The second article of many in a new series called "A Leader's Point of View". The first article was Kenshay Kerr's interview, so it was only fitting to present his successor:
Give me a quick introduction about yourself and your previous leadership experience. What was your first leadership role?
My name is Ninon Victoria Nelson. I am of Indian origin but was born in the United Arab Emirates. My experience in the role of a leader stems back to my freshman of high school. I was elected into positions of Vice captain and Captain of my house, followed by the Asst. Head girl and finally Head girl of my school parliament. Holding office for 4 consecutive years helped me develop qualities of sacrifice and commitment that a position such as this requires. I was also the president of the Interschool Debate team and the Drama and cultural club. I was also the treasurer for two consecutive years of my school’s Environment Club and in my final year assumed the position of General Secretary. In my junior year, I was chosen to represent the United Arab Emirates at the United Nations for the Global Young Leaders Conference which was held in Washington DC and New York. I have also participated in Model United nations conferences ( Cambridge & at the United Nations) and have been the Chairs of different committees. At Penn state Harrisburg my intended major is Computer Engineering. I started off my first semester as a senator in the Student Government Association. I was also first elected treasurer of the Residence Hall Association and then President for a semester. I was also the co-chair for DISEC for the Penn State Harrisburg Model United Nations Conference that was hosted this semester. I was also recently elected President of the Student Government Association for the academic year of 2017-2018.
What does being a leader mean to you? Why does being a student leader matter?
Being a leader is being the voice of the people you represent. It is the most basic and noble duty that one can be bestowed with. Being a leader means putting others interest above your own. It is the requirement to strike the perfect balance between embodying the opinions of the students and maintaining your own individual goals as a leader. A leader is someone who takes upon any endeavor in order to better serve his/her community. Being granted the title of a leader requires the person to manifest qualities of resilience and sacrifice, more than an average person. Any leader should have a clear enough vision to aspire for greatness for his/her duration of the term. The qualities of leadership, in my opinion, are something that is developed over the course of an individual's life, with experiences of hardship and adversity molding them towards greatness.
What motivates you to be a student leader?
My motivation towards becoming a student leader stems from having the desire to serve the community that enables me to be who I am. I consider it part of my civic duty to provide my assistance in any way I can.
Do you have a favorite leadership quote?
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way- John C Maxwell
This quote realistically puts emphasis on how a leader must convey his/her vision clearly enough to lead the multitude.
Do you have anyone who mentors/inspires you to be a better leader? (Student or adult)
I consider Martin Luther King Jr to be a true role model to look up to. He reached the epitome of leadership as he leads not only be words but by his actions as well. His radical thoughts and ideas provided leeway for an entirely new and free generation to follow in his steps. and it's to this day, his name is mentioned with reverence to the Great Leader he is.He was an eloquent and enigmatic speaker and exhibited natural charisma.
What is the most difficult challenge you have faced as a student leader? How did you resolve this issue? What did you learn from this experience?
My most difficult challenge as a student leader is reaching that level of advocacy and representation that all feel comfortable and respected under my wings. It is was especially hard when I arrived on this campus due to the diverse pool of people. As I ran for the office of president this semester I realized that my platform would have to go beyond anything I have ever worked on. It proved difficult to encompass the needs of a population of such wide variety. It was only through an understanding of the true meaning of leadership, which is to harness the gift of diplomacy and mold consensus rather than search for it, that I was able to overcome this hurdle.
Thank you Ninon for sharing with us! We wish you the best of luck with everything you do in the coming year for our community.
