How often are you in a room with someone who works at your dream company in your dream role, and they are willing to share their story with you? That’s how BLI Alumni Homecoming Weekend was for me. From the moment the alumni began to arrive at our Narrative4 event, I knew I was in the right place. 

The essence of Narrative 4 is that you get randomly partnered with someone in the room, either a student or alumnus, and you have dedicated time to tell a story about your life, a time when you surprised yourself with your own skill, a time a food changed everything for you, or something impactful. In my case, I chose to share about my time abroad in Barcelona this summer. I surprised myself with my own independence in exploring a completely new country on my own. I shared a story about when I took a 1-hour train by myself after work to walk around one of Google’s most recommended parks (it was worth it!).

Once you and your partner swap stories, you join a small group to retell your partner’s story in the first person. Before sharing, most people expressed nervousness about telling their partner's story accurately, doing it justice, or omitting major parts. Ultimately, this is an exercise in empathy, active listening, and compassion (for yourself and others). 

Sharing my partner's impactful life story gave me a strong sense of responsibility to do her justice. Sharing her vulnerable experience with the group allowed me to demonstrate my understanding of the depth and emotion behind her personal history.

Bringing together students and alumni for this experience gave us a new sense of perspective. As a student in college right now, the number one thing on my mind is what I will do post-grad. The opportunity to hear from alumni who recently were in my position allowed me to re-frame my thinking in a way that has given me peace and reassurance to continue showing up every day to the best of my abilities. With time, I will end up where I am supposed to be (Becky, one of our alums, hopes I will end up in D.C.). They all spoke highly of their time at the Barger Leadership Institute, sharing how the lessons they learned have translated into their current roles across various fields, including healthcare, tech, and education. 

Combined with watching a University of Michigan football win with some alumni, this weekend was a highlight of my semester.

Leadership, I learned, is less about talking and more about listening. Hearing stories from many different people with deep backgrounds can be both inspiring and reassuring. To be a good leader, one must understand how other people think and be compassionate toward them. Connecting with alumni as a student can be one of the most valuable opportunities to hear different stories and connect them to your own experiences. It’s not always as easy as walking into a room where alumni are present and ready to share their stories for mentorship; sometimes you have to search through the BLI Alumni database… :)

Jolie Oleshansky is a junior in LSA Honors studying Cognitive Science with minors in Writing and Public Policy. She leads as Chapter President of Pi Beta Phi, serves as an Applied Leadership Fellow at the Barger Leadership Institute, and advocates for campus well-being through roles in Empowering Women in Law, the Student Advisory Board for University Health and Counseling, and Hillel. Academically, she is interested in exploring the intersection of technology, policy, and human behavior. 

Fall Alumni Weekend

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