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• Our Mission: This podcast aims to share leadership stories from our VMI Corps of Cadets and high-profile leaders who visit the Center for Leadership and Ethics (CLE) and VMI.
  
• Your Hosts: Derek Pinkham, Conference Project Manager and Emily Coleman, Assistant Conference Planner
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This is a mobile edition of the VMI Leader Journey podcast recorded live in the Green Room of Marshall Hall.

Our podcast hosts Emily Coleman and Derek Pinkham, staff members at the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics, sat down with Cadets Brittany Szczepanic '20 and Will Neikirk '20 this past November just after our Annual VMI Leadership and Ethics Conference to discuss their leadership journeys. After brief introductions, Will and Brittany talked about their involvement in the Center for Leadership and Ethics programs and the importance of getting involved in leadership opportunities at VMI. Both commissioning into the U.S. Air Force as pilots. Szczepanike is involved in many activities including track and Neikirk is the cadet-in-charge for the Cadet Superintendent's Advisory Board, among other leadership roles as well. Both have a long history of involvement with a variety of programs offered through the Center for Leadership and Ethics.

Our Center's mission is to enhance the VMI citizen-soldier journey with programming that educates, engages and inspires critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and leader development. For more information about our Center and its programming, please visit . 

In this episode, we touch on the following leadership competencies of the VMI Leader Journey: self-development, personal contributions, positive attitude, motivation, and initiative.

Transcript for "Leverage Your Opportunities" with Cadets Brittany Szczepanik and Will Neikirk '20

BRITTANY SZCZEPANIK: I would definitely just say take advantage of all the opportunities if you're willing to put in the time and the effort the things that you get back from all those extra experiences are absolutely worth it  

[Music builds]

PINKHAM: welcome to the VMI center for leadership and ethics leadership journey podcast 

COLEMAN: this podcast aims to share leadership stories from our VMI Corps of Cadets and high-profile leaders who visit the Center for leadership and ethics in VMI post. We're on this journey with you.

PINKHAM: hello I'm Derek Pinkham   

COLEMAN: and hey I'm Emily Coleman. We're your hosts of the podcast cadets Brittany Szczepanik and Will Niekerk VMI class of 2020 they’re two of the center for leadership and ethics’ most active participants in this podcast we’ll talk to them about the leadership opportunities at the center, how they came to VMI, what they plan to do when they graduate, and advice on taking leadership opportunities around VMI post    

PINKHAM: and without further delay we give you Szczepanik and Neikirk 

[Music fades]  

COLEMAN:  well thank you guys for coming we're so excited to have you here um Brittany I'm gonna ask you to first start us off and tell us a little bit about yourself how you got to VMI   

PINKHAM: mmmhmm

BRITTANY SZCZEPANIK: all right so I'm from Johnstown, Pennsylvania and I'm a civil engineering major commissioning Air Force I have a pilot slot but I think the biggest thing that got me to VMI was initially I wanted to go to the academies and I actually wanted to go to West Point I started the application process and I just couldn't click next any further one day I called and they ended up telling me that I had too many credits because I graduated with my associates before I graduated from high school

COLEMAN: Really? How did you do that?

SZCZEPANIK: so I was dual-enrolled and it was right across the street from my high school so it was a really cool opportunity   

COLEMAN: yeah, pretty good

PINKHAM: super high achiever here!

SZCZEPANIK: after that I couldn't apply for army just straight ROTC scholarship either so then I kind of got pointed toward the Air Force Academy and I was dead set on that I was like this is what I want to do. My dad works right outside of DC and everyone said you should really go look at VMI. I did not want to come. So, we were driving through on a vacation and my parents were like I'll just get out and talk to a couple people and I was like ok and then I got out I absolutely loved it here like the people are so real it was just a different feel from the academies the first person I talked to is like this is the hardest place you could be at and I was oh, like, alright perfect sign me up. So, from there I applied for the Air Force ROTC scholarship and I got it and then decided I was coming here    

PINKHAM: How about you, Will?   

WILL NEIKIRK ’20: so, I'm Will Niekerk I'm from Gloucester, Virginia it's about three and a half hours east let's see what brought me to VMI so I I kind of jumped into the college game a little later than I should have always I was fortunate you know enough to know that it was always an option for me and the little boy inside of me wanted to go into the military you know my I have a good family history with it like I said late in the game I finally decided one day you know after seeing a few VMI things in the mail I was like you know I mean I want to go check it out I signed up for an open house came I remember it was on Halloween and it my senior year of high school came Halloween and I fell in love with VMI and so I got home I think it had 10 days before the early decision application was due and I did it that you know I did it that night you know revised it the next day and sent it in and decided it's a funny story we decided that VMI was a little bit of a reach for me but I didn't want to apply anywhere else so I did the whole early decision thing and then I was coming up here to do an interview after I'd actually submitted my application and walk into the admissions office sit down to do the interview a gentleman comes out and goes we don't think we need to do the interview you know what do you mean and he handed me my my acceptance packet right there and then it was like a week after I submitted it so that was that was really cool it was three and a half hours for something that could have come in the mail it was worth it for sure it was a cool way you know it was cool being able to walk out of the admissions office and see barracks having just found out that I was admitted

PINKHAM: nice so so what's your what's your major here 

NEIKIRK: I'm a history major so that's what I came in as and that's that's what I've stuck with I'm Air Force ROTC that's not a combination you'll hear often you know the Air Force you think technology innovation all these things but that's what I wanted to do and fortunately you know I was able to I was able to make both work so   

PINKHAM: great 

COLEMAN: so you guys are involved in a lot of our CLE programs but why don't you go ahead Brittany tell us a little bit about what you're involved in here and what are your roles and then how did you get involved   

SZCZEPANIK: mostly I'm involved with the CSAB the cadet superintendent's Advisory Board and for me I'm just a member but I've been on for a couple years now I think I just applied literally super late like the last set of emails and so I applied and interviewed and it's been an awesome fit ever since it's definitely really nice  to get to work in small groups you know you are getting to sit in with General Peay and Colonel Wanovich and people who really look at things from a strategic perspective and that's not necessarily something you get from any other organization most definitely I've enjoyed my time with that getting to travel to leadership conferences with the CLE and 

COLEMAN: Yeah, didn’t you two go together somewhere?

SZCZEPANIKE: Yeah, Naval Academy last year

PINKHAM: Good reunion, whoo

SZCZEPANIK: and of course, when we have our own leadership conferences just being a facilitator for that has also been an awesome experience   

NEIKIRK: my involvement with the CLE really started my third class year before we really got involved with CSAB the the application process was a little bit different you're recommended you're actually recommended by your company first sergeant who was one of your cadre members as a rat and I got recommended for and interviewed and was fortunate enough to be accepted for the oncoming year so I went to the final meeting that year which was like sort of the thank you and award ceremony and they got involved third-class year that I got to work with some upperclassmen that was a good way to get to know some upperclassmen second class year I got to take on the role as a secretary so that's the that's the one officer role for a second classmen and this year on the cadet the CIC the cadet in charge right right and then you know I've also I also went on that leadership conference trip to Navy in Annapolis that was a great experience it was a fun getaway from VMI certainly but you know definitely left feeling inspired and met some some really cool people along the way much like Brittany I benefited from being able to be a facilitator here at VMI’s Leadership Conference 

PINKHAM: yeah yeah which was great    

COLEMAN: yeah so what do you do as like the cadet in charge

NEIKIRK: this year and last year we've kind of split the group into two teams giving those teams an overall mission and then kind of taking my hands off letting them take charge but steering them in the right direction and then halfway through the semester which we're preparing for now I get to brief the superintendent with the assistant cadet in charge which is exciting it's gonna be good experience for sure and then we're gonna take his advice and then go forward with that and then we'll brief them again right before you know graduation week   

PINKHAM: so you're given a problem to work on and you come up with solutions to that problem   

NEIKIRK: absolutely yes sir and so this year was actually the first year where the superintendent you know he'd seen success in the past so he kind of let us decide what what we wanted to work on    

PINKHAM: right   

COLEMAN: what leadership skills have you guys learned by being involved in the CLE programs like maybe you wouldn't necessarily learn or have a chance to develop in the greater VMI community

NEIKIRK: for me it's just been exposure to individuals outside of the VMI community we have a lot of great military leaders and scholars in the VMI community however getting to listen to innovators, professional athletes, futurists, all things that I wouldn't have been exposed to without coming to the CLE has been beneficial to me just really opening my eyes to the outside world it's sort of easy to get tunnel vision at VMI and get very involved right 

PINKHAM: yeah right well you know you're spending so much time here    

NEIKIRK: right but that's the best part about the CLE is it's people from the outside coming in   

SZCZEPANIK: I would definitely agree with that and like just just that outside perspective and kind of changing how you look at things and you really do take it back into barracks with you too it's it helps you understand what the things that make us angry as cadets sometimes they were told to do when you sit in a room with them and get an explanation for maybe why they're doing something that way definitely helps you understand and I think will definitely help us down the road too especially as officers because kind of the mindset you have to go in looking at everything from

PINKHAM: and going to Navy what did you do you remember what did you take away from from that experience   

NEIKIRK: I know everyone in my class so that's something that they definitely they definitely don't get that environment’s better for some people but the smaller smaller community

SZCZEPANIK: definitely the strictness of the system here it's been everywhere all the academies that I've gotten to visit every single time I'm just really glad and thankful that I came here and it's definitely that close-knit, the people, and really the experiences you get

NEIKIRK: also being at an academy I found they all have their contracts already chances are they're going to get to do what they want to do because the academies quite often gets first choice and and so that since the competitiveness really isn't there where at VMI unless you're awarded a scholarship right out of high school you have to fight for that contract and then you have to fight to make yourself the most competitive on paper so academically, physically, and then whenever you go to your respective camp Officer Candidate School things like that    

COLEMAN: so you're in new appreciation for VMI’s strictness and how they do things compared to other   

PINKHAM: absolutely  so yeah maybe suddenly you feel that are prepared    

NEIKIRK: right I think I think I'll definitely feel a lot more prepared you know going into the the real military as we say around here

COLEMAN: so do you guys have any advice that you would give cadets now or future cadets in terms of their leadership involvement or I mean really anything   

SZCZEPANIK: I would definitely just say take advantage of all the opportunities I know third-class year I definitely was not as involved until the year really got rolling because you kind of have to find your way but our project one of our projects for CSAB last year was making the Leadership Inventory [Leadership Opportunities Inventory booklet]
and that is definitely really helpful to see and you don't think about it there's so many ways to get involved on post you can Academically, athletically, there's club sports or NCAA, ROTC, obviously over here in the CLE, but there are so many little things too from connect jobs and just getting involved and kind of you know not being afraid to just stick your hand up and take the first chance or be a volunteer for something you know I think a lot of people are afraid of doing a little bit of extra work but if you're willing to put in the time and the effort the things that you get back from all those extra experiences are absolutely worth it so definitely take advantage of all the opportunities  you have and reach out for them because they're not just going to get dropped in your lap   

NEIKIRK: with Brittany I’d agree with you want to get involved but at the same time you got to make sure the reason most cadets leave is because they  can't keep up academically so get as involved as you can while still remaining on top of that you know as as soon as I came back from fourth class here coming into third-class here I was gonna be involved in CSAB and then I was cadre as well and I've been able to do that throughout all my years here at VMI other than fourth class right rat year and so sometimes that means I I can't get started on homework until about eight o'clock at night sometimes later but to me that's been there's something to be said for real-life experience getting getting involved than just what you can learn in the classroom   

Coleman: what other leadership roles have you guys been involved in in just the VMI community or what else are you involved in at VMI besides stuff at the CLE

PINKHAM: you know you're the track team   

SZCZEPANIK: I am so captain for cross-country and track I'm also the cadet in charge of the equestrian team group commander for Air Force I am now an s2 lieutenant academics I definitely am really involved I still connect with my host family a lot so I'm pretty involved in the church in town or Bible studies First-class Bible study and stuff like 

COLEMAN: You do do a lot   

NEIKIRK: Makes me sound like I do nothing

SZCZEPANIK: most nights I don’t start my homework til like 10:30 oh thank you because you're just going to meetings but like it's definitely worth it for sure and it's a blast I would be bored if I was not busy   

NEIKIRK: um so I mentioned a couple already I've been cadre as starting third-class year and I've been able to do it again this year which has been a lot of fun very rewarding getting to see the rats being molded into cadets I've been much like much like Brittany I'm currently  a group commander and Air Force ROTC that puts me in charge my job is kind of in charge of the entire third class that's within Air Force ROTC and then CSAB there's a has it really been my my key extracurriculars here at VMI   

COLEMAN: what does leadership mean to you   

SZCZEPANIK: I think for me personally, just being willing to take a step back and really help people and I think all of us here want to serve in some capacity that's generally why you would want to come to a school like this and I think you know being willing to put others before yourself is really one of the biggest things from leadership and hopefully that carries through to my career

NEIKIRK: to me I'm gonna I'll take a different perspective answering this and that like what the ideal leader is to me and I'm digging things out that I've learned here in my leadership class, authentic leadership, so leading not because you're in over you know you have command over someone not leading by position but having people follow you because they want to so that means leading from the front you hear that all the time but you know that means being out there with their guys being out there you know for example if if you want the rats to be at formation ten minutes early you better be out there 15 minutes early if the rats gonna be PT'ing [physical training] you better be in the front if you're running you better be doing more push-ups more sit-ups things like that you can't get on people for not being on their academics if you're not on top of yours the ideal leader their followers follow them because they want to and they want to be like them and so I I try to be that person I I look up to other cadets at VMI just as much as I look up to some of the VMI staff because they really seem to master that ability I  want to be like my brother rats and so in return I hope that they want to be like me   

SZCZEPANIK: I think one of the biggest things to is especially in the beginning when you're an underclassman is not being afraid to be a leader even from the back that's definitely you don't need the position here to really make a difference in this school   

PINKHAM: right thanks guys

PINKHAM: [music playing in the background] The Center for Leadership and Ethics would like to thank the following: Cadet Caleb Minus '20 for the intro and backing music. Find more of his musical stylings on his Instagram page @mynus_official. M-Y-N-U-S official. Colonel David Gray, US Army (Ret.), director of the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics, and of course, as always, our podcast guests. Find this podcast and other Center for Leadership and Ethics programming information on the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics' website or try our YouTube Channel. Follow the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics on Facebook, Twitter,  LinkedIn, and  Instagram accounts. See you next episode of 'The Journey.' Thanks for tuning in! [music fades]