By Brianna Brinker, Campus News Editor
March is Women’s History Month, which celebrates the success of women and their meaningful contributions to society. Women have taken on many leadership roles at Saint Leo University, practicing and learning real-world skills for their futures. Students like Alexis Reyes, Tamar Olguin, and Erin Romano are three such women who lead on campus and strive to make a difference in the Saint Leo community.
Alexis Reyes, junior majoring in Business Management and Marketing, is the Resident Assistant (RA) for upperclassmen housing in Apartment 5. Before she landed the role, she was passionate about achieving it.
“I genuinely wanted to help create a supportive and engaging living environment.”
Some of her responsibilities within this position are planning community-building events, enforcing housing policies, and serving as a mentor. There are certain qualities that make you stand out as a leader. Reyes describes herself as a strong listener, reliable, and approachable.
“I believe communication is very vital to success. I also stay calm under pressure, which helps me handle situations thoughtfully and fairly.” Reyes said.
As a leader, great qualities come with many challenges, and one that Reyes faces is being intentional about staying connected with all her residents. With residents having different schedules and personalities, Reyes makes an effort to reach people in different ways.
“It pushes me to be more creative and proactive as a leader,” Reyes said.
One piece of advice Reyes gives to those who are interested in taking up a leadership role is “don’t wait until you feel completely ready. Put yourself out there, apply, and trust your abilities.”
Tamar Olguin Alzate, a senior majoring in Clinical Psychology, is known for many leadership positions on campus that she has fulfilled. During her time at Saint Leo, she was the Student Body President of the Student Government Union.
This year, she has taken on two positions: Social Media Ambassador for the Saint Leo University Communications Department and the worship leader for Truth Seekers Nondenominational Bible Study and Church.
“The most rewarding part about being a social media ambassador is sharing the love I have for my university with other students. Additionally, being a worship leader, seeing young adults fall in love with Jesus, and worshiping God is its own reward,” said Olguin.
Olguin shares her responsibilities for both leadership roles, such as executing video ideas for the University Instagram page and creating a set list for church every Sunday. Olguin shares that the qualities that make her a good leader are her listening and communication skills.
“I love to create a space where students feel comfortable talking and expressing themselves,” said Olguin. She shared one piece of advice to students interested in leading on campus.
“If you want something, then it’s your responsibility to go for it. Experience and learning come with the job, and learning from mistakes is a gift we shouldn’t take for granted. There were so many times that I thought I couldn’t do things, but if I never tried, I would’ve never had the wonderful college experience that I’ve had.”
Erin Romano, a senior majoring in English, is the president of the Saint Leo chapter of Turning Point USA.
“The most rewarding part of being in my current leadership position is being able to witness the community that has been formed through the club,” said Romano.
Some of Romano’s responsibilities include organizing events, delegating tasks, and ensuring a safe environment for like-minded and opposing opinions alike. What makes Romano such a good leader is her willingness to step up in uncomfortable situations.
“I have often been told that social situations are not something I fear, but something I embrace,” Romano said.
Romano says a challenge she faces is that the work is never complete, and being a leader is a 24/7 role.
“Before becoming a leader, I did not realize how active my role would require me to be. Truly, everything starts from the leader, and if the leader does not understand this, everything below will remain stagnant.” Said Romano.
These three young women have shown what leadership truly means through their actions and loyalty to their roles. Take this as motivation to be a leader within your community. Leaders are the ones who guide others instead of being guided. It takes strength, passion, and a unique person to lead people towards the right direction, and that’s what Reyes, Olguin, and Romano have done on campus and will continue to do so.
Social Media Caption: March is Women’s History Month. At Saint Leo University, Women have taken on many leadership roles, practicing and learning real-world skills. Students like Alexis Reyes, Tamar Olguin, and Erin Romano are three such women who lead on campus and strive to make a difference in the Saint Leo community.
Read the article “Women in campus leadership: Voices, vision, and impact” written by Brianna Brinker to hear about each leader’s experiences.
