Leadership is a skill that has been in demand for all of history and will continue to be in demand. But it is a skill that must be taught by good leaders and studied and practiced by aspiring leaders. I have been very fortunate to have multiple mentors in my life who have taught me the positive power that a good leader can have on an entire organization, down to an individual within that organization.
The University of Mobile has given me the opportunity to learn more about leadership and the chance to apply leadership lessons I have learned. I have been able to practice leadership in many things as small as helping a classmate understand a concept, all the way up to setting the example for effort and attitude on the basketball team. I have even had opportunities to act as a mentor for various friends and teammates in things that I am very passionate about, such as weightlifting.
It is assumed that you learn more when someone is mentoring you, but I have learned many interesting things from being able to act as a mentor for a peer and have an open conversation. I have found that in these interactions between mentee and mentor, no matter which role I am in, I almost always walk away having learned of a new perspective on a subject matter.
I have been able to see the leadership concepts discussed in class come to life as I apply them in these mentorship interactions. The act of applying theory to the real world is something that has been very fascinating to me, and it has been interesting seeing how leadership theory holds up in reality!
I am eager to get apply the leadership lessons I have learned at the University of Mobile to hone my capabilities as a mentor as I work toward my long-term goal of becoming a Green Beret and starting my own business!
Sage McKenna is a member of the University of Mobile Men’s Basketball team. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Accounting and a Master of Business Administration through the 5-year MBA program in the Grace Pilot School of Business. Upon graduation in May 2024, he plans to join the United States Army to become a Green Beret.