SLD Recognizes EVOLVE Student Taniesha Williams
Taniesha was one of our EVOLVE students who attended the National Student Leadership Forum in Washington D.C. This annual forum, brings together students from around the country to discuss leadership as modeled from the principles of Jesus Christ.
Taniesha is a junior majoring Human and Organizational Development with a focus on Community Leadership and Development. She is the Vice President of Voices of Praise, a five-ministry Christian organization that seeks to spread the love of Jesus around campus and throughout Nashville. She is also an “I Am a Work in Progress” Co-Chair for Project I Am, a mentorship program for students of color, focused on personal and professional development. She also tutors elementary school students with the Vanderbilt After School Program. She was also a student in the inaugural EVOLVE class in 2014.
Below is a piece from Taniesha on her experience:
Over fall break, I had the privilege of attending the National Student Leadership Forum in Washington, DC: an annual forum in which student leaders from around the country convened to learn about and discuss leadership modeled after the principles of Jesus Christ. As the Vice President of Voices of Praise, a five-part Christian campus ministry, I was drawn into the leadership development aspect, as well as the focus on Jesus as a religious figure whose teachings have lasted for centuries and as a leader who was able to capture the hearts and minds of billions of people. Plus, I was excited to be in our nation’s capital to connect with leaders in government, politics, and business who use these principles in their everyday lives. So, with my pen, my notebook, and a backpack full of homework that never got completed, I boarded the plane, eager to embark on this unique experience.
When I arrived at the forum, I was placed in a small group with six other students and two facilitators. We were together for the entire weekend and became fast friends by bonding over being people of faith on college campuses. Over dinner, we had the honor of hearing several dynamic speakers, such as Congressman Reid Ribble, John Cotton Richmond, Dr. Joyce Banda, Former President of Malawi, and Krue Brock, a Vanderbilt alumnus, talk about how examining Jesus’ character was crucial to their own lives. I heard about Jesus as a constructive disrupter of the status quo; a man who was on a mission and was determined to carry out His assignment at any cost. The speakers spoke up about how Jesus stood up for others no matter the inconvenience and that ego was never a part of His motivation. I was struck by the focus on consistency, determination, value, and most importantly, compassion towards people—all qualities that I aspire to possess in professional leadership. But, I didn’t connect that they could all be found and in my personal relationship with Jesus. I was delighted to see the ways in which my personal and professional worlds did not have to be separate, but fluid on the grounds of being a servant to other people, just as Jesus was.
After taking a tour of the Capitol Building on Sunday, the forum ended in the early afternoon, so I had a few hours to do some exploring around the city before I went back to Vanderbilt life. As I took in all that was around me and all that I had experienced this past weekend, I realized that I had a lot to process. In the spirit of utilizing DC for its rich political history, we also were taken on a monument tour of the Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. At each site, we paused to reflect its significance and meaning and looked at examples of leadership for the namesakes of each place. With thoughts of faith, history, politics, and servant leadership, swirling around my head, my experience could only be described as the perfect mixture between poignant, thought-provoking speeches and moments of quiet reflection, sharing and vulnerability. Though I was certainly poured into at this forum, I realize that I was a given a very distinct charge: look to Jesus’ personhood to engage in leadership that matters. Engage in leadership that empowers people and gives them hope. Be the voice for those who are often overlooked and advocate for them. Always be willing to reach out to others who may need a friend. While it may seem like daunting task to strive to embody the principles of Jesus, I am excited for this new season of transformative growth in my organizations and relationships with others.