambassador Program.
Now, with 7.5 billion people occupying the scope of the globe at this moment in time it is easy
to imagine that there are at least that many different definitions of leadership accompanying various
leadership styles. For me, a first generation, third-year college student at Iowa State University,
leadership is not so much a definition or a concept as it is a way of life. My specific leadership style is
one that I have obtained through the experiences I have gained, both large and small scale throughout
my lifetime and during my time as a college student. Leadership is the ability to seek out the best in
each and every person you meet. It is identifying the true potential in those around you and then taking
whatever steps necessary to inspire and assist them in reaching their most ultimate achievements in a
way they never dreamed possible prior.
For many people, the initial factor tugging at their heart strings and leading them to enroll at
Iowa State is simply the immense beauty of the campus scenery. For me, the beauty of Iowa State is so
much more than the imprinted image of the sun peering in behind the snow-kissed leaves surrounding
the campanile, as I make the frosty journey back to my apartment after class. The beauty of Iowa State
is in the stories behind the faces all around me as we exchange a passing glance or smile, shoulder to
shoulder, each on our own path but at the same time somehow tied to one-another as Cyclones. It is the
ever awe-inspiring diversity of our campus climate that is truly beautiful and this message of
appreciation is what I strive to inspire in others every day.