NSO Personal Statement

Before joining NSO, I recall reading the commitment letter and contemplating if I would be able to control my emotions and “refrain from the use of profanity.” Especially since this position is a representation of the University, I was apprehensive about my temper. Chickering’s second vector is managing emotions, which consists of the ability to understand, accept, and express emotions. Challenges and group projects are inevitable; therefore, by observing the contrasting personalities of the involvement group, it was evident that we would encounter complications. Therefore, learning to understand and accept other’s emotions was a challenge. For instance, when I received criticism from Andrew regarding the brochure, I found his remarks unnecessary …show more content…
Chickering’s third vector, “movement through autonomy towards interdependence”, is characterized by independence from one’s parents, being able to take responsibility for ourselves, and learning how to be emotionally independent. By becoming involved with the campus, I immediately gained independence from my family. Since my mother is unfamiliar with the college lifestyle, my independence began from the time of my enrollment. I learned how to apply for college, scholarships, and register for classes on my own. Most importantly, it was my decision to apply for this NSO position. I wanted to improve my future by gaining experiences and skills. However, I was not going to obtain these experiences if I did not actively seek these opportunities. NSO was the first position I was determined to obtain; therefore, I attended optional orientations to become familiar with the staff, I utilized the Manoa Career Center and Student Support Services for interview advice, and rehearsed for the interview a week prior to my appointment. Before applying to NSO, I cruised through college without a purpose or any form of campus involvement. I used my religion as a crutch by believing that opportunities will appear if God intended them to enter my life. Therefore, I strolled through college hoping that God would introduce the “right” opportunities. After obtaining my position, I was amazed that I was chosen among such accomplished students. I aspired to be as accomplished as them after realizing that I too possessed the potential to inspire others. If it were not for NSO, I would have never developed such close relationships with these leaders. Therefore, NSO was the encouragement I needed to begin establishing a fulfilling college