[GSA Elections]: Gratitude equals humanity

With this opportunity to speak to the UCLA campus, I would like
to pick up where Friday evening’s Graduate Students
Association debate left off. An audience member asked each
presidential candidate to discuss their humanity. Basically, she
was seeking insights into our character, benevolence, perhaps our
points of compassion. Such a thought-provoking question deserves
more attention, more soul searching than a one-minute response.
Here is my attempt at a better answer.

Part of my humanity is expressing appreciation to people who
touch my life in both subtle and significant ways. Every leader
owes a debt of gratitude to the people who contribute to
one’s personal growth. Leaders must also apply the lessons
they have learned to the benefit of their constituency. People from
all walks of life have enhanced my humanity by teaching me to
address my shortcomings, plan my ideas thoroughly, share my
success, listen to others, confront my fears, and always appreciate
generosity.

My appreciation goes out to University of California Associate
President Linda Williams for giving every UCLA graduate student the
opportunity to address the chancellor selection committee through
the GSA chancellor speak-out video project. I am grateful to
Aimée Dorr, dean of the Graduate School of Education &
Information Studies, for teaching me the importance of strategic
planning; you can’t reach goals that you haven’t set
and you can’t achieve declared goals without a strong plan
and work ethic. My adviser, Anne Gilliland, has significantly
changed my life by helping me confront my academic inadequacies
through lessons about producing rigorous scholarship. Nothing
solicits respect like diligence. I want to thank department of
education Professor Daniel G. Solorzano for always demonstrating
the wisdom of a sage and the strength of a warrior. I owe Jerry
Mann, director of Associated Students UCLA, a
“shout-out” for being extremely patient with my
inquisitive nature. Every leader needs a rich source of
information.

I also want to acknowledge the class and character that John
“Mac” Marston, current GSA internal vice president, has
shown in not participating in the candidate bashing, which his
running mates seem to think is appropriate. The lesson here is GSA
politics can be clean. I must thank my detractors, Jared Fox and
Monica Sanchez Rivas, for reminding me why my parents worked
tirelessly to raise me with a healthy self-image; a leader must be
able to work in hostile environments with difficult people and
still be productive. To Lisa Linehan, GSA director of events,
better known to some as the mayor of GradBar, thanks for being one
of my strongest supporters all year. Without encouragement the
human spirit gets weary. I need to express appreciation to UCLA
graduate students Yang Lu, Nikki Brown and Jamie Keeton for being
friends who are supportive and protective of me ““ solidarity
to you, my sistas. Put simply, I learned a long time ago friendship
is essential to the soul.

Leaders must have a strong ethical foundation. My parents laid
my foundation. First, to William H. Dunbar, Jr., thanks for being
my hero, my role model and my lifelong friend. Dad, you are the
reason why the only name I put on the back of my sports jerseys is
Dunbar. My father taught me situations change but character
shouldn’t. I want to thank my mother, Margery Ethel Lyle, for
giving me her relentless and resilient spirit. Ma, I will always be
grateful to you for teaching me how to live with conviction and how
to die with courage. I love and miss you. The lesson here is there
is no limit to what a child can achieve with strong, honest and
nurturing parents supporting him.

Finally, leaders must have some substance of faith. I am
appreciative to God for the life I have and the parents I was
given. Faith will allow leaders to believe in other people.

These are the lessons in humanity I will bring with me as a GSA
leader.

Dunbar is currently the GSA director of communications and a GSA
presidential candidate.

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