Reflect on the process of developing leadership level knowledge, skills, and practices in this competency. What has been especially impactful/meaningful/important to you personally and professionally?
For me, leadership and advocacy are the capstone competency out of all of the others. I learned so much about myself and the type of leader I am. My development under this competency is most overtly noticeable when performing advocacy and social justice task for future educational reforms. The culminating academic and intellectual experiences within this competency brought together key reasoning behind policies, practices, and procedures, in both the university setting and the field. My desire to develop and advance in the field inspires me to form alliances with key policymakers both locally and at the national level, which I support by promoting the public service mission and goals. Ideally, we would hope that change comes from a top-down model, but in the absence of that, mobilizing both formal channels and informal networks to achieve goals works to align community resources. I function under this competency daily.

Describe an area of strength that you have developed while in the program in this area of competency. What is one way you plan to utilize this strength in your vocation?
I identify as a counselor educator and with this feel a social responsibility to use my work as a vehicle for bringing about social change. I promote advocacy on behalf of my clients and make recommendations for actions that might take the helping professions in positive new directions. A fusion of leadership and advocacy propels the desire to address inequitable social, political, and economic patriarchy that impede the academic process.

Describe an area of challenge/growth opportunity in this area of competency. What is your plan to develop excellence in this area?
I struggled with highlighting the lack of multi-cultural insensitivity, due to my perceived fear of persecution. I believe everyone has a right to quality education, and to employment opportunities regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual preference, gender identity, gender expression, economic status, and creed, to list a few. Much to my chagrin, I did not understand my leadership and advocacy role within this space until midway through my doctoral journey. My growth process, throughout this program, is highly distinguishable. I recognize now achieving social justice is both a goal and a process for me. With this newly acquired knowledge, I have altered my role as the advocate and how client problems are conceptualized. My in and around cultural competencies is a pillar in my practice and has revolutionized the counseling paradigm, which now underscores my counselor identity.

Reflect on how faith in Christ relates to this competency.
This counselor education and supervision (CES) program promote and model advocacy at its core. I now consider myself a servant leader and advocacy, is an intricate part of this approach. The departmental culture advocates for this type of leadership to thrive. The impact of this tradition unlocked in me my potential, creativity, and sense of purpose. Coupling this with my faith in God, I continuously feel empowered to boldly step forward. This is the same faith that not only sparks courage in self, but it provokes me to encourage others for sustainability. Being faithful builds purpose and motivates me to lead within my right. I am an active participant in several grassroots projects to strengthen our profession, as well as nationally.