Christian Tanja, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Knight-Hennessy Scholars, is dedicated to empowering future leaders through storytelling. Jordyn Sanico, an Admission Outreach Coordinator, finds inspiration in uplifting others, shaped by her mother's influence. Together, they discuss their mentorship experiences and overcoming imposter syndrome. They share fascinating life moments, including performing at Carnegie Hall and their passion for making higher education more accessible. Their journey reflects the powerful impact of community on personal growth and leadership.
Christian and Jordyn emphasize the transformative power of mentorship in shaping their leadership and fostering personal growth.
Jordan's vision of abundant service stems from his upbringing and reflects the potential of small acts to create significant community impact.
Both speakers highlight the significance of diversity and connection in building an inclusive Knight-Hennessy community for future leaders.
Deep dives
Empowering First-Generation Experiences
The podcast features discussions on the unique journeys of first-generation college students, exemplified by the experiences of Christian and Jordan. Christian shares how he overcame challenges as a child of immigrant parents and discovered his path through college, transitioning from pre-med to psychology. He highlights the importance of mentorship, as he navigated through significant life changes, including a global recession and moving internationally for work. Jordan, similarly discussing his upbringing in Hawaii, emphasizes the support he received from his single mother and how it instilled in him a strong sense of service and community involvement.
The Power of Service and Joy
Jordan articulates his vision of a world where service is abundant and unconditionally offered, stemming from his childhood experiences volunteering at church. He reflects on how the joy derived from serving others can uplift not just the community, but also the service provider. The dialogue reinforces the notion that acts of service can be both small and impactful, as Jordan seeks to support those who have the potential to drive significant change. This philosophy resonates with his current role, where he actively connects with prospective scholars, emphasizing the importance of service within the Knight-Hennessy community.
Navigating Challenges and Self-Discovery
Both speakers discuss their journeys reflecting on the challenges faced while navigating the complexities of higher education. Christian and Jordan reveal the internal struggles they experienced, particularly the voices of self-doubt that often accompany first-generation students. They emphasize the importance of recognizing these feelings as part of the growth process and leveraging them to empower others. This sharing of personal anecdotes provides insights into how they strive to create an inclusive environment that values diverse experiences and perspectives.
The Role of Mentorship in Leadership Development
The speakers highlight the significance of mentorship in shaping their leadership styles and fostering their personal growth. They reminisce about the teachers and mentors who saw potential in them and guided them to explore opportunities they hadn't considered. Christian notes that mentorship is a multifaceted relationship that includes sharing experiences and providing support across different levels of understanding and growth. This theme of mentorship underscores the values of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, demonstrating how inclusive guidance can empower future leaders.
Creating Community and Connection
Both Jordan and Christian discuss the importance of building connections within the Knight-Hennessy community and beyond, emphasizing that diversity enriches the experience for everyone involved. They explore how their outreach efforts aim to create a welcoming environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds can thrive. The conversation spotlights the collective effort required to foster a sense of belonging and the value of reaching out to potential scholars to share resources. Ultimately, they express their commitment to ensuring that each scholar's unique journey contributes to the overall mission of driving meaningful change in the world.
In this episode, Sydney Hunt ('23 cohort) and Anson Zhou ('24 cohort) speak with Christian Tanja (Senior Assistant Director of Admission) and Jordyn Sanico (Admission Outreach Coordinator). Jordyn and Christian share their guiding values, experiences with mentorship, and interesting aspects of the work that they do at Knight-Hennessy Scholars. They also share their improbable facts--such as performing in the Carnegie Hall on two different occasions and being able to three prong spearfish!
Highlights from the episode:
(04:04) Home and their journeys to Stanford
(13:40) Singing in the Carnegie Hall twice
(15:07) Mentorship and the people who've supported them along their journeys
(19:46) Handling negative inner voices and imposter syndrome
(22:56) Interesting aspects about their work
(27:17) The inspiration behind their Imagine a World statements
(37:12) Improbable facts and rapid fire questions
(44:20) What they wish scholars knew
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
