Karli: Leadership

Hey guys! My name is Karli Lane, and I am from Harlowton, Montana. I am majoring in Psychology and Special Education to become a Pediatric Occupational Therapist. Outside of Setons, I work as a basketball coach for NBC Camps here in Spokane! Back home, I grew up on a cattle ranch outside of Harlowton with my two older siblings, James and Kaitlin. Fun fact, I even have my own baby calf named Milkshake! On the ranch, my jobs consist of moving cattle, baling hale, or bottle-feeding newborn calves! When I am not working, you can find me hiking with my dog Ellie Mae or skiing on the mountains with friends! I am beyond blessed to be a part of Setons because not only am I serving the Spokane community, but I have also formed long-lasting bonds with 30 other girls that have changed my life.

Throughout my life, I have held various leadership positions whether it was for a club or as captain of a sports team. However, when I came to Gonzaga, I grew very shy and withdrawn. I felt as if I did not belong. I felt like this because I graduated with twelve other kids in my senior class and it was overwhelming coming to a large city like Spokane. If I am being completely honest, I was never thinking about applying to become a Seton because I was really shy and felt out of place. I did not know how I could become a leader and leave an impact on a large school like Gonzaga. However, one of my friends pushed me to apply for Setons, and it was a blessing in disguise. It was the best decision I have ever made. Soon, elections came up for the fundraising chair and I thought to myself, “Well if I can go outside my comfort zone once, I can do it again.” When I got the position, I realized that this was going to be an uphill battle. I personally have never done fundraising events, so this was a huge learning curve for me. Even though I was extremely nervous, I knew I wanted to be a part of something greater than myself. Since then, I have done three fundraising events: Caruso’s, Setons Tea Party, and Krispy Kreme donuts. Yes, there were mistakes that were made, but in the end, it taught me how to become a better leader not only for Setons but also for myself. If I was never pushed by fellow setons and friends, I would not be where I am today. To me, a leader is not one singular person. Instead, it is a team. A captain cannot lead a team to victory without the support and guidance of other teammates and friends. For me, I could not have done anything without the help of my fellow seton sisters. I am the leader I am today because of the unconditional love, life-changing advice, and unwavering support from my seton sisters. If I have any advice, it is this: break those barriers and go outside of your comfort zone. Yes, it is extremely terrifying, but I promise you it will be the best thing you can do. Allow yourself to make mistakes because, in the end, it will help form you into becoming an amazing leader. Because I went outside of my comfort zone, I now have 30 girls who I consider family. They push me to be the best leader I can be for myself and others. Take it from me… take that leap of faith and become the leader you are meant to become.