Showcase Artifact 3: Putting the Pieces Together

      In February 2024, I had the privilege of attending The National Character and Leadership Symposium on behalf of the Kelley Honors Program. I truly cannot begin to describe how influential this experience was for me.

 

     The theme of NCLS 2024 was “Valuing Human Conditions, Cultures, and Societies” and presented a message that emphasized how individuals with diverse perspectives can come together to create effective teams. I was able to hear from many speakers who had incredible accolades, but it was their remarkable and inspiring stories that have left a lasting impression on me.

     On top of getting to hear from so many talented individuals, visiting students were able to stay with cadets at the academy during their time at the conference. Having the opportunity to see how the culture at USAFA differentiates from that of my own university and being able to build new connections might be one of the most memorable parts of the entire experience.

 

Notable speakers included:

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• Missy Franklin: A five-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming who shared insights from her athletic career and her advocacy for drowning prevention.

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• SpaceX Polaris Dawn Crew: Members of this space mission shared lessons from their experiences and how space exploration can promote cultural understanding and cooperation on Earth

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• Scott Kirby: The CEO of United Airlines provided perspectives on leadership and the importance of valuing human conditions within corporate structures

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• Timothy Alexander: A paraplegic athlete and motivational speaker, Alexander inspired attendees with his journey of resilience and determination

     I am so glad that I got to attend this symposium with three of my fellow Kelley Honors students. I owe a huge thank you to the Kelley Indianapolis faculty for allowing us to attend this event and also to all of those who played a role in coordinating NCLS. I cannot wait to implement the new lessons I learned about being a leader into my career moving forward. If anyone ever has the opportunity to attend this conference, I would 110% recommend it!

     As mentioned in Showcase Artifact 2, Honors I-CORE is a cohort-based program within the Kelley School of Business that combines finance, marketing, operations, and team dynamics/leadership into a single immersive experience.

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     From the first day of your business classes your freshman year, you are being prepped for I-CORE. At the same time, you are consistently being warned about the program's intensity. I-CORE receives a tough reputation because it’s an intense, fast-paced, and high-stakes program that challenges students in multiple business disciplines simultaneously. This led to a growing sense of anticipation and unease for me as the semester of I-CORE approached.

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I would describe the main challenges of the program as:

• Heavy Workload + Time Management

• Burnout

• High Expectations + Pressure to Succeed

• Teamwork Issues

 

     Many of the challenges I faced were internal. As an underclassman, I often heard upperclassmen warn about I-Core’s difficulty, which made it seem even more intimidating than it actually was. While it was undeniably challenging, I successfully completed the program and excelled, earning A's in all my courses. I proved to myself that I can handle complex projects, lead a team, and think strategically.

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     My best advice to any future student taking I-CORE would be to try not overthink things or compare yourself to others while in the program. Focus on doing your best and contributing effort to your team, and all will be well!​​​

     I was lucky enough to have two amazing internship experiences during my time in college. Republic Airways and First Internet Bank are two great organizations that have helped me grow both personally and professionally. 

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     Republic Airways was my first internship opportunity in Spring 2024, where I was an HR Benefits Intern. I remember being extremely nervous as it was my first professional experience AND my first time working while balancing a full course-load. During my time at Republic, I was fortunate enough to meet and connect with many kind and supportive individuals, and I’m so thankful for each and every interaction that I’ve had. In the end, I found that navigating my first internship while balancing a full course load of classes was a bit like flying through turbulence at some points… however, with a lot of determination, I grew more than I ever thought was possible.

 

     The following summer, I began as an HR intern for First Internet Bank in Fishers, IN. I got to explore each function of HR, but found my passion in talent acquisition. I spent most my time learning the ropes of recruitment and completing tasks such as resume reviews, job posting, and candidate sourcing. One of my proudest moments from this internship was when I was voted "Most Optimistic/Friendly" by my intern cohort. It wasn’t just an award—it was a reminder of the impact I can have on the people around me. This recognition reassured me that even the smallest efforts to brighten someone’s day can make a difference. I was honored to be offered an extension of my internship, where I stayed until December helping out with recruitment.

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     Though I learned so much about the careers in human resources through hands-on experience, it was the mentorship that meant the most to me. My bosses during these internships, Blake and Kayla, were absolutely amazing to me. They were both kind, supportive, and are the kind of professionals that I aspire to be one day.

 

     Because of experiences like these, I am happy to share that I will be beginning my internship at Kendra Scott in June!   

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