Water Leadership by Kelsey Saylor, 2023 Cohort

Ever since I was a little girl, the water is something that has always inspired me. My entire life has revolved around various bodies of water that have shaped who I am today. When I was young, my family would go to Topsail Island, NC and my cousins and I spent hours of our lives exploring the shores of the Atlantic. As I got older my family spent most of our time around lake Pymatuning in western Pennsylvania. My sister and I spent more time in the water than out, completely convinced we were mermaids. The water has become an integral part of my most treasured memories.

As I have grown older, I have also come to value leadership and the hard work and dedication needed to become a person worth following. Currently, I am a member of Army ROTC Battalion on campus and will be serving as the fall semester Battalion Commander. With this role comes a lot of responsibility, loyalty, diligence, and honesty. These four traits are ones that I have come to value when learning and exploring how to be an effective leader. 

When I look at my experience on the water -- and the future leader I want myself to be -- I see many correlations between the two. The predictability and constancy of water has taught me that these traits – among others -- are necessary in a leader. Water has existed for billions of years, and we always trust that it will remain long after we are gone. That irreplaceable trust in water is what a leader hopes to inspire in those around them. In my future career, I want my soldiers to know that I have their back and that I will be as constant as water in my decision-making. 

Within my experience as a River Steward at the University of Dayton I have learned a lot about myself, my cohort, and the water that shapes us. As a leader it is important to find things that bind a group together. Water is a perfect example of something that has the capability to bind and create deep and unyielding bonds. Everyone has a connection to the water; it is up the to leader to explore and expand upon them. The friendships I have created through River Stewards have strengthened my leadership ability ten-fold and I would not be who I am today without the organization.