It's Just Who I Am...

In a few weeks I am taking some students to a leadership retreat that I am planning. I've got permission for our students to do the StrengthsQuest Strengths finder test to see how they think, operate and how they live their lives in the most natural processes possible. I've taken this test three times over the course of my working at this university. And over the three different times I've taken it, only one theme has always remained consistent. My Developer theme...

It states, "Instinctively, you hope individuals choose to spend a lot of time with you, and that they recognize your willingness to put aside whatever you are doing just to help them. Your unselfishness often wins favor and friendship. Because of your strengths, you are keenly aware of the emotions individuals experience when they participate in various activities or contests. You likely determine ahead of time who can have fun whether they win or lose. You predict who will be greatly disappointed by defeat or overjoyed by victory. Driven by your talents, you enjoy counseling friends when they turn to you for help, suggestions, opinions, or fresh perspectives. Usually you make discoveries and gain new insights each time you freely share your ideas, experiences, or feelings with your companions. Chances are good that you are devoted to helping others. You keep serving, even to the point of your own detriment. You toil tirelessly for the benefit of people. You expect nothing in return. Exhausted as you are, you usually derive satisfaction from working on worthy causes with your friends. By nature, you experience pure delight when others welcome you into their group and encourage you to join in their activities. Financial security means little when you have no one with whom to share it. Being accepted for who you are and as you are is one of life’s true treasures, in your opinion. Because it is priceless, you know it is very precious. "

Then it hit me... I know WHY I am like I am. This uncontrollable desire to help those in need is literally written in my DNA. It also makes sense why this theme would creep up my top five... When I first took this test, it was my fifth strength. Now, its' my number one strength. My friend said that is called "specialization" in the business world. I am specialized at being tired...great...