"We make a living by what we get, but make lives by what we give."

Waking up Tuesday morning, I was greeted by the best weather we have had in Cape Town since the day we arrived. A great start to what would be an even greater day!

This morning's activities focused on the topic of ethical and moral leadership. We were graced by the presence of the wonderful Dr. Betty Siegel, from Kennesaw State University. If you've never heard of Betty, she is quite an accomplished individual. She was the first woman to become president of an institution in the University System of Georgia. To go along with that, she was the longest serving woman president of a public university in the nation. In her retirement, she has traveled the world spreading a message of leadership, ethics and character through many programs. Her signature program, The Oxford Conclave on Global Ethics, serves as a beacon for ethical leadership and social responsibility in the field of higher education.

I had heard from many people of how eloquent a speaker Dr. Siegel is, and today she did not disappoint. She discussed how one should be true to their values, while also showing empathy towards others who may disagree with you. She focused on four key points that are essential to exemplifying ethical and moral leadership. These points included trust, respect, optimism, and intentionality. When all was said and done, she shared with us a few questions she believes we should ask ourselves in our path towards a successful and fulfilling life. These questions included the following:

Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I going? What is the meaning? What is my legacy? How do I matter? Whose am I? To what do I testify?

Questions of this stature always bring forth a lot of reflection on my part, and emotions of all kinds are always put into boundless motion. For someone like myself, unsure of their destined place in a world that seems to be "full speed ahead" all the time, it's very stimulating to be called upon to question the very foundations of all I stand for. One of the things I am seeking to get from this trip is a greater knowledge of my heart's true desires. It's easy to be passionate about things you have always loved, but a passion without purpose and forthright direction is like walking blindfolded into a darkness clouded with uncertainty.

Dr. Siegel made a huge impression on me and really got me thinking about the way people treat ethics in our society today. Getting the chance to meet her one-on-one later in the afternoon made the experience that much more fantastic. A great lesson from a remarkable person!