Before I was introduced to the STAR leadership program, I had no idea that I was capable of being so ruthless and was surprised that poor communication and relationship-building was such a large problem in the scientific community. By teaching me these things, the STAR leadership program has changed both my outlook towards my fellow peers and also towards other individuals in general. I really appreciate the value of good communication and candid behavior and plan to continue using a friendly and open approach when confronted with interpersonal problems in the future!
The STAR Leadership program taught me values that I wish students across other disciplines could be exposed to as well. While poor communication and selfishness can really hinder scientific discovery, I believe these same issues can present problems to people of all walks of life. I appreciate that my professors here at Austin College took time out of their lecture schedule to include STAR activities as they have taught me the importance of building strong relationships in order to accomplish my future goals.