For the past month, I have been proudly back on the Augustana campus to complete my campus life Viking Advisor (similar to an RA at other schools) and Viking Guide training. As a VA on the southside, or freshmen side, of campus I had the opportunity to work with first year students during Welcome Week and live in the freshmen dorms as a resource and mentor during the school year. The two weeks of training were full of growth, stress, tears, emotions, lectures, sweat, laughs and friendship. However, the most important lesson I have learned throughout those two weeks is being reminded that it’s okay to be vulnerable.

Vulnerability is the center for meaningful human experiences. It's a measure of courage. Being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure. All my life I have done things that involve putting myself out there. Volleyball, speech, interviews, dance team, choir, musicals, social media, and leadership positions. I love every single one of the activities I am involved in and have a passion for being busy. All of these groups are very different in many ways but all have one thing in common: they push me outside of my comfort zone. I did things I never thought I would do. In volleyball I had to find the strength within my heart to play selflessly for the person next to me, my teammates. Auditioning for theater I was putting the most private and embarrassing parts of myself out on display for others to enjoy, judge and criticize. By joining the speech team I spoke up and used my voice to tell stories others might not want told (in heels!). Running for student government I plastered photos of myself all over campus. Most of the time setting foot outside of your box will change your life. I am now a confident, independent and achieving young woman, compared to the shy and needy teenage girl, after taking those few challenging steps. Letting myself loose was the best thing that has ever happened to me. But sometimes it won’t work out quite how you thought it would. It might be numbing, it might hurt and you might cry but once you realize that humans connect over vulnerability, that's when you are able to put your best self forward.

So next time you see someone struggling to give a presentation in front of the class or tells you something personal, give them a pat on the back. It takes guts to put yourself out there for the world to comment on. Be open, be honest and be vulnerable. Once you’ve achieved vulnerability, you’ll feel it. You can thank me later.