WELCOME TO SYDNEY PICKETT'S GLD PORTFOLIO!

ABOUT ME

Hi y’all! My name is Sydney Pickett and I am a senior Hospitality Management major double minoring in Education and Psychology. I am pursuing the Professional and Civic Engagement pathway for Graduating with Leadership Distinction. After graduation, I am planning on pursuing my Masters in Higher Education and Student Affairs to be an advisor within a university’s student life office. In choosing to pursue this GLD pathway, I wanted to reflect on my college experience and how much growth I have had over the past 4 years. When applying to the University of South Carolina, I did not know how much college could empower you in the search for identity and confidence. I grew up in a small close-minded town in Georgia where there was lack of encouragement for self-betterment. This fixed mindset from home did not give people room to grow and left me self-conscious in the full potential I could reach. I knew that in order to get the most out of my life, I had to step outside my comfort zone by trying a new environment and go for any opportunity this new environment had to offer.

I wanted to find a college that was different than my hometown. Of course, some of the physical attributes of UofSC were appealing, like it being a big SEC school in a capital city. However, what most attracted me to this campus was the tight knit community and potential for opportunity. I did not expect this university to give me so many professional, academic, and personal growth opportunities as it did. As someone who grew up timid, I was constantly searching for my self-identity and I feel that I have been able to develop my identity from my involvement in college. Throughout my years at University of South Carolina, I have chosen different facets to get involved in to give back to the institution that has given me so many opportunities. Whether that be holding several leadership positions in student organizations, mentoring students through mentorship programs, or maintaining part time jobs, I tried to increase my impact on the university as much as I could in four years.

In my portfolio, you will be able to look at my journey with different leadership roles across campus and how I implemented what I learned into my own personal growth. Including how this involvement has benefitted my development in self-awareness, self-confidence, and self-advocacy.  Through this, you will learn about the significance of continuous learning to improve yourself. You will be able to see how this self-betterment helped me develop my identity as a leader and a person. Although this is a small summary of key takeaways from my college experience, they have shaped me into someone who is proud of the impact they have had on campus. I hope that in the future I will be able to help others see their full potential and be fulfilled by their own personal growth like my university experience has done for me. Thank you for your time!