Thirty-seven community members have become graduates of Leadership Prince William (LPW).
A commencement ceremony for the Class of 2018 took place at George Mason University’s (GMU) Science and Technology campus in Manassas last month.
LPW is a Manassas-based non-profit that seeks to inspire and engage Prince William County leaders who are interested in making a difference.
Lovey Hammel, co-founder and president of Employment Enterprises, Inc. in Manassas, served as the commencement speaker.
She reminded her listeners that their life and career will not turn out as they planned.
“You’re going to prep and do courses like you’re doing right now — which is excellent and I’m proud of every one of you — but you really need to be thinking, ‘I have to be preparing myself for the unexpected,’” Hammel said.
The graduates were also encouraged to consider their opportunities and walk through any “door” that opens.
“There [are] not as many doors [that] are going to open for you as you think there are,” Hammel said. “And when they do open, they’re not open forever. You have to walk through it, or you have to get your foot in it … to keep it open.”
Hammel also advised the class to build their leadership style by working in volunteer positions.
“It’s a great way to work on leadership, because the people you work with in a volunteer position are unpaid, and they don’t have to stay with you for any time frame … They stay, because they like you as the leader. They like you as the committee chair. They want to work with you.”
Read about the Class of 2018 graduates and the “send off.”
