Doctoral student at Minnesota State Mankato - Rosebeth Halama
Why did you want to become an AHC emerging leader? I really appreciate and love the mission and values of AHC. The emphasis is on the holistic joining with the client, where they are at, with unconditional regard, seeing them for who they are and joining them in their own walk, and supporting their growth instead of just a focus on techniques. AHC is immersed in a Rogerian theoretical orientation which is near and dear to my heart. That is the kind of counselor I hope to be one day.
How do you want to grow as a leader within AHC? When I think of leadership, I think of not success but of failures because failures serve as a teacher. Failures remind us of not knowing everything and they lead us to connect with others. As an emerging leader in AHC, I am looking forward to connecting with others and learning about their experiences to inform my experiences as a novice counselor. I look forward to growing and developing and collaborating and learning from others; as a human being who makes mistakes, who doesn’t have all the answers, and works in partnership to come to a solution.
What do you hope to give to AHC as an emerging leader? My unique voice as a Haitian woman of color. I am hoping to, in a sense, humanize what it means to work with a person of color. We all have unique and distinct stories. We are not a box, not a category you check off. It is not just as a person of color; rather it is me, Rose, the human being. I am not just my race or just my gender, I am not just. I hope to bring the essence of seeing me as the human being to then know my experiences. I want to bring to the forefront to not just categorize, to do away with the labels, and just be human.
What do you hope to be remembered by? To create a community where genuineness and authenticity is really honed. We talk about genuineness and authenticity, but no one really is, it is still the surface of playing the game. I want to cultivate a community where this is actually happening especially when it is difficult. It is easy, to be authentic, when it is praised and accepted; to follow the pattern and display it in a certain way- but not when we have backlash. Authenticity is messy and we make mistakes. I want to foster a space where you can be you no matter what because this speaks to resilience, accepting yourself as a human being, and accepting others as well. This place acknowledges differences and similarities- it doesn’t mean we are in 100% agreement for there to be harmony. Harmony means living in peace and you can have differences and peace.