Words to Live By

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

— Maya Angelou

The academic year is coming to a close for many members of the AAUW National Student Advisory Council, and I find this to be a perfect time to reflect and think ahead. For some, this time of year brings transition — the start of a new job, a move to a new city, the completion of an academic degree.

In those transitions and other endeavors, I implore you to be fearless, engaging, and assertive. I want you to tap into your inner strengths to get you through difficult times and listen to your intuition when you are faced with a challenging decision.

But above all things, be nice. Being nice does not mean being naive or allowing yourself to be taken advantage of. It is not a departure from the ambitious, independent woman that you are.

It won’t hurt you to be pleasant — in fact, your attitude may be one of your greatest assets.

While an impressive résumé may help you get your foot in the door, your disposition is what will take you far. Being firm with a smile is a rare art form that demonstrates elegance and class, and it’s something you should master.

Why? People do nice things for those they like. It really is that simple. That promotion, travel abroad stipend, or coveted spot on the intramural kickball team may fall in your lap simply because you treated someone with kindness and respect.

That is the essence of  what I’ve taken from my time working with AAUW.

This post was written by National Student Advisory Council member Caroline Archia-Adams.