Public Leadership
University of Maryland College Park Scholars
Writing Samples
These three assignments demonstrate my work in the Public Leadership program
Semester I: September
Sample I
This sample of work is the first paper assigned in the class PLCY201, Public Leaders and Active Citizens. The premise of the assignment was to argue either for or against Oprah Winfrey's Leadership Academy for girls in South Africa. I chose this work because it demonstrates both my passion for equality and education, while providing a good basis of work that can be compared to more recent work to show my progress.
Semester I: October
Sample II
The second sample of my work was completed in my CPPL100 class, College Park Scholars: Public Leadership First-Year Colloquium. The prompt was titled "Best-Self Reflection" and consequently describes a moment where I thrived. By including this assignment  I am both demonstrating my while providing another example of writing for reference. I genuinely enjoyed working on this project as it allowed me to remember my successes and how I could build on them for the future.
Semester I: November/December
Sample III
This third sample builds off the work done in the second sample regarding my Reflected Best Self. After completing the introspective aspect of the project, my peers and I turned outward to ask those around us about the times we thrived. After recording and comparing the research, we developed a plan to live at the level of our best reflected selves. To do this, we listed enablers and struggles which are similar to strengths and weaknesses but ultimately are easier to harness when enacting the development plan. Combining all the information we set a plan to achieve these best selves on a daily basis.
Reflection
Semesters II & III
My second and third semesters in the College Park Scholars Public Leadership Program brought new opportunities, challenges, and learning experiences. Second semester I was able to work on an RFP to give a grant supporting education for marginalized students, and I was able to apply the skills learned the first semester. In the third semester, I learned about leadership philosophy in different contexts in class with Professor LTC Feehan. Find out more in my official reflections below.
PL Elevator Pitch
The Public Leadership Scholars Program seeks to help students to strengthen their leadership skills within different contexts. The program’s specific emphasis on social justice topics demonstrates that when leaders use their individual strengths, change can be achieved. As a student in the College Park Scholars Public Leadership program, I have been able to hone my skills as a servant leader through workshops, activities, assignments, and discussions that appropriately challenge my purpose. By accentuating the importance of empathy, power and effective leadership, I have become a more active and passionate citizen, dedicated to pursing justice and racial reconciliation. The program has revealed to me my true passion for reforming the current U.S. criminal justice system. CPPL has introduced mt to the world of nonprofits and the ways that reform is achieved both working with existing governmental structures and outside of them. I am extremely grateful for this program and am glad that it was a part of my first two years at UMD.