What is life but one grand adventure?

Over the course of the two years I’ve had at San Diego State University, I can say that it was a non-stop roller-coaster that was filled with adventures and memories. There sure was sometimes where the roller coaster stopped at the very top and started going faster, but that easily changed when I realized that I have to work harder and push myself to do better. Within my hospitality courses, I have learned what it takes, how it takes and why it takes certain leaders to truly be successful throughout many important classes I have taken.

 

Starting with my first course in HTM 201, seeing all the guest speakers come to class and tell us their stories on how they began their career in the hospitality industry was truly eye-opening. From seeing people who don’t even have a hospitality degree to people who were in school for years and years who ended up shifting career paths and going the opposite direction, all of them were inspiring in their own ways who showed myself and the class what it takes to become a successful leader. HTM 201 made me love the hospitality industry even more, and I was very excited for what’s next. This class was the first hospitality class that I took at San Diego State. Although I loved HTM 201, I was still intimidated by the projects, assignments and busy work that I had to complete. I still had doubts although I adored the class and the things I was learning in it. I told myself to not keep those negative thoughts in my head and engrave an “I can do it” mentality instead.

 

Moving forward, I enrolled in HTM 301 which was another leadership class. Entering this class, I was even more intimidated than HTM 201 (although HTM 201 was way..way..easier) in HTM 301, one of the things we had is to take a PRINT assessment that identifies your personality traits and what your unconscious motivators are.  I quickly found out that my PRINT # was a 2-4. My minor issue or what we can say, the unconscious motivator is to be neglected and not feel appreciated and my major score is to make others happy and live in the moment. After reading in depth of how accurate my PRINT report was, I reflected on some things that I should keep working on as they are working very well for me and things that I should improve and traits I should stay away from.

 

The next two HTM classes that come right after HTM 301 are HTM 480 and HTM 490. In HTM 480, I had the opportunity of being someone’s mentor and coaching my mentee. This was my favorite experience that I have had at San Diego State. I built a strong relationship with my mentee that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I felt good being able to guide her through her successes and challenges and pass to her the advice that I had from my failures. I can say that both of those courses have not been easy but have been extremely rewarding at the same time. They definitely require a lot of work, effort and determination that you have to put in, not only with yourself but with teams you will work with as well. Those courses have taught me how to be patient, how to work with a large team and how to really deal with unpleasant situations and what to do in those kinds of situations where you are putting your all and some people aren’t. In those kind of situations, you have to step up and show your leadership skills.

 

After studying leadership throughout many courses in the Hospitality and Tourism program, I understood that leadership is not what it just sounds like, it is much more than that. There are many different theories, approaches, traits and learning tactics that one must understand about leadership. Being a LEADER is more than just educating yourself on how to read a book, what to say to the right person, etc. It is about putting to action how you are the leader. I also believe that leaders aren’t just “born” leaders. Throughout some of my HTM courses, I learned that, especially in HTM 491, that leaders can constantly learn, develop and grow. I definitely do not believe that people are just born to be leaders, but I do believe that if a person truly wants to become one, it could be taught. After observing others in the work force around me, and even some of my colleagues throughout group projects, I can say that I have seen good and horrible leaders. The good, will form relationships with others and love being a role model, and the bad, will pretend like they want to be there for you when they aren’t. The most important thing I learned, however, is to be authentic, humble and a leader who doesn’t claim to just be one, but one who adores being one whether they are seen or not.

 

Reflecting on the wonderful two years at San Diego State in the Hospitality and Tourism program, I now have a full understanding of why faculty members and professors say “this major isn’t for everyone.” You have to be really devoted and passionate about what you do to be successful in it and truly go above and beyond. Every single assignment and project have made me a better individual in my professional and personal career. At times, I would complain and cry from stress on nights where I had so much on my plate but I can say that I wouldn’t want to have it any other way. Every single day of my life from now on, I will remember how fortunate I was to be a student in the Hospitality and Tourism program, one of the best programs in the world. Overall, it brings tears to my eyes that my journey at San Diego state is officially done but I am burning in excitement of where my next leadership journey and adventure will take me.