The paths that shape our lives can start in the simplest of ways.

Sometime in the
winter of 2015, a teaching assistant by the name of Gregory Shtraks recommended
that I apply for a leadership program that he had once been a part of, a program
overseen by former Republican Senator Slade Gorton. Sitting in that classroom in
Evans Hall, I had no idea that almost a year later I would be planning event logistics
on the phone with Air Force representatives or standing at a podium with the green
expanse of Safeco Field behind me and hundreds of Seattles finest in front of me.
Sometimes, the best way to see how far youve come in nine months is to go back
to where you started. Before I wrote this essay, I opened the cover letter from my
initial application and read through what I had imagined the Global Leaders Program
to be at first glance. In hindsight, despite my research, I truly had no idea how
meaningful this program would become to me. What I initially hoped to gain from
the Global Leaders program was simple: mentorship and networking opportunities
which would help me formulate and achieve my future academic goals. What I
received instead was infinitely greater in value. The Global Leaders program has
done much more than help me frame my future plans it has also shaped my
worldview, refined my sense of purpose, and provided hope in turbulent political
times.
Much of this shaping has come from the many speakers who have taken the time
this year to impart their own career paths and leadership experiences to us. True to
the ideals of bipartisanship and egalitarianism that Senator Gorton lived out during
his time as a US Senator and Washington Attorney, the local leaders that spoke with
us came from a wide range of industries as well as from both sides of the aisle.
Watching Democratic consultant Cathy Allen entrance the class with her fiery
rhetoric while Senator Gorton looked on in amused approval helped me to
understand that mutual admiration and respect can transcend even the current
political gulf. On the corporate side, private sector leaders like Colleen Chapman
and Mike McKay exemplified how the spirit of public service and integrity can be
lived out in any profession.
More importantly however, has been the mentorship that I have been lucky enough
to receive from Global Leaders speakers outside of the program. Again and again, I
have been taken aback by the willingness of our mentors to take the time out of
their hectic schedules to meet with us and share their wisdom. After sitting in a
Fremont caf, listening to former US Attorney John McKay talk about his career path,
I walked away inspired by his integrity. In a professional culture where climbing a
corporate ladder has been elevated above all things, Mr. McKays unflinching ethical
code and strong personal values have shown me just how important a moral
compass and sense of purpose are to finding ones place in the world. From Richard
Harris, whose knowledge of finance and global hotspots is unprecedented, I have
learned how a deep knowledge of international markets and a genuine appreciation
for other cultures can act as the foundation to an amazing career.
The respect and investment in my personal success that I have seen from the
programs speakers mirrors the tremendous esteem that Slade Gorton and the NBR
have consistently held us in. Too often, people my age are coddled or discouraged
from taking on too much responsibility. In stark contrast to the current culture,
Senator Gorton and the NBR have gone out of their way to encourage me to go
further and take on more challenges. I can recall two milestones this year where this
respect manifested: Firstly, in the planning of our policy event, and secondly when
this program gave me the honor of speaking for Senator Gorton at the 25 th
Anniversary Commemorative Event.
The work of planning and coordinating a serious public policy event was a new
experience for me, and was at times greatly intimidating. Coordinating and inviting
a speakers list that included colonels and disaster response experts seemed like an
insurmountable challenge at first, as did assuming leadership over a team that
included many older students . Throughout the whole process, however, the Global
Leaders Program supported my team while giving us ample room to make mistakes
and grow from the experience. The way that Creigh Agnew and Senator Gorton
treated me and my fellow planners as equal partners and even leaders in the
organization of this event gave me tremendous confidence when the event turned
out to be a success. In the future, I know that I will look back on this vital leadership
and planning exercise as a triumph for me.
Secondly, I will always cherish the trust that Senator Gorton placed in me when he
gave me the amazing privilege of speaking at the Seattle Mariners event dedicated
to his legacy. I have often been more comfortable writing speeches behind a
keyboard rather than delivering them in front of hundreds. Now having received the
trust of a man that I respect so much to speak in front of so many of the
communitys leaders, I now know that there are few speaking engagements that will
ever intimidate me.
The Global Leaders Program has also provided unexpected benefits through the
relationships and bonds that I have forged with the other fellows in the program.
Nowhere else would I have the opportunity to be surrounded by so many other
students succeeding tremendously in advanced degree programs. Getting to know
these students was almost a window into my own future, and I consistently have
learned from their drive and dedication. Watching how these students excel
academically while balancing families and businesses of their own has been an
inspiration and has really placed my own academic career into perspective. I know
that I have made many friends for life through my interactions with these amazing
people.
However, all of the benefits that I have spoken about would not have been possible
without Senator Slade Gorton himself. It has been a singular experience to read
about the life and accomplishments of a great man while at the same time having
the opportunity to learn from him and receive his advice. I will never cease to be
astonished by his dedication to us as well as his accessibility. From the openness of
my conversations with him to the time when he went out of his way to provide me
with documents on the 9/11 commission, Senator Gorton has shown me just how
much he cares about passing on his wisdom to the next generation.
Through Senator Gorton, I have learned about what true principle and dedication to
ones community looks like in action over a lifetime. He has served as a real world
example of standing up for ones Reading about his principled stands that Senator
Gorton has taken is often reminiscent of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird,
another man neither bombastic or vitriolic who stood for what was right even when
many disagreed. However, the greatest lessons that I have learned from Senator
Gorton, the ones that I will carry with me no matter where I go, are the lessons that
he has taught me about living a life of service and dedication to others. Watching
the tremendous respect that Senator Gorton consistently receives from the people
he impacted during his long career have really shown me that true success is
measured in the lives that you change, not in the money you make or titles you
accrue.
Moreover, legacy is so much more than just monuments or biographies its about
the people who you help and the careers that you build throughout the course of
your own success. Its about achieving great things not for selfish reasons or for
ambitions own sake, but rather in the cause of making ones community a better
place. If I can live out these values and make a positive impact in my own career
half as well as Senator Gorton has done (and continues to do so), then I will
consider it a triumph. As I continue to pursue my interests in international business
and national security, I will take all of these lessons to heart, and will always strive
to place the needs of others before myself.
Looking back, it is easy to see the myriad ways in which the Global Leaders program
has shaped me for the better. These past nine months, I have been fortunate
enough to spend time in the presence of a true mentor and a great man. Seeing the
success that seems to follow those who have been lucky enough to spend time at
Senator Gortons side, I can now look forward to my own future with confidence.