Who am I?
In some way this question surfaces throughout the life--birth, school milestones, marriage, work opportunities, mid-life crisis, career changes, and yes, embarking upon collegate education. The answer comes quickly and easily when engaged in everyday conversation, for I describe the roles I fill, such as wife, mother, daughter, sister, church board member, educational administrator, committee chair, friend, boss, volunteer, and student. But honestly answering the question, "Who am I?" requires that I examine the personality and qualities of character that accompany me as I fulfill each of the roles in my life. Who is Keith Stabi, the person? Let me introduce you.
I am
• A perfectionist who is thorough and attentive to detail.
• An introvert who enjoys close relationships with others, either one on one relationships or small groups, but who also needs time alone to regroup.
• An unassuming person who is easy to have around over the long haul.
• A predictable, dependable, level-headed individual. There are usually no surprises from me, and though I am not rigidly organized, I usually plan my "spontaneity."
• A kind, considerate, and courteous friend to all.
• A supportive and loyal friend.
• An understanding, warm, approachable individual.
• An open-minded seeker of truth. I encourage myself to not insist on being "right," at the expense of interpersonal relationships.
• A positive person with an internal locus of control. I like the motto, "We are creatures of choice and we have the ability to choose how we react to any circumstance."
• A trustworthy, confidential friend who trusts others and looks for the best in people.
• An individual of integrity. I carry through on commitments and value honesty in personal and professional relationships. Integrity is one quality of which I can be passionate.
• A thoughtful, contemplative person when analyzing and discussing issues. I usually think before speaking.
• A creative problem-solver who can handle ambiguity and areas of gray. I enjoy looking at many sides of an issue and prefer to keep my options open, which can create challenges for me in decision-making processes.
• A risk-taker in a quiet, thoughtful manner. I am not impulsive; the risks I take result from prior careful study.
• A participative team member who enjoys working collaboratively, yet sorts out issues intrapersonally or with individuals one-on-one.
• An assertive individual about ideas and issues with which I am familiar.
• A more passive person in developing relationships, unless it is an expectation of one of the major roles I play, such as administrator.
• An individual who continually tries to achieve balance in my life. Balance in activities of home, church, school or work. Balance in the way I view life. Balance in my relationships. And balance in how I care for myself physically, emotionally and spiritually.
• A person who believes that small, daily choices eventually have eternal consequences, and who would like an increased ability to recognize the meaningful experiences of today.
• A seeker of passion for something to drive my commitments and priorities.
• A controller of my destiny, even during times when I need to relinquish control to God.
• A proud individual who is sometimes critical of others.
• A shy, fearful and reticent public speaker.
• A good writer and communicator of technical or factual things.
• A person who wishes to be more creative in the art of writing, music, or painting.
What I want to be
Since my high school years, I have been recognized by others as a quiet leader. Though not the extrovert of my peer group, friends and teachers would seek my opinions and would encourage me to accept increasing levels of responsibility in my school and church community. After leaving high school, as I became part of a larger community, I felt shy and self-conscious. I intentionally pulled away from responsibilities other than my studies during my college and graduate school years. Toward the end of graduate school I found myself once again seeking greater independence in my work and an opportunity to make a difference by pursuing a teaching career.
Several years later I accepted my first management position and have filled many leadership roles within the past ten years. I love the diversity and challenge of my work. But sometimes when problems close in, I fantasize about not wearing the mantle of leadership. However, being a leader, like being a Christian, is not something that one puts on and takes off. Leadership becomes a part of who I am, the way I think, how I view life and how I approach relationships. While I have been successful in leading, evidenced by affirmations of others and by receiving increasing levels of responsibility and opportunities to serve, one never "arrives." Similar to the process of becoming educated, the more I understand about leading, the greater my need for improvement. So I want to become a better leader.