At Agnes Scott College, every first year student takes Leadership 101 as part of the SUMMIT Leadership Development curriculum. I chose The Role of Writers as Moral Leadership with Professor Kamilah Moon, and throughout the semester I learned that what I study is connected to what I do. This may seem like an obvious understanding held by most liberal arts students, but previously I did not see the interconnectedness of my social and personal life, work life and studies. In high school, I remember not knowing how to plan my studies to align with my values and interests, and feeling lost in a schedule plotted without any meaningful investment from me, mostly to fulfill state requirements.

In contrast, at Agnes Scott I have gained incredibly interdisciplinary insights, because by looking at everything critically and being present in each class, I forever yield valuable perspectives. In Leadership 101, we covered broad world topics and themes through the lens of moral leadership, in poetry, speeches, op-eds, essays, songs and interviews. Through individual creative work and group discussions in class, each topic prompted me to realize my latent leadership skills, marvel at and learn from my classmates, identify what methods best suit my writing ability, while exploring and developing my weaker areas.

For each topic in Leadership 101, we did group work, whether peer-editing an op-ed, dissecting an article for presentation, annotating an interview for discussion or composing an original song. I am proudest of the group accomplishments, because it required collaboration, synchronicity and bringing all of ourselves to the work in order to make it our best, fullest contribution. For example, my group partners and I developed three speeches to highlight the issue of low voter literacy. Giving the speech, I felt like, finally, I can talk about what I care about with the support of peers who share a vision for the future. Finally, I am at an institution where I feel empowered to stand in the knowledge that my perspective is unique, thoughtful and valuable.

 Although Professor Moon taught us about the structure of literary work, situated issues and relevant leadership styles in historical and modern contexts, she inspired us to contribute more than basic class participation. As my peers can attest, we grew together, emerging as a beautiful collective of voices, each of us with a story, a heart, leadership and talent. We built a community and realized the power of collaboration. Combining the creative and political was a revolutionary idea to me when we began in August, and over the past few months have made me start to think critically about how I can do the same in my work, why what I think matters.

Now at the end of my first semester, reflecting on a class that got me up on grey, rainy Decatur mornings, I am trying to plot my trajectory for the second semester of my first year at college. I know that not every writer authors overtly political work, but also that every aspect of my life is somehow touched by politics, if not completely shaped by it. Whether or not art is intentionally political, it stands in its historical and personal context. Writers, as Professor Moon explained, are emotional historians. Writers and artists can be critics of society in their work, and at their best are grounded in humility and authenticity as they document life, which becomes history. Leadership 101 helped me construct my path and see that I can study my intended major of International Relations while exploring Creative Writing too, and I am stronger when I bring all of myself and my interests into collaboration.