Implementing the Vision

The BYUSA vision reads:

"As a part of a BYU education, the Student Service Association's vision is to be leaders centered on Jesus Christ, who contribute to the building of Zion communities which are united in heart and mind that there be no intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, or physically poor among us."

This vision surely captures the high reaching goals, aims, and objectives of the Brigham Young University Student Service Association and seeks to define the ideal of what we are working to help BYUSA become. The vision simultaneously inspires in the abstract while conveying fundamental, solid principles and values by which we can obtain this vision. 

This year, I have committed to serving as an executive director in BYUSA, in making such a commitment, integrity requires that I not only commit to the mundane, more superficial "requirements" of the position but that I also dedicate myself to helping accomplish the more lofty aims of the organization. As such, it becomes important to answer the questions: How will I implement the BYUSA vision in my role as an Executive Director for the Student Advisory Council?   

I will not pretend that I truly know the full extent of the answer at this point; experience will undoubtedly give much needed insight. However, I know that it will in involve at least three commitments:

1. I will first seek to learn, understand, and subscribe to the vision: How can I implement a vision as a leader if I, personally, do not understand it and have not bought into its ideals? The truth is: you can't.
2. I will seek bring personal life in agreement  with the principles laid out in the BYUSA Vision: I know that as I seek to center my personal life on Jesus Christ and work towards building Zion-like communities in my apartment, family, social circles etc., these efforts will manifest themselves in my leadership. 
3. I will commit to amenably support and sustain my leaders in both their own efforts and guidance: Sam Rayburn, the longest serving Speaker of the U.S. House of Representative, declared "you cannot be a leader, and ask other people to follow you, unless you know how to follow, too." 

I look forward to an exciting and engaging year of service as I work to contribute, in my own small way, to seeing the BYUSA vision come to fruition.