Follow the Leader (But Not Too Closely)

 The response to my last blog post, the one dedicated to Dr. Richard Fountain, was overwhelming. I was genuinely surprised, though perhaps I shouldn't have been. Dr. Fountain, as I'm reminded every time I attend a social event for the Pensacola business community, holds a special place in the hearts of many. (A testament to his profound impact.) The outpouring of stories and memories made me realize something about the true power of mentorship, and it prompted me to look beyond the present, to examine the threads of guidance woven throughout my life. Particularly I want my peers and colleagues to think about those mentors who are no longer with us. Those who have passed to the other side, leaving behind their legacies of wisdom and influence, but knowledge that they can no longer pass along to the next generation. There have been many people in my life who shaped the person I am today. Some of them, unfortunately, are no longer walking the earthly plane. So, this isn't just...

As I approach the fourth anniversary of my initiation as a Deltasig, I feel that it's time to reflect on how being a part of this fraternity has impacted me as a young professional. -- My undergraduate business studies began amid the disorienting conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time when most first-year students are expected to become involved in their business world, the entire world was just tentatively reopening. I was surrounded by many peers who were still carrying the weight of isolation, a hesitation to socialize, often lacking the very social skills that business demands. I, too, felt a sense of isolation, but for different reasons than my peers who had always had the benefit of brick-and-mortar schooling. My upbringing had always made me feel like an outlier, and now, amidst that sea of hesitant faces, I again found myself adrift. At that time, ironically, the only people who seemed genuinely willing to engage in the spaces I occupied were the faculty. It was w...