Running Head: Leader Identity 1

Leadership Identity Narrative

Arizona State University

Shelly Ozuna

OGL 482 - Unit 2

November 2, 2023
Running Head: Leader Identity 2

Introduction

“Leaders are not born; I believe they are made.” Joyce Meyer is a notable example of a

leader who used her childhood trauma to help lead others to healing and restoration. Life

experiences such as family dynamics, hardships, and childhood can shape an individual’s

personality. High and low points in life are fundamental to self-reflection and growth.

My life experiences, positive and negative, have shaped me into the individual I am

today. I can reflect on my past and appreciate the lessons I have learned in life. Mistakes are

crucial to self-discovery, maturity, and evolution.

Low Point

I was brough up in a Christian household and during my childhood I leaned on my beliefs

to cope and guide me. My faith has tremendously influenced the decisions I have made in my

life. The first major life event I can remember was when my parents divorced, I was three.

Although incredibly young, I can still remember the fighting and how difficult the divorce was

for my siblings and me. My mother remarried and divorced several times throughout my

childhood and my father never became seriously involved with anyone until I was in high

school. Overall, I had a good childhood, my parents did the best they could, we had everything

we needed, and we were loved. My mother had full custody of my sisters and me and my brother

chose to live with my dad. We were a broken separated family. My mother was always unstable,
Running Head: Leader Identity 3

we moved a lot, and struggled with poverty, at the time I did not realize we were a low-income

family. The challenges my childhood bestowed taught me how to be resilient and adaptable.

Another major life event is that I am a sexual abuse survivor, between the ages of four through

six I was abused by a family member. This traumatic experience has affected my life in many

ways, and I have carried the aftereffects from my abuse into my adulthood, my relationships, and

my motherhood. This experience has taught me to be aware of my surroundings and it has

impacted my ability to fully trust others, especially men.

My first year of high school my father revealed to my siblings and I that he was

homosexual, the news shook me to my core because this went against our beliefs as Christians. I

became confused, lost, and I struggled with accepting that my family would never be complete; I

always had hope that my parents would reconcile their marriage. My father pulled away from my

siblings and I after revealing his secret, this was due to guilt and shame. I really felt abandoned

by my dad. This was extremely difficult because my dad was always involved and a great parent

to my siblings and me. It was a drastic change, and I became withdrawn from my faith. I had a

lot of anger towards my dad and our relationship became strained.

I made a lot of wrong decisions after this, such as underage drinking, hanging with the

wrong crowd and putting myself in dangerous situations. I also struggled with self-worth and

self-esteem issues. When I was sixteen my dad lost our home to foreclosure, my dad told us we

were on our own, we would need to find someplace to go, he planned to move into a one-

bedroom apartment with his partner. Both my sisters were forced to move in with their
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boyfriends and my mom was too unsteady at the time, so I went to live with relatives. I have

lived without parental guidance since I was sixteen, my sisters provided structure for me in my

parents absents. When I was a senior in high school my dad got very sick. He was decomposing

in front of us, and he was later diagnosed with AIDS. After almost losing him, I forgave him, and

we repaired our relationship. I realized we must cherish our loved ones and staying angry or

holding grudges is not worth it.

Turning Point

My older sister Krystal really helped me get through the tough times, she was a role

model for me, she pushed me to do better. Krystal really taught me to preserve and to work

hard. When I was a senior in high school, she was working two jobs so she could purchase a

home. Through her leadership, work ethic, and grit I realized I needed to change the path I was

on and refocus. This was a turning point for me, I became extremely focused on school and

improving my grade point average so I could attend college. I graduated with a scholarship to

Glendale Community College. The first two years of college I really did amazingly, I had great

grades, I was engaged in learning, and I was able to balance work and school. My sister got me a

job where she was working, at CheckSmart, a check cashing institution that offered high interest

title loans, I absolutely despised offering people these types of loans because they were almost

impossible to pay off. It felt wrong, it felt as though the company was robbing its customers

when they were vulnerable and desperate for money. I began looking for a new job and landed

an interview with Desert Schools Federal Credit Union. This was a major turning point in my

life. My initial plan was to obtain a flexible job that would allow me to focus on college , but at
Running Head: Leader Identity 5

the time I was hired I did not realize I had found a career. I started as a part time teller and

quickly moved up the ladder. I worked for several leaders who saw my leadership potential and

really believed in my ability to grow with the organization. The values of the organization really

resonated with my personal values, and I really had a buy in for the organization's mission. I

realized how much I enjoyed helping people whether they were consumers or team members .

Within the first two years I transitioned from a part-time teller to a full-time teller , I was

promoted to a member solutions team lead, and I was promoted to an assistant service manager.

I loved the atmosphere of where I worked, and I found my purpose of developing others.

During this point in my life, I was in my early twenties and things were moving along in

a positive direction in my work life, but my home life was suffering. I became succumb to debt.

I was a young girl living alone trying to survive on my own two feet but was financially

overwhelmed and living outside my means. My mother has never been financially secure, and

my father achieved financial security briefly in his life, so I had little knowledge about financial

literacy. After securing a leadership role my priorities changed and I became less focused on

school and eventually decided to take a break. I also feel the stress I was under financially also

contributed to my inability to focus on my schoolwork. I was so worried about making ends me

and stressing over money that I lost the excitement I had for college.

High Point

When I was in my mid-twenties I reconnected with a friend from high school, Manny.

We started dating and our relationship progressed quickly because of our previous friendship
Running Head: Leader Identity 6

from school. For the first time I was in a healthy relationship that made me feel secure and safe .

The biggest life-changing event I have ever experienced was the birth of my children. I have four

children, Emmanuel, Milani, Iris, and Ivy and they have given me my true purpose in life. My

ultimate life goal is to ensure my children are loved, protected, and provided for. Manny helped

me become confident in who I am, he made me open up about my past trauma. He really

allowed me to heal and trust him. In addition to helping with my mental and emotional health he

also helped me become financially secure. When Emmanuel was one Manny, and I purchased

our first home. This was a huge milestone for us and our family. Our family has continued to

grow, and we have had many blessings.

In 2019 my organization launched our invested program, and this inspired me to re-enroll

in college. I have been a branch manager for eleven years and once I graduate, I want to continue

to advance in my career. The organizational leadership program has showed me that I have a

passion for helping people. I feel I have a calling to help children and I want to eventually

pressure a career where I am a part of a non-profit organization that serves children who are in

need.
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1. I am born.

2. Childhood is great.

3. My parents divorce.

4. I am abused.

5. I join sports and find something I really enjoy.

6. Find out my dad is homosexual.

7. Krystal helps me find my way.

8. Dad gets sick.

9. I meet Manny.

10. I start a family, buy a house, and get engaged.

11. I go back to school.

12. I am about to graduate.

References

Career Assessment, Pathways Planning System Login: Kuder journey. Kuder Journey®. (n.d.).

https://journey.kuder.com/home/dashboard

Harrington, B, & Hall, D T. (2007). Career management & work/life integration: Using self-

assessment to navigate contemporary careers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.