The author attended the Circle of Change Leadership Conference and found it impactful. The conference reminded the author that their future is determined by their present actions. It taught them to act now and responsibly towards their career goals and visions, rather than procrastinating or partying. The author realized they were afraid to execute their business ideas and plans but has now applied new self-empowerment to improve. A key topic was branding oneself, and the author has taken steps like updating their LinkedIn and social media to portray the person they want to become. Overall, the author recommends the conference for those open to self-change and becoming community leaders.

1. Saing,Mealyann
Beach Pride
12/4/15
Circle of Change Leadership Conference
Circle of Change has reallygivenme thatextrapushtowardsmypersonal relationshipsandmy
career.Comingintocollege hearingeveryone sayit’sthe greatestyearsof their livesandit’sachance to
messaroundand have funbefore the real worldhits,itreallymisguidedme toa lifestyle full of partying,
procrastination,andfear.Itamazesme how quicklypeople like myself canfall intothat trapand
become afraidof what liesahead.Circle of Change hasremindedme thatthe future ismade because we
create it.I realizedthatwhatIdo nowwill attract whatwill come tome afterI graduate,soif I chose to
pushthingsoff and “getto it later”I’mreallyjustsettingmyselfupforfailure.
What I learnedfromthisconference wastoact now and act responsibly.The energyIcouldbe
puttingintogoingoutto eventsandpartyingreallycouldbe putintosomethinguseful formycareer.
I’ma businessmajorandIhave so manyideasthat I wantto see come to life.Ihave a visionbutI
recognized howafraidIam to execute them.Ireallydon’tevenknow whatI’mafraidof,butthat fear
alongwithall the distractionshaspreventedme fromworkingtowardsmygoals.COCLCtaughtthatif I
wantedtomake these thingscome to life,it’suptome.I needtoleave myownlegacybehindandno
one else isgoingtostart it or finishit,they canonlycome in and outto influence it. I’ve definitelytaken
thisnewself-empowermentandappliedittothingsinmylife and have already seensomuch
improvement.Ievencaughtmyself goingthroughthissame cycle acouple daysagoand insteadof
waitingweekstoresolvethe issue,I’mreviewingeverythingthatneedstogetdone andfixing ittoday.
The biggesttipthat wasgiventhat weekendfromeverypanel,everyprofessional,andeven
everystaff memberwastofocuson brandingourselves.Thistopicissodebatable because all ourlives
we’ve grownuphearing“itshouldn’tmatterwhat people think”andtobe extremelycarefulwhatwe
do because ouractionsare a reflectionof ourcharacter.It’slike societyhastornreputationintotwo.
Goingintothisconference Ihad a mindsetthatto become successfulandhave whatpeople have,Ineed
to do whattheydo. Since theyall saidbrandingourselvesisimportant,I’mgoingtolistentothem.I
createda linkedinprofile,deletedall of the unnecessary photosonsocial media,andbeginto carry
myself like the personIwantto become inthe future.
Overall,Irecommendthisconference forpeople whoare opentochange themselvesand
become leadersintheircommunity.Especiallyata bigcampus like oursit’simportanttohave role
modelsforincomingstudentsandleaderstomake the school better,safer,andfun.Leadershipstarts
withinusandwe can execute itthroughsomanyoutlets,ASIisdefinitelyone of them. Leadersbread
leaders,soIam thankful tohave learnedfrominfluential people andtobeginteachingthose whoalso
wantto change the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdzpYqcaOW8