Recently, I was asked to address the graduates at LearnServe’s 2019 graduation. LearnServe is an amazing organization that equips middle and high school students from diverse backgrounds with the entrepreneurial vision, tenacity, confidence, and leadership skills needed to tackle social challenges at home and abroad. Since 2014, I’ve volunteered as a venture mentor, helping to guide students in the after-school LearnServe Fellows program as they create and launch social ventures ‒ projects designed to benefit their communities and schools.
The following was delivered on Thursday, May 9, 2019:
Congratulations Learn-Serve graduates!
When I joined Learn-Serve as a venture mentor five years ago, I had no idea how much I’d come to love this organization.
As a venture mentor, our interaction with students is reserved for every-other Thursdays in the Fall and Spring. We sit at desks in classrooms and impart as much wisdom and guidance as we can in 15 minute bursts. We meet with students and learn about their amazing projects, dreams and ambitions. We are continually awed by their passions and awareness of the world around them. We think back to when we were their age and wonder why we weren’t as connected to the world around us.
It’s the best part of my week. I make sure I get all my work done so I can make it every Thursday to work with these students. Each and every one of you is amazing. Think about it. You had the courage to identify the things that make you mad, make you curious and even, emotional. Then you decided to do something about it. You gave yourself permission to be curious — to explore different perspectives and concepts. And for many of you, that curiosity led you in opposite directions, but you were brave enough to flip the script, change the narrative and write your own story.
You have put so much of yourself into your ventures. Not just your time and effort — but your convictions, your values, the parts of you that are 100% authentic.
And that’s what makes a good social entrepreneur: Curiosity. Agility. Authenticity.
Curiosity. Not enough people ask why? Why is there inequality? Why isn’t this working? A curious person is never bored. They are voracious learners and not just in the conventional sense. They ask questions when they meet others. They take the time to listen and examine the issues from all sides.
As a life skill, it’s pretty great. But curiosity is an even better professional one — I love working with curious colleagues, clients and customers. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it makes for one hell of a user experience.
Agility. There’s a lot of emphasis on standing one’s ground these days. But I think it’s even better to be able to make mistakes, learn from them and then adapt and evolve. Sometimes things don’t end up the way we want them. Being agile means understanding that there is more than one way to get things done. There are times when it’s good to be stubborn, but most times, if you let go of your ego — which let’s face it is often what stands in our way of growth — the way ahead will present itself.
Authenticity. Be yourself. I mean it. Embrace your quirks. Own your mistakes and your triumphs. Be the best you, you can be. Don’t be anybody else because you won’t be as good at it — or as happy. It took me some time to realize that people wanted to work with me because of me! Accept yourself and grow yourself.
Your experience at Learn-Serve will change your life. You may not know it yet. You may not feel it for awhile. But like any great experience, several years from now, it will sink in. You’ll know that the skills you’ve developed at Learn-Serve aren’t ordinary and aren’t possessed by just anyone. Whether you’re working on your first venture or your fiftieth — your skill set has been significantly enhanced by your involvement with Learn-Serve.
I wish you the best in your future endeavors; I look forward to keeping in touch and watching you grow.