Engaging with Humility

Kiah Combs is our Graduate Assistant at the McCarthy Center who is achieving a master of Arts degree in Organization and Leadership at USF this semester. Working with coordinating undergraduate participation in Engage San Francisco‘s literacy tutoring program in The Fillmore Western Addition and in Financial Literacy, we loved every single moment of working with her as a member of Team Leo! Read about where these experiences will take her in the future. 

Throughout the course of pursuing my master’s degree at the University of San Francisco, I had the honor of serving as a graduate student assistant for the Leo T. McCarthy Center, supporting two service learning programs for San Francisco’s youth. In this role, I had the honor of working under the mentorship of Program Manager Dresden Frazier-Smith, as well as the insights and guidance of many accomplished staff members within the center. One of the most invaluable experiences from this process was how I learned to understand and engage with the practice of cultural humility in all of its richness.

Upon accepting this role at the beginning of my master’s program in August 2023, I was excited, nervous, and unsure of what to expect. As an educator with years of experience working directly with youth in a variety of settings, I wanted to expand my knowledge and skills in the leadership aspect of the education sector. After being involved in a variety of public programs as a tutor and mentor myself, joining the McCarthy Center to support a tutoring program seemed like a natural next step. Stepping into this role, I was hoping to gain a toolkit of organizational techniques and skills, but what I was not expecting was the invaluable opportunity to understand myself through the work I was doing in the community.

Working in partnership within the community from inside an institution requires you to leave your ego at the door. This is something I learned early on as I adjusted to a “behind the scenes” role of which I was not accustomed to. A surprising aspect of gaining the ability to do this was the process of exploring my own sense of self; what I was proud of, what I wanted to accomplish, what inspired me, and what I was unsure of. In this way, I came to understand that no one is an expert at everything, no matter how many degrees or certifications you might hold. Working with university students, grade school youth, faculty, staff, and community members allowed me immeasurable opportunities to advance the vision of the McCarthy Center’s dedication to the common good by existing in collaboration with the unique insight and offerings that every member brought to the table. Most of all, I learned that it is completely okay to simply not know.

To not know is to be available for new understanding. To be open to a new perspective, sense of being, or relationship with the world. To be humble is to offer yourself as a resource while investing in shared knowledge. As I grew in collaboration with my studies and my work with the McCarthy Center, I learned that good leaders encourage their constituents to flourish into their best selves while furthering a dedication to public service. The lessons learned and opportunities undertaken throughout my time at the center have been invaluable experiences that I will carry with me forever in my future journeys as a researcher, educator, and human.

Want to help make an impact on the world and the next generation, but don’t know where to start? Learn more about the different programs we offer at the McCarthy Center by clicking here!