Elicia Azali0:05
I'm truly honored to receive the Executive Pace Setters Award. My experience at OSU was nothing short of transformational for me both personally and professionally. In fact, this fall, I will celebrate the 20-year anniversary of my freshman year, which means two things: age is creeping up on me, for sure, and I have friendships from OSU that have lasted for more than half of my life. So what we say is true: time and change will surely show how firm thy friendship O-H-I-O.
In preparation for today's recognition I had to go back to when I received the award as an undergraduate student and in my reflection, I remember being recognized at a critical time in my personal journey. It was my senior year, I had just finished an internship at Procter & Gamble in brand management and was blessed to receive a full-time offer as an assistant brand manager. I was getting mentally prepared to transition into true adulthood with a full-time job and leaving behind my midday walks at the Oval. I was admittedly a little nervous and for some reason I allowed doubt to enter my thoughts — thoughts like how will I stack up at P&G next to the Harvard and Wharton MBA grads with five years experience at McKinsey with just my undergraduate degree? Did they choose me to fit a diversity hiring requirement? Did a girl from a working class family deserve this kind of job?
And while I was ruminating on these ideas I recall receiving an email announcing that I had been recognized with the Pace Setters award from Fisher and that this award recognized top students based on their academic performance as well as their leadership skills. At the time it was the extra encouragement I needed to help make the transition in my life at the time. It regrounded me during a time when I allowed self-doubt and the influence of others to get in my way.
Needless to say, today's recognition is quite meaningful to me, as it allowed me to reflect on my personal journey and story of growth. But, more importantly, it really created an opportunity for me to share an important lesson that I have learned over the years and I want to urge you to not let where you've been get in the way of where you're going. There will always be voices offering guidance along the way — people you love, people you call friends, total strangers and sometimes your own — and the only voice that will matter is the one you choose to believe. Thank you again for this recognition and go Bucks!
