How one becomes a leader in the field of Dentistry

Rick Politician
# 87345
Section II.

Beginning college life in foreign country where the rest of the students were around 24-25 years old could sound a little intimidating to a, then, 18 year old fresh out of high school and America.  The truth of the matter was that I felt like I had gotten myself in over my head. I had brought this upon myself.  Out of all the schooling options available in Denmark, this International Marketing program sounded the most interesting since it was an opportunity to immerse myself in business education and a good place to meet other people who thought globally.  Intimidating or not, I stood up to the challenge and enrolled into the International Marketing Program and it turned out to be wonderful experience.

The courses within the program had about 27 people in them at most. Also, in all the courses besides French, I had class with the same core group of students. This provided an excellent opportunity to get to know the students and teachers closely.  On the weekends and holidays we, the students, would have a cozy dinner together and then go downtown and party until morning.  We got along well together and always had fun.  This was important because of the large emphasis on teamwork within the course.  Two of the most intense tests of our ability to work together were the marketing plans we had to develop in small groups of four to five students.  My groups spent much of our free time after school and on the weekend working on these projects.  The first marketing plan was for a multi billion-dollar company, Berendsen Textiles.  We analyzed their internal corporate culture, organization, finances, production and marketing and then recommended a few things they could do for the future.  This project was difficult in that we had to delegate tasks within our group according to each person’s strengths and weaknesses.  Also, some people needed a little more encouragement and would also need their progressed checked every few days.  I saw peers helping each other and being trusted with that responsibility, instead of having a teacher telling the students what to do and making sure they were doing it.  When we finally finished the reports, we gave presentations in the auditorium and put on a business fair.  This provided a relieving sense of closure on months of hard work.  Denmark provided me with a great experience full of learning and fun.  If that year was a time for growth and understanding, these last two years were a time for buckling down and working hard.

I spent much of my college time focusing on my future.  My freshman year, I cut back the frequent partying and the socializing and replaced them with a schedule full of activities such as homework, work, internships and sports.  This helped me to become efficient and appreciate the free time when I have it.  No one else is as ambitious as I am.  I have gone from carefree traveler one year, to workaholic the next.  I am sure there is some sort of balance in between these two extremes and I am trying hard to find it.  I moved on from working retail at Banana Republic and a marketing internship downtown that promoted motion pictures and devoted my time to playing intramural sports, volunteering, doing more homework, modeling (something I have always wanted to do) and preparing for my summer internship on the East Coast.  The summer of 2001, I worked 85 hours a week selling educational tools to families.  Since this was my own business, I took care of all the costs, planning, problem solving, accounting…everything involved with running one’s own business.
All of these responsibilities have taught me how to problem solve, choose my attitude, set a schedule and run a successful business.  There was so much to learn.

Right now I am just trying to figure out what I want to do with my life.    One thing I know about the future is that I am going to need a job that soothes my heart, not just my ambition.  Maybe some kind of leading edge environmentally friendly company would be good for me.  There is a constant battle inside me between the man who wants to study philosophy and religion and join the Peace Corps and the man who wants to take on Wall Street and step up to any challenge that can be offered.  I believe that if I solely embark on one of these paths, I will dreadfully crave the other.  I need both; I need a balance.  In the end no matter how independent and successful I might ever become, I believe the love and support and love of my family and friends will bring me the most joy.

Rick Politician
# 87345
Section III.

2002 Bret Wheat Memorial Scholarship                                                           ’02-‘03
Recipient of 2001 William and Margaret Paynter Scholarship                      ’01-‘02
Dean’s List award for 6 consecutive quarters                                                 ‘00-’02 School Years
Top First Year Dealer – The Southwestern Company                                   Summer ‘01
Gold Seal Gold Award –
Worked 80 plus hours each week during the summer                   Summer ‘01
Banana Republic- Excellence in Teamwork and Leadership                         Spring ‘01
                                                                                               

Section IV.                                                                                                             Dates and (Weekly Hours)

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE: 
Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity pledge educator                                  Winter ’01 to present (5)
Southwestern Intern                                                                                            Winter ’00 to Winter ‘01 (4-95)
PES Food Drive Planner and Organizer                                                            Spring ‘01 (1-2)
Intramural Basketball Captain                                                                            Spring ‘01  (4)
Exchange Student in Denmark                                                                           Summer ’99 to Summer ’00
ASB Executive Council                                                                                       Spring ’98 to Spring ’99 (7)
Key Club President                                                                                              Fall ’98 to Summer ’99 (2)

COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: 
Sammamish reforestation                                                                                    Fall ‘02
Boys & Girls club volunteer                                                                               Fall ‘02
Alpha Kappi Psi                                                                                                   Winter ’01 to present (7)
Undergraduate dance group                                                                              Spring 2002
Medical Center Volunteer                                                                                   Spring ’01 (One-time event)
Intramural Softball                                                                                               Spring ’01 (2)
National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness               Spring ’01 (One-time event)
Swedish Hospital Volunteer                                                                               Winter ’00 (One-time event)
PES national honors society                                                                              Winter ’00 (1)
Wetland reforesting                                                                                            Fall ’00 (One-time event)
Intramural Football                                                                                              Fall ’00 (3)

OTHER EXPERIENCE: 
Vision Creation - Marketing Intern                                                                   Fall ’02 to present (5)
Zao Noodle Bar                                                                                                    Spring ’02 to present (15)
Professional Fashion Model                                                                              Spring ’01 to present (2-3)
Marketing and Public Relations Internship                                                     Winter ’00 to Spring ’01 (5-10)
Sales Associate at Banana Republic                                                                                August ’00 to April ’01 (15)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rick Politician
# 87345
Section V.

All of the community service events and intramural sports give me a chance to lead.  I use hard work and enthusiasm to light a fire in those around me.  Organizing campus events, ASB and Key club all taught me valuable lessons on how to delegate tasks and support those working with me as well as to inspire and build their confidence.  Being able to make everyone feel like they are of equal value to the team is important.  The more people feel they’re helping to come up with the ideas, the more they’re willing to make the ideas take form.  The biggest lesson on leadership was taught to me the summer of 2001.  I must always begin by leading by example.  That is what inspires people and gains me their respect.

This last year I have taken a strong leadership role in the business fraternity.  Leading a new pledge class has given me a chance to become friends with the new members and set a tone of hard work and dedication.  In two weeks I will be attending a small workshop for the leaders of the business school fraternities and clubs.  I hope to learn skills I can use to help Alpha Kappa Psi members strengthen the fraternity prepare themselves for working world.