Hi! My name's Caitlin (Katie) Doolittle and I'm a senior studying Political Science and History. I was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan and I hope to pursue a career in public policy. I firmly believe in, and strive to embody, the values of authenticity, learning, and service in my everyday life. When asked to give my personal philosophy of leadership, I would say that it is best defined as guiding others when guidance is wanted or needed while listening to all input and ultimately trusting in those that I work with to achieve a common goal. I joined the Fellows program because I strongly identified with its commitment to addressing community-identified needs. I was also interested in receiving the mentorship and training that it offered.
My experience with the Fellows program and WHA challenged my conceptualization of leadership by requiring me to reflect on my actions, expectations, and behavior. At WHA I didn't necessarily feel as if I was a leader, because I was working at the direction of someone else. Given time, however, it became clear that my role as a 'leader' was just different than what I had experienced previously. I was a leader on a larger, less-visible scale; not necessarily a leader in action but a leader in information.
My experience with the Fellows program and WHA challenged both the prior knowledge and prior skills I had gained in other spaces of campus by giving me tasks with weight and importance that encouraged me to do my best work. This experience also reinforced my knowledge and skills by allowing me to see another side of community service and engagement, making me more well-rounded.