I'll admit as I think back on this last quarter I feel a mixed bag of emotions. Sad that the class is over, gratitude from what I've learned, and an overall feeling of nostalgia remembering all the smiles I have shared and friendships I have made.

If I am to be completely honest...I didn't know what to expect going into this class. A good friend of mine Libby Furrow told me it would be one of the best experiences of my freshman year, and she was right. I remember walking in the first day unsure of where to go, where to sit, and hoping I hadn't gotten in over my head. And then enter Casey and Lori-my two favorite professors of my college experience this year. I had hoped to gain a better sense of leadership, and what it means to be a leader, and ended up gaining so much more. Through this class I found who I am not only as a leader, but as an individual-something I had been wondering about since coming to college. I met people I would have probably not come across otherwise-and I'm so thankful I did.

One of the most important skills I learned through ELP quarter was how to listen. I'll be completely honest in saying, I love to talk...a lot. But this quarter as you may have noticed I showed a different side of myself in ELP, more of an observer, how others communicate, work together, and lead, and I have gained such useful and great insight in the different forms of leadership. I realized that leaders come in all different forms, and my eyes were opened because of the group of amazing people as well as instructors for ELP.

Looking forward, I want to continue to grow in my leadership of others, as well as being a hard-working group member. I have learned, and will continue to learn how to listen to other's perspectives, and how collaboration doesn't always come easy. I know there are a lot of things I still need to work on, maintaining assertiveness, public speaking, leading with confidence, but after ELP I am so ready to continue on that journey of being a voice on Santa Clara's campus.

I am just so grateful for this experience, and I know that my freshman year was positively impacted by ELP. It's a class I would recommend to any of my friends, and I feel very lucky to have gotten to know the other amazing leaders in the class.