STRiVE is a powerful, hands-on leadership program that helps students grow into more effective leaders and active members of their communities, especially at UMBC. My supervisor in the Division of Information Technology (DoIT), encouraged me to apply to this program hosted by the Center for Democracy and Civic Life. I applied and learned in December that I was accepted into the program! I didn’t know what to expect but during my STRiVE experience two weeks ago, I built strong friendships with the members of my pod group and discovered my personal strengths and core values. I also learned how to collaborate better with others and explored ways I can contribute to positive change at UMBC. 

“The program encouraged me to think deeply about identity, privilege, and systemic inequality, while also helping me develop skills to create meaningful social change.”

I chose to attend STRiVE because, as an international female student living in the U.S., I am passionate about growing as a leader and making a positive impact in my community. Balancing my studies with my role as the night manager of AV services at DoIT has taught me the importance of teamwork, communication, and adaptability. However, I wanted to further strengthen my leadership skills and better understand the challenges related to identity, privilege, and systemic inequality—issues that affect those around us in ways we may not fully recognize because we don’t personally experience them. STRiVE offered the perfect opportunity to deepen my awareness, gain practical experience, and explore new ways to contribute meaningfully to UMBC and beyond.

One of the most meaningful experiences for me was the value session that focused on identifying our core values. We started by selecting our top 20 values from a set of cards, then narrowed it down to 10, and finally to five. This process was challenging but incredibly revealing it forced me to think about the sacrifices I make when prioritizing some values over others. We wrote our top five values on the back of our ID cards and we could get back to our value when we were facing any challenges or we had to make a decision. This practice taught me the importance of aligning decisions with my values, a lesson I’ll carry forward both personally and professionally.

“In my DoIT role, I will use what I learned at STRiVE to foster better communication and collaboration among my team. Understanding different perspectives and being mindful of diverse experiences will help me create a more supportive and inclusive work environment.”

Looking ahead, this experience has reinforced my commitment to leading with empathy and integrity. Whether in academic, professional, or community settings, I now feel more equipped to approach challenges thoughtfully and drive positive change with purpose. I would highly recommend STRiVE to anyone seeking to grow as a leader and deepen their impact on campus and beyond.

Thank you STRiVE and DoIT!

Roza Zareidoodeji