My CityStudio Experience: A Final Word

I was raised to uphold modesty with conviction. Perhaps this originated in how my parents were raised, and how their parents were raised, and how all this has been passed down without much question. The framework of this stems from a religious faith that values selflessness above all else and the pursuit of treating others as you would prefer they treat you. I have broken this chain in the sense that I no longer practice the religious tradition of my family. However, this important lesson, along with the inherited modesty, still exists within me.

As I began to shape my professional career, before this latest round of schooling, I noticed how positions of leadership were offered to me. Whether it was a promotion to take on a managerial role in a design office, or a nomination to be the spokesperson for a small group to argue an issue, people asked that I step up where I was not necessarily already taking initiative. I have always loved the idea of being part of positive change-making, but being a change-agent, upon which a sharpened focus and a heavier burden is placed, has never has sat comfortably with me.

One of the key things I have learned thus far during my three terms in graduate school, and especially with my latest term as a member of CityStudio, is how cultural change does not arrive on its own. Rather, it is made. This simple idea has always rung true with me, but most recently has made it abundantly clear that if I wish to see change, I need to embody it. The days of performing quiet work behind the scenes will not be a luxury for me if I hope to contribute to addressing the big challenges facing our world today in any substantial way. While I know there still is room here for modesty in personality, ways of being involving words like keen, ardent, and eager now court my thoughts of making change. I know, now more clearly than ever, what it takes to be a change-agent.

This lesson for me was carried throughout my experience as a member of The Long Table Series group. From the inception of the group’s creation–helping to corral five people from three disparate groups into one with layered strength–to co-producing the production of the pilot event for The Long Table Series, I have continually found myself in the role of manager…of art director…of curator…and of positions that commanded a suppression of my past ways of being reserved. I must be careful to give recognition to each member of my group, as everyone played a pivotal role to the success of our project, but (I am proud to admit how) my specific contribution was one that involved a role embodied with leadership and vision.

Throughout the semester, with both as a member of the five-person group and with the entire CityStudio core, I practiced listening. From this grew my strength in dialogue. From this grew my ability to lead. Still, I recognize how I need to continually grow my ability to identify and embrace opportunities for leadership. More importantly, I am learning to identify which of such opportunities are more suited for me to take on.

Thanks to CityStudio and everyone who has contributed to its introduction to the world, I have reached a new level of awareness within myself. I am ready to be challenged more, and I am ready to continue to challenge others. Because the issues facing our world are complex, and many quite dire, we must continue identifying our strengths while challenging one another. For me this is what CityStudio was and is about. My fellow classmates and I collaborated around learning and growing together, while identifying and lending our strengths towards ideas to help make human existence sustainable. For our efforts, which were each filled with passion, conviction, and scholarship, I believe the entire first CityStudio cohort should be commended.