September 2018 - CAMRYN BARKER

CAMRYN BARKER

Bio: Camryn Barker is a freshman at Loyola Marymount University majoring in English and International Relations. Camryn has dedicated herself to the service of others in the fields of education, youth advocacy, and leadership development. While in high school, during conferences and workshops she worked with thousands of middle and high school students to develop them as ethical, purposeful leaders. Her time here at the Reagan Foundation began with her enrollment in the Student Leadership Program, where she made lifelong friends and became a part of the Reagan family. Camryn stayed engaged by becoming a Student Leader Ambassador, a speaker at the Reagan Leadership Summit, an Education intern, a volunteer during the Reagan National Defense Forum, and a member of the Student Advisory Council. She has also represented Reagan Education as a panelist at a national conference.

Outside of her involvement with the Reagan, Camryn served as a Southern Director for California’s nationally recognized student-led, not-for-profit organization, the California Association of Student Leaders (CASL). In that role, she advocated for pediatric patients at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. Above all, Camryn is most proud of how she has infused passion, purpose, and service into all areas of her life. In doing so, she has found a deep sense of personal fulfillment and joy.

INTERVIEW WITH CAMRYN BARKER

What does leadership mean to you?

At its core, leadership is service. I define this service as one’s ability to nurture, empower, and inspire others, thereby aiding individuals in uncovering the greatness that lies within them. In this space, we see the gifts, talents, and passions of all individuals valued and utilized for the greater good, allowing for powerful change to occur.

If you had the opportunity to spread a message to a large group of people, what would it say?

Our world needs more leaders, more healers, more change-makers, and more peacekeepers. Often times, we limit ourselves to believing that only those in positions of power can be these individuals who make an impact. This is our biggest mistake; these individuals are YOU. Think for a moment about what you can give to others freely- love, hope, laughter, motivation, compassion, forgiveness. It’s these little things that make all of the difference. Do your part and share YOUR light with the world.

If you had to teach something to someone, what would you teach and why?

If given this opportunity, I would teach someone how to visualize. I believe that creating a powerful vision is critical to attaining the outcome we want for anything in life. When we visualize, we open ourselves up to the realm of possibility and we begin to clearly define that which we are striving towards.