Making informed decisions and solving problems is something that I find myself regularly struggling with. For instance, an ethical decision that I struggled with earlier this semester was whether I would to volunteer to be a college application coach for the Early Identification Program (EIP). I had volunteered with the program last summer and it was a great experience. This was a role that I was passionate about and took very seriously because all of the EIP students were first-generation college students like myself. In fact, one of the students even attended the same high school I did, and we were able to really bond over our shared experiences.
The reason I struggled with whether I would volunteer with the program was not a question of want, but a matter of personal well-being and success. When I was contacted in the middle of the semester about rejoining the volunteer program, I was excited about the prospects of working with a group of new students, but I felt deeply conflicted at the same time. As an upperclassman civil engineering major, my personal time was quickly dwindling due to increasingly difficult courses so my self-care was pretty abysmal, but I felt an obligation to giving back to the community. How would I decide when my mind was dealing with a right versus right situation?
Because I was taking Nick’s INTS 404 Ethics and Leadership class at the time, I was able to apply the concepts that I learned in class to my situation. When I analyzed the situation using the different perspectives discussed in class, I get varying answers using the code, consequence, and character approaches for resolving a dilemma. In the end, I went with the Consult approach because I needed to get an objective, outside perspective. I presented the situation with my partner and they advised me that I shouldn’t take the position because I have a tendency to take on too much without realizing. By talking through my dilemma with my partner, I was able to gain insight on a blind spot that was preventing me from making the best decision. If I had not talked with them, I probably would have jumped into the position and found myself overloaded. Even if I didn’t volunteer for EIP, there would be plenty of opportunities to give back. Ultimately, it made me realize that I have to first take care of myself before I try to help others.
As a leader, it’s important to make sure that I am aware of my limitations because it can help prevent burnout and lead to healthier, sustainable leadership. Despite knowing this, I know that I will always struggle with saying no when I am asked to help because I always want to contribute as much as I can, so I don’t always make the best informed decisions. To help combat this in the future, I plan to analyze my dilemmas through the lens of each approach to determine the best decision for myself and those around me. Hopefully, the more I practice these approaches, the easier it will become for me to reach a decision.