Together, we fly

This morning, I had the opportunity to meet with my mentee, Kara, face-to-face for our second networking session.  She told me that she has to write a brief reflection after our meetings, how very Jesuit of the Marianists, and I decided I would as well.

From our first Zoom, I already knew Kara was a determined young lady – no doubt she was going to fit into the Flyer community – I am even more impressed now.  Kara did not blink when I said we were going to eat with the alumni leadership, embracing the chance to see what it is we did.  The conversations we had about her job, classes, network; the way this freshman in college discussed with drive and passion her situation, talking to others in the room (after being exhausted from a day of IACT, work and post-basketball events), welcoming advice and counsel from every direction – impressive is not a strong enough word.  I find myself in awe of what the Flyer Promise program does for our students, how it only improves what the UD community is and what it will be in the future.

Kara is working with ESPN+ & Flyers Sports TV, she is a Pi Phi, in the communications business fraternity, surrounded by friends – side note, she introduced me to one of her friends as I dropped her off, what a great surprise for this Forever Flyer – Kara is already taking on the world and I have no doubt she will do so.

Here is my reflection, as this sounds an awful lot like a reference letter and not a reflection, Kara is what the Flyer Community is, and I am lucky to have the opportunity to continue to be a part of it.  She and I discussed that, more times than not, life is about who you know more than what you know; I am honored to know her.  I am honored to work with such an amazing volunteer community at UD from the administrators through the student undergrad volunteers.   This weekend was the end of a very long two weeks for me; I would not trade the experiences for anything, the time with work colleagues, family and friends all lead to the full life I lead.  Breakfast with Flyer friends, including my newest one, Kara, followed by a self-guided tour of the place I called home for so long, and still do, was the perfect way to tie a bow on the latest chapter of my adventure book.  

We are UD and together, we fly.