USyd's leadership in STEMM program alongside tutoring

University and tutoring in my mind never saw any crossovers, however, USyd's leadership unit have collapsed these two commitments. The leadership unit asks you to display leadership practices in a chosen activity, mine being tutoring! In turn, each week I have had to keep a journal tracking my leadership progress and how I am displaying it in the day to day.

Specifically, what caught my attention in my weekly reflection was the question of 'what is your why?' and 'what drives you to be a leader?'. It was this very question that drove me to think about how I want to be a leader within the tutoring space. What came to mind was not a connection I had previously made, however when required to focalise it made a lot of sense. My last two years of school were an experience of bullying and isolation, there were many times I sought an upstanding peer or leader, even the 'leaders' I did have within my schools formal roles I still have some form of resentment towards for there inability to fix the situation. As a result, I realised that in tutoring I try to bring in a mentor side and a willingness to hear my students out beyond there academic queries.

Something in this class that specifically drew interest was the Complex Leadership Theory where we discussed the idea of leaders anywhere and anytime. Tutoring is where I hope to do so and extend my leadership. Beyond that I would hope to lead in more community ways and see how I can push myself as someone who has always been comfortable in being 'led' rather than taking charge.

I can't wait to see how my leadership progress within tutoring progresses and am happy to see this crossover occur! Hopefully, by the end of semester I can see some improvement and have a more positive impact at First Ed :)