Biography Statement

Skyler Flippen

Professor Portwood: HSMT 3201 Leadership and Ethics

12 March 2019
In my lifetime, at times my values have been tested, but the strong base my values were built on

has helped to keep them intact over the years. I was the firstborn in my family, so that was my

first leadership role. Three years later, my little sister, Bailey, was born, and I loved every second

of it. I felt as if I knew things were going to be changing, and I had to step up to the challenge

and be better for my little sister. My little brother, Brody, was born eight years later, and since I

had grown and matured, I knew that my parents were going to need help with a newborn, so yet

again it was time to step up and show Bailey what it takes to be a big sister. Of course,

throughout the years, we have fought and bickered; that is just what siblings do. However, at the

end of the day, I would do anything and everything for them if they needed me. My parents have

instilled in me that even if you have a fight, you never go to bed angry with the people you love

because you never know if those harsh words could be the last thing you say to them. My family

ate dinner together most nights before I went to college. Now, whenever I go home, they always

make it a priority either to cook one of my favorite meals or to go out to eat with some of our

extended family. I go home about every other weekend to see my family. That is part of the

reason I came to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I am far enough away to get the

college experience, but also close enough that I can go home whenever I want. I feel that because

I am the oldest, and my family is so close knit, family is my number one value. I will put them

before anything else, always, without a doubt.

Growing up, my Grandma Kathy was my rock. I could confide in her and tell her anything. She

always had great advice or stories from her past to help me find my way. We would sit outside at

her house and talk for hours; when I was younger, I noticed that my dad did the same thing with

her. She was one of his best friends. I know he tried to be strong when she passed, but I think he

took it the hardest. I remember thinking that it was not real, and we were going to go to her
house every week, just like we had all those weeks in the past. However, then, it dawned on me

that she was really gone. I looked to my dad for solace, and even though he was just as lost, if

not more than I was, he always knew the right things to say. This is when I realized that my dad

was the biggest influence in my life now that my grandma had passed. Just as I would do

anything and everything for my siblings, my dad does that for us every day. He does whatever he

has to do to provide for the people he loves, and he has instilled this value in me. He works two

jobs, sometimes working from dawn until after the sun has set.

Both of my parents also showed my siblings and myself the importance of helping those in need.

We are by no means rich, but every Christmas, we always find a family who would otherwise

not have a Christmas and buy their children presents and make sure they have a nice meal to eat.

Helping others is very important to me. My parents would give someone the shirt off their backs

if they needed it, and I admire this about them so much. They both say that if you are able to help

another person, do it, because you cannot lose anything when you are helping someone in need.

My dad has always coached my siblings and I in basketball, and now baseball for my brother.

His coaching instilled a drive to work and a will never to give up in me. Quitting was never an

option. If we started something, we were to finish it; for example, I tried playing softball in

middle school, but our team was not good, and I really did not enjoy it. My dad told me that I did

not have to play the following season, but I was to finish the current one. He said you cannot just

quit on your teammates like that and leave them hanging out to dry. This is where my

accountability trait came from. My dad coached me from second grade until my junior year of

high school in travel basketball (AAU). My dad was hard on me when he coached me. He used

me as an example to motivate the other girls. My mom said she did not know how I managed to

keep my love for the game with my dad yelling at me all the time. It was simple for me; I knew
he wasn't yelling at me because he was disappointed or mad, he was yelling at me because he

believed in me. He knew my potential and that I could push myself to be and to do better. During

those years, basketball was my whole life, because I wanted to play in college and save my

parents some money; they had sacrificed and done so much so I could travel around and play the

sport I loved so much. My junior year, my plan was altered a little bit. I tore my ACL and had to

give up basketball and go to therapy for nine months. I worked my butt off for those nine months

so I could come back and play my senior year. Over those nine months I realized that I could still

be a leader for my teammates even though I would not step foot on the court. I could support and

offer insight from the bench, almost as if I was our new assistant coach. This is another value I

hold close to my heart, being a supportive friend/teammate. I finally got to come back after those

grueling nine months. I finally got my groove back, and the team was doing great, winning all of

our games. That is when my life changed again. We were playing in a Christmas tournament and

beating the team we were playing 90-20. Out of nowhere, I rolled my ankle, but my knee took

the blow. I snapped my knee and went down. I walked it off and thought I was fine. My dad

knew better and made me an appointment the following day. My MRI results came back with the

worst possible news a senior athlete could get. I had completely blown out my knee, leaving only

a couple ligaments intact. A million thoughts ran through my mind; how could this happen

again? Why was this happening to me after I worked so hard? What was I going to do? My dad

was my rock during this time, when I lost myself and did not know what to do. If it was not for

my dad, those injuries would have broken me. I realized that I was placed on this Earth to do

things other than just play basketball. I took all the skills and values I had learned from

basketball and began to realize how they were all around me in my life every day. I could still be

there for the ones I loved. I supported my friends and family is their endeavors. I respected
people and received respect in return. I was accountable for my actions. I tried to be the best

person I could possibly be. My parents, siblings, friends and the sport of basketball have molded

me into the young woman I am today.

Being a good listener is another good leadership quality I believe I encompass. My dad taught

me always to listen before reacting to something, always to hear someone out and to treat others

fairly. I learned these things at a young age. I believe my dad was a fair coach. If you did not

agree with something, he said he encouraged you to ask questions, and he would hear you out.

He knew he was not perfect and did his best to teach all his players this as well. You can always

learn something from someone else. You must show respect where respect is due. He would

always say that you had his respect until the day you proved to him that you did not deserve it,

and that is how I believe as well.

I value friendship very highly. I have kept a few close friends growing up that know me better

than I know myself. I would trust them with my life. They have always been there for me, and I

have done the same for them. One of my very close friends passed away from a drug overdose

last year, and it really made me think. Everything seemed fine in his life. We had hung out

several times before his overdose, and he seemed like he had everything under control. He did

not. This instance made me realize that you really have no clue what another person is going

through, no matter how close you are to him or her. The only thing you can do is to open your

heart and to hope they will open theirs back to you and place their trust in you. I try to stay as

open minded as I can in any situation, even though sometimes it is hard. I try to listen and relate

or empathize with my friends and family.

My values have shaped me into the person I am today. I will always try to better myself, no

matter what. Overall, I will always put my family and friends above anything and everything.
After all, love is what makes the world go round. I will always do my best to listen and to

empathize with others, while also showing respect where respect is due. I will hold myself

accountable for my actions and stand up for those who do not have a voice or those who have

been forgotten. My values make me, and I cannot wait to see where these traits take me in my

life.