Who Am I?

This is my first attempt at blogging. In order to give you a reason to want to read it I feel as though I have to first tell you who I am. That is of course a very long story for several reasons. One, I am a "non-traditional" or "returning student" student, which just means that I am older than the average student. I despise both of those terms because I am not that much older, and I am not "returning" from anywhere; this is my first go-around at college. Two, because I have been on the Earth longer than most students here, I have just experienced and done a lot more; this blog would be a million-words-long if I tried to fill you in. So, instead of trying to tell you who I am, which something that I will spend the rest of my life trying to figure out, I will simply tell you who I am trying to become.

The mantra of Russell Sage College is "Women of Influence". With that comes a hefty load of responsibility, tenacity, energy, dedication, and strength. All of which can be daunting and down right exhausting. Even though there are times when I am ready to run screaming down 1st and pack it in, I try to remember who I am trying to become, because that is my reason for being here. Below is an essay that I wrote in my first semester at Russell Sage. I think it will help you (and me) to understand why I am here, and why I do not give up.

“What Being a ‘Woman of Influence’ Means to Me”

By Laurynn Myers

The words Russell Sage College are always followed by its motto, “Women of Influence.” As a student at Russell Sage, I am inclined to consider what it means to be a woman of influence, because I know that Russell Sage is offering me the opportunity to become one.

To me, being a woman of influence means to be a woman who is confident, courageous, and strong. A woman of influence thinks with her head and gives from her heart. A woman of influence is one who stands up for what she believes in without of fear of consequence. An outstanding woman of influence will leave her mark on the world by making changes to it. The intellect of a woman of influence knows no bounds for she seeks knowledge in every corner of the world. A woman of influence transcends obstacles and obliterates barriers without trepidation. A woman of influence fights for what she knows is right, and admits when she is wrong. A woman of influence is heard, but does not drown out the voice of others. A woman of influence does not demand respect; she earns respect by giving it first. A woman of influence does not succumb to predestined standards, she sets her own. A woman of influence wears her scars of battles, both lost and won, as badges of honor she earned through perseverance. A woman of influence leads by example and inspiration, and follows when needed with grace and humility.

As my time at Russell Sage goes on, I have come to realize that Russell Sage is not turning me into a woman of influence, but they have awakened the woman of influence within me. There is a woman of influence inside all of us; she must be encouraged to emerge and be cultivated to reach her full potential. The environment of Russell Sage is one that fosters the growth of its women of influence. Russell Sage does not simply graduate strong, smart women with an education; they propel women of influence into the world.

So, as you can see, I have given myself a lot to do. There are many colleges who award degrees and that is all. RSC is just not one of them. My 4.0 will mean nothing if I leave here as any less than the description that I have given myself to live up to. It's a tall order. But if I can tell you anything that will epitimize who I am, it is that I am my own worst critic, I am a hopeless perfectionist who needs to learn to calm down, and I am a work-aholic who needs a vacation.