Defining My Relationship With Being a Leader
Eco Fashion booth at VCU’s SOVO Fair 2024
In my freshman year of college, I joined a club at school called Eco Fashion, starting off by attending mending, and clothing swap events that the organization frequently hosted. When I first joined the club, I simply wanted to engage with an organization with a mission that aligned with my values. The practice of circular fashion has always been a present theme in my life when it comes to my long time shopping habits. My wardrobe is made up almost entirely of second-hand garments, so joining was a natural choice for me. Participating in this club while being surrounded by individuals with the same mindset as me when it comes to fashion provided me with a sense of purpose outside just my education.
Shortly after engaging with the club as a member, I applied for an officer position, and started working alongside the E-board as a programming officer helping to plan and facilitate events effectively. Towards the end of my Sophomore year, I began working with the previous president of Eco Fashion to begin the transition to becoming president of the organization myself after her graduation. This transitional period introduced me to an immense amount of commitment to learning. It was not like starting a new job with clear instructions or guidelines. I quickly realized it was up to me to control every aspect of the organization, make every decision, and create instructions for everyone working with me.
Halloween Upcycling Night
Becoming acquainted with the position became a learn as you go kind of experience through streamlining events, leading team meetings, planning finances, and delegating tasks to each E-board member and officer. I became responsible for maintaining a flow, and setting direction, while ensuring that the organization continued to stay true to the mission of educating the VCU community on ethical and sustainable practices in fashion. Through the process of completing these tasks, my decision making skills developed immensely. This in turn instilled an unwavering sense of trust in myself to be able to deliver results with an emphasis on attention to detail, collaborative efforts, organization, and time-management.
As I have grown more comfortable with the role, I understand now that this type of leadership isn’t simply about overseeing tasks, but the importance of curating an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute meaningfully. This involves consistently listening to the perspectives of others, identifying their strengths, and creating opportunities for growth.
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Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Looking back, leadership to me has meant an extended period of learning, full engagement of my mind, and the ability to continuously take initiative. Most importantly, my contributions to Eco Fashion have solidified my commitment to promoting sustainability, inspiring me to continue driving the principles and mission of the organization through my post-grad career.
