When I first applied for Laidlaw, I found myself struggling to be authentic in my application. The question that finally put an end to my waffling and inspired me to rework my answers was "what leader inspires you most?" The leader I chose was a politician who had many policies that I did not agree with but who was true enough to her beliefs to go against the rest of her political party. I realized that if I respect her for those reasons, I couldn’t submit my application as is. During the Cumberland Lodge retreat, we had a talk from a charity executive who first introduced me to ethical leadership. She told us about an experience she had during the early stages of her career where she had to quit a job she loved because the people within her company did not align with her moral values. One of my main takeaways from my time with Laidlaw has been the importance of authenticity. To me ethical leadership revolves around commitment to moral values and upholding beliefs even when it’s a detriment to yourself. 

The first time I heard the term global citizen was through my time in Laidlaw. By the end of my second year, I had heard talks from people who were clearly and admirably global citizens, but I had yet to truly become one. When I undertook my leadership in action project, I was surrounded by people who were determined to make the world better. A global citizen listens to the needs of the world and enacts change.

To continue to be a global citizen and global leader after the end of this program I will find inspiration in the people around me. Thanks to this scholarship I have been surrounded by motivated and outstanding people who embody the values of this program. I will further ensure that I stay true to myself and be grateful the people in my life have values aligned with my own.