Emerge Leadership Philosophies Spring 2025

At the culmination of each semester’s Emerge Leadership Circle, students share their personal leadership philosophies. These philosophies are the culmination of a semester’s learning and reflection, and each is as unique as the participants themselves.

Anhar Rihan
Class of 2028

“As a leader, I will recognize my peers as my equals, fostering a culture of empowerment, growth, and integrity. My role is to create an environment where people feel courageous to reach their full potential and thrive. I aim to lead by example, demonstrating resilience, empathy, and open-mindedness to inspire continuous improvement. 

Leadership is rooted in teamwork. I will create a safe space where all voices are heard and valued. Challenges will always face us, attempting to bring us down, but if we embrace them with the right mindset, they become opportunities to help us grow and change. These challenges will teach us to hold accountability, honesty, and self-awareness, allowing us to inspire others to be the best version of themselves. 

Leadership is not simply one person leading others, it is about leading together through service. I will be a strong leader by inspiring those around me and leading with compassion. I wholeheartedly believe that by lifting one another and showing empathy we will all rise together.

Leadership is a journey, not a destination. A journey that I will walk with humility, heart, and determination.”

Ashly Bossa
Class of 2027

“There are many factors that shape who we are as individuals. Our background, including our family and environment, plays a significant role in forming our thoughts and judgments. While these influences help shape our perspectives, they can also create limitations. 

As a leader, it is crucial to make decisions not solely based on personal judgments shaped by our upbringing but rather on what is truly best for a given situation. Leadership requires stepping beyond the beliefs instilled in us and making choices that serve the greater good, even when they challenge our personal viewpoints. 

I believe it is essential to step out of our comfort zones, experience life firsthand, and connect with others despite the stereotypes we were raised with. This is the kind of leader I strive to be. I don’t want to lead based solely on what I was taught by my family or environment. I want to lead by making the best decisions, regardless of my belief system. 

This isn’t to say that having beliefs is wrong, but sometimes they can cloud judgment and lead to decisions that negatively impact individuals or entire groups. Instead, I want to be a leader who listens, learns, and understands people’s unique experiences. Everyone has a story to tell, and by truly hearing where others are coming from, I believe I can make a meaningful impact that benefits them as a whole.” 

Aubrey Tavares
Class of 2028

“As a leader, I believe that real leadership involves enabling others to realize their potential and make a significant difference. My mission is to inspire and empower those around me. I believe in leading by example. My goal is to listen more than I talk, create respectful relationships, and support others in achieving their full potential. I want to create a space where individuals feel appreciated, listened to, and inspired. I aim to build trust and teamwork, where everyone’s opinions are equally heard. 

My core values are empathy, collaboration, and courage. Empathy allows us to recognize and appreciate other’s individuality, as well as our own goals and needs. Collaboration allows for collective ideas and inclusion where every voice matters and is able to contribute. Courage is important in making tough decisions to allow for progress and embracing change. I understand that being a good leader means being dedicated to ongoing learning and personal development. Leadership is a lifelong commitment and journey. 

I commit to being a leader who inspires others, and strives to make a positive impact in the lives of others.”

Joezann Gonzales
Class of 2028

“My leadership philosophy is to inspire and motivate others to perform exceptionally well. Leadership means being ready for the moment, not waiting for perfection. It’s not just a title; we all possess the qualities of a leader. Authentic leadership is about the people we inspire and support our actions and decisions. Being able to communicate respectfully, using active listening, being honest and trustworthy are great qualities of a leader. Living your life to the fullest and prioritizing self-care is beneficial for supporting others when needed. I am confident in my ability to be a good leader, and I believe my leadership skills will help others express themselves more freely. By working collaboratively, we can show that everyone has the potential to be a leader and make a significant difference in our community.”

Dakota Gelinas
Class of 2025

“Leader.
As a leader, one must direct a group to achieve its mission.
It’s a title that requires great responsibility and a drive to succeed, not just independently, but as a team.
As a leader, you must be humble.
Seeing yourself as equal to everyone else is of utmost priority.
You must not put yourself on a pedestal, as that makes a poor environment for those alongside you.
As a leader, you must have grit.
You will face obstacles. No one can mysteriously avoid them.
You may not know how to combat these, but learning is part of the process.
As a leader, you will not be perfect.
You will grow with those you work with, and they will grow with you.
A leader must be determined and excited.
Work by someone inspired stands out tremendously in comparison to the work of someone just getting by.

As an Editor-in-Chief, my primary responsibility is to guide a team of journalists to success.
I edit the articles I receive with the intent of helping student journalists advance in their craft.
With every revision, I am looking for criteria with the goal of directing the writer on the right path.
As a writing consultant, I look over student work with the objective of laying a solid foundation.
I know the expectations of their assignments, and I assist them in creating work they’re proud of.
But in order to do that, I must allow them to question each step of the process in order to attain a concrete understanding.
As a student, I help my peers when I see someone struggling, as I myself have been there.

I am a first-generation college student.
I was raised to be independent, but I was not raised to lead.
Every step I take is uncharted territory, but as a leader, I must be confident.
Leadership, to me, is about selflessness, motivation, and accountability.
Everyone in this room has contributed to making me a better leader, and I wish to have contributed the same.” 

Johanna Hernandez
Class of 2027

“Many years have passed since I first came to the United States from El Salvador, yet sometimes it feels like it was just yesterday. When I take the time to look back at that little girl that I used to be and reflect on the woman and the person that I am today I see how important my journey has been, how important I am. For years I asked myself “Why is the world so cruel?Why is everyone so mean?”, and it hasn’t been until recently that I’ve learned to shift my focus from what’s wrong with the world to what I can do to make this world a better place.

On many occasions I’ve felt humiliated by those above me. Because I know how impactful a person can be in one’s life, I always strive to have a positive impact in the life of those around me. Do I always achieve it? Sadly no, but I am still learning. “Lead by example”was something that I would always hear from my family. Throughout the years I have learned the importance of that simple and short sentence. Lead by example by being human and supporting others. Lead by example by embracing your mistakes and learning from them. Lead by example by having the courage to ask for help. Lead by example by acting how you would like others to act and grow.

A leader isn’t someone who only cares about their own ideals and goals, nor someone who leads through fear. A true leader becomes one with their team, works hand in hand with those trusted in them, who is respected and admired. More than caring about personal achievements, a leader cares about every single individual that relies on them. A good leader makes sure their people are constantly uplifted, appreciated, and prepared for bigger positions and challenges. In other words, a good leader prepares and mentors future good leaders.

Being a leader is a choice, but it also is a privilege. It is very important for me to take pride in my story, my heritage, and in myself to be able to inspire those that identify with me and show the world that someone like myself can succeed too. As a leader, I am committed to becoming the mentor, advocate, and guide that I once wished for.”

 Kate Stedronsky
Class of 2026

“Leadership. A simple term that carries such complex meaning. If you had asked me to define leadership in the last decade of my life, I probably would have told you that it meant to uphold a role of authority, to be the smartest, the most organized, the leader of a pack, the most qualified, the best under pressure, the most professional. I believed leadership always came with a title, or a significant role. I saw leadership as a quality restricted to specific contexts such as Corporate America, sports, and the government. 

As I entered my twenties, my wealth of experience led me to believe that my perspective on leadership had shifted. Leadership exists beyond well sought after roles and positions. Leadership is present in every simple human interaction. As I enter the junior year of my college career, I have been granted several amazing opportunities to witness leadership and immerse myself in communities of leaders. I learned that leadership emerges from relationships where influence overpowers authority. A leader is someone who is capable of envisioning the common goal, and using that unique power to empower those around them. Leaders lead not by words but by their actions, as they demonstrate empathy and compassion to guide a group towards their shared objectives. 

One of the most important concepts I have come to understand about leadership is that it’s not about your immediate interactions with another person. A good leader leaves a lasting impression on another individual. The seed a leader plants in their followers empowers them to hold themselves to a higher standard and apply these social-emotional skills to find success in their journeys. Leadership is contagious. This connection creates a chain of support throughout humanity, as we continue to share the wealth and power of leadership with those around us to support, uplift, and motivate others.

 As a future educator, I promise to be adaptive, optimistic, and receptive rather than expressive. I promise to release the leadership role to my students, their parents, and the community, allowing them to teach me what is of importance to them. As John F Kennedy once said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other”. You can’t be a leader, without being a learner.” 

Kenedy Cahill
Class of 2027

“My leadership journey is just beginning. While learning how to be a leader I have gained invaluable  knowledge from my peers and mentors. They have shaped the way that I lead others today. Their knowledge helped guide me to become the very best leader that I can be. My goal as a leader is to have good communication with the individuals that I am leading. I want to reassure them to feel comfortable with me and to not feel intimidated. I will take the knowledge that I have gained over the years and use it to lead individuals. 

Sometimes it is difficult to lead because I do not want individuals thinking that I have all the power. Being a leader means you have to be flexible to work well and make sure you listen to others ideas. You also need to collaborate with them as well this helps them feel like they are being heard. While feeling that they are being heard they will feel that they did contribute to the group and this makes them feel good. As a leader you want to make sure that the people you are leading feel good about themselves.  

While continuing my journey I do not want to take any of my own values and beliefs away but I will not push them onto others. Another important leadership role is to develop your own skills that can come from your peers and what you believe is right and wrong. Being a leader can be difficult at times so you can find ways to manage and cope with the stresses that may arise while being inside a leadership role. Most importantly you should want to build trust and gain respect from within your community. When you have trust and respect it is easier to gain people’s loyalty with you. Loyalty is an important aspect of being a leader to me.”

Ravila Freitas De Souza
Class of 2028

“”A união faz a força.” This translates to ‘unity makes strength’ and is a pillar for my leadership style. As a leader, my mission is to promote diversity, inclusivity and guide others towards success. I truly believe in the power of creating a space where everyone feels heard, valued and supported. I strive to bring people together, especially first-generation college students here at WSU, like myself. I want to be someone who inspires and motivates others, offering guidance and a listening ear whenever needed, and showing that we can overcome challenges and achieve our dreams together.

My leadership is deeply rooted in my personal values of loyalty, honesty, family, and spirituality. These are the things that guide me in every decision I make. I want to reflect God‘s love and kindness in the way that I treat others and hope others can count on me to always be trustworthy and responsible. I believe uplifting and encouraging others, as well as building genuine relationships is so important as a leader. In the end, I want to create a community where everyone feels supported, empowered, and motivated to reach their full potential.”

Sadie Belcourt-Monteiro
Class of 2027

Scarlett Fulton
Class of 2028

“I’m not the perfect person, none of us are. I can be impulsive and anxious, I can overshare or say the wrong thing. But what really matters is whether we continue on or choose to give up. Life is filled with obstacles that may feel overwhelming and there will be times when you feel like you have nowhere left to go. But every setback is a chance to bounce back, to try something new. I’ve always had the audacity to believe I can do anything and sure sometimes that leads to disappointment when it doesn’t go perfectly on the first try, but I have never regretted at least trying because that’s where you learn where your strengths lie. It takes a brave person to admit when they’ve made a mistake. And to me what’s important is to create a safe environment for people to make their decisions and receive supportive feedback.

My mission as a leader is to prove to people that learning is crucial and that making mistakes is not something to fear. I want the people I work with to know that I’m on their side and believe in their success. I would like to work towards being strong, adaptable, integral, and empathetic. To inspire people to be kind and forward-thinking. To take criticism with grace, and show that resilience doesn’t mean being cold or cruel. As a leader, I want to strive to create a positive, empowering, and constructive environment to inspire productivity. I believe it takes both a strong hand and a soft heart to foster respect and a community that prioritizes inclusivity. One weak link might break a chain, but as people, we all have strengths and weaknesses, so it comes down to how we use them and how we work together to overcome challenges.

Be Brave. Be Bold. Be honest. Shine Bright!”

Sydney Anderson
Class of 2027

“I wasn’t always a leader. Growing up, I was always outspoken and opinionated. I had no problem putting my two-cents in, and when I got in trouble at school or at home, it was always for talking when I wasn’t supposed to be or saying something unwarranted. I raised my hand in class, I stood up for what I believed in, and I tried to serve my community well. In high school, I was the drama club stage manager, the president of GSA, and the painter of the senior class mural. Through all of this, I thought that I was a good leader. When the big senior milestones came around though, I was forgotten. I didn’t get a senior T-shirt order form. Nobody told me about senior skip day, or the class field trip, or the graduation lawn signs. Then, the night before graduation, we got our yearbooks and I wasn’t in it. It was like I’d never existed at all.

This isn’t a sob story though. I transferred to my high school during the height of the pandemic in 2021, and all 4 years of my high school experience were during the weird quarantine and post-quarantine setting. I wasn’t surprised by what happened, and even found it a little bit funny. But it made me think: what didn’t I do? What can I do moving forward to make sure that I’ll never be forgotten again? 

I landed on the fact that leadership, at its core, needs to leave an impact behind. You can give a speech, or lead a group, or be in charge, but if you don’t make a lasting impression or cement your presence into stone, were you really a leader, or were you just in charge? To be a positive, memorable leader, you need to make an impact. For me, I found that impact by leading creatively. Through writing, performance arts, and clubs, I lead by creating. When I share my writing or art as a leader, I’m leaving a permanent mark on my community. I lead by example, carving a path for others to follow behind me to share their own creations. To be a leader is to find a way to guide your community in a way that lasts, and for me, that’s through creating.”