.png)
The Path To Leadership
We podcast about strong leaders, loyal employees, avoiding burnout, and raising profits building strong cultures. Everyone is a leader, but the path isn't always easy. Developing critical skills to build stronger, more successful and profitable organizations.
The Path To Leadership
Blake Vargas on Balancing Passion and Community Service
Blake Vargas shares his journey from a business path to becoming a superintendent driven by passion for education and community service. His experiences reveal the importance of mentorship, bridging resource gaps in rural education, and fostering meaningful connections for student success.
• Blake’s journey from business to education
• Leadership Kansas experience fostering community connections
• Importance of community support in education
• Addressing resource gaps in rural settings
• The role of mentorship in personal and professional growth
• Embracing failure as a learning opportunity
• Vision for a future enriched by educational opportunities in small towns
Follow Catalyst Development on LinkedIn @catalystdevelopment and @drkatieervin
www.cdleaders.com
Learn more about Supervisor 101 at www.cdleaders.com/supervisor101
Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/
today. It is another one of my Leadership Kansas classmates that I've been so fortunate to get to know this year, so let me introduce you. Hey Blake, how are you?
Blake Vargas:I'm doing well. Thanks for the opportunity to be here today.
Dr. Katie Ervin:Well, I have talked on the podcast about how much I have loved Leadership Kansas and we're going to talk about it and the unique people we get to meet. But I do have to say, like you are one of the people that I immediately came to because you have these gorgeous tattoos down your arms and, for people who don't know me, I just got my tattoo down my arm. I'm like tell me about that. What's happening here?
Blake Vargas:Yeah, I think in my role as a superintendent that's commonly referred to, people say, hey, do you know Blake Vargas? And they're like I don't think so. They're like, well, he's the superintendent with all the tattoos. Like, oh yeah, I've met that guy, he's really nice, and so it's probably uncommon in my field a little bit growing, and then most of the time, like I am today, I'm in a long sleeve shirt. So it may not be as common, but when I get the opportunity or I'm in a polo, then, yes, those are often visible.
Dr. Katie Ervin:I love it. And so, before I kind of take you down that road, can you introduce yourself to everyone, who you are, what you do, all that good stuff.
Blake Vargas:Sure, I'm Blake Vargas. I'm the proud superintendent in Caney, kansas, which is far southeast Kansas. We're a border town on Highway 75. So I always tell everyone if you know where Tulsa is, just head straight north and you're going to run into us. We're a little small two-way school, about 800 students, and again, have been here for almost 10 years now.
Dr. Katie Ervin:That's amazing and I have loved learning where all these small towns are across Kansas and you know Caney is one of those. We're going to kind of talk about the, the ruralness of your community and the amazing work you're doing, but can you tell us a little bit about how you got there? What's your journey been to to get to where you are today?
Blake Vargas:Well, I have to start with, probably from my grandmother, who was taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Kansas, and so my mother was also a teacher. And so I think that background, just coming from that strength and that leadership with my mom and my grandma and my family, I didn't start out and really did not know that I wanted to be a teacher. But after my first couple of years at the University of Oklahoma I realized that my heart was pulling me in a certain direction and made the career change there to follow and pursue that and to enter in as a teacher and a coach. And so I started a little bit in Oklahoma. I was one of those that needed that extra semester to graduate which can happen sometimes and most of that was just from making that change midstream in my undergrad and so I had a few credits to finish up and so I kind of started my first gig at the turn of the year, about midway through a year in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
Blake Vargas:I was a substitute before that and really enjoyed that in the special education department and really thought about, hey, do I go back and get a master's? But I had an opportunity to step into the classroom and was a teacher there in Sand Springs and then made my way up to El Dorado and was also a teacher and a coach there as the new young guy, as it often goes, you know. They said, what do you know about basketball? And I said nothing. They said, well, congratulations, you're the coach. And so I got a chance to work with that football among other things.
Blake Vargas:But really my passion was in the classroom as a social studies educator and, as often can happen, you make your way back. I feel like my journey is a little, you know, circular almost across the state and made it back to Coffeyville and Phil Kinley High School and was able to be an administrator and principal there for a few years. My grandmother was actually a graduate from there on my dad's side, so I had some family in that area and kind of started my almost 10 years here in Caney, which has been a wonderful to be a part of this community and to be a leader here for an outstanding district and outstanding town.
Dr. Katie Ervin:I love hearing people's journey, especially in education. I have such a heart for that work and it's not for the faint of heart, especially nowadays. It's not for the faint of heart but it's so wildly important. And getting to know you through Leadership Kansas I mean you care so much about the kids and the community. Can you talk a little bit about kind of your Leadership Kansas experience, what you've gotten out of the time? I cannot believe we're about to graduate here. It's been so long and so short all in the same breath. It has. I cannot believe we're about to graduate here. It's been so long and so short all in the same breath.
Blake Vargas:It has.
Blake Vargas:I said that to someone.
Blake Vargas:I don't know how an experience can feel, that again, very long, but also extremely short at the same time, but it has been, and I think for me, when I committed to this, when I was honored to be recommended and to put in an application for it from a mentor, and that I'm sure the piece we'll talk about later on is like the importance of having great mentors and people who push you with your leadership skills, and so I was very blessed to have that recommendation to go through that, but I told myself that anytime I'm out of the building right is difficult to be away from the kids and to be away from staff, which is where I wanna be, and so I challenged okay, as I endeavor in this, my goal is truly to bring back things that I know are going to benefit my kids and the community, and that's what I've been able to do.
Blake Vargas:It was immediate, right, so immediately, with the relationships that we built with 40 other members across the state, with being able to see those opportunities, and naturally, what opened my eyes is just the amount of opportunities that we have for kids in this state are amazing, and Kansas is doing a great job of that, and it's because of leaders like in our class that I'm humbled to be alongside, and so for me, that journey has been absolutely amazing, and I really am saddened to see, as we get closer to I think we have Pittsburgh left and then Topeka and then, as you said, we're set to graduate, so it'll be a great time.
Dr. Katie Ervin:Yeah, it is crazy. And in the cohort setting I mean, it does feel like from the first day it's kind of like all right, we're all in this together and then we get to know each other. But what I find is so neat in all of the cities and experiences we have is we're all kind of looking out for each other and like oh, did you hear that? And you know, when I hear stuff about education and higher ed and technical schools, I'm always like, oh, blake, where are you? What's going on? And it's just so neat that I feel like we all do that for each other, like, oh, this is something you're passionate about. How can we support you and help you? And that's really neat to know we have that across Kansas.
Blake Vargas:It is, and I think that you said the one thing I believe really drives all of us and really successful individuals, which is passion, and so I feel fortunate that we're in a class of people who are passionate about what they do, whether it's working in the energy sector, whether it's health, education, across leadership I mean that wide variety of individuals that we have represented. The key thing that I think about with this class is the passion is evident, and not only that, but it's the love for people and in their organizations and you see that across the way, and so that's something that I think is refreshing as we go through that sometimes that gets lost oftentimes, but within this group and within this class, it's inspiring to listen when people talk about their businesses and the things that they're trying to achieve, that are ultimately trying to better Kansas, which is great. It's amazing to be a part of this organization.
Dr. Katie Ervin:Yeah, it really is, and I cannot say enough greatness about this. I tell everybody you've got to check this out, you've got to do it. And I think just what you were talking about is what I felt for you and your passion for Caney and your community and even the bigger kind of region down where you are. You're not just serving students, but you're really serving the community and taking care of everyone and doing what you can. So why is that so important to you?
Blake Vargas:I go back to probably my upbringing, that I had an amazing opportunity to learn from leaders in my life that were family mainly, initially Right, and so, whether that be my grandparents, even aunts and uncles and cousins so to see them really be in servant leadership roles. You know, my grandmother was a long time individual who assisted our priest in the church and so I watched her, you know, wash the linens and prepare things for mass. That was what she wanted to do, to help, or cooking, and I pick up as much as I can of that talent from my grandmother and my mom that again, they made sure that people were taken care of, that they were serving healthy meals and sitting around the dinner table and all of that. I saw them taking care of others and it became evident and then, being the oldest of seven, like kind of default in that role early right when you've got siblings, you learn how to do that begrudgingly at first, right, when you're young, no one really loves to go do that and take care, but you learn later on that as you do those things without for reward, without looking for glamor, without just because it's in your heart, then it's so rewarding.
Blake Vargas:And that goes back to the work that I'm doing. So when I have an opportunity to be in the community and to work alongside outstanding people who are passionate and have a love for developing children to becoming young adults and being successful later on in life and helping community workers improve themselves as well and just growing a community, it's inspiring, right? I'm just trying to keep up with everyone else and I think that that's kind of my strategy. Is you hire great people who are passionate and love the work that they do, and then I view myself as someone who just removes barriers. So if someone were to come to me and say, hey, this is preventing me from being successful with either kids or in my role, then I feel like that's my job. I'm an old construction guy. That's what my grandfather and my dad's side did with concrete, and so we can move it, we can find a way to get that out of here, and that's what my job is is to remove that barrier so we can be as successful as possible.
Dr. Katie Ervin:Yeah Well, and I think that's a powerful leadership statement is you know, you don't have to be everything all the time to everyone. You're available and you're there and you're serving, and how can I help when needed?
Blake Vargas:you've done in leadership that shows you know you're willing to help, or something. I just say, well, my first day as a superintendent, I go back to this with kids, and so you know I'm all excited, I'm dressed up and ready to go. You know, I've got a suit. It's a hundred and some degrees in August, which is crazy. I don't do that anymore On the first day. It's too hot to wear that.
Blake Vargas:But we hit a deer on a route, on a rural route there on our bus, and we were in a position where we really didn't have a backup and so this bus had to go back out and it dented the bumper and piece of the fender. And I remember going down with the bus barn and taking off my suit and jacket, I'm like, hey, let's pound this out and get up, you know, do what we need to do to get this bus back, and then moving from there and then going and helping the cafeteria or helping you know, and so I think that willingness and that goes back to the lesson that my grandfather taught me, um, working concrete, and um, he used to do something where, yeah, I remember getting done with the day or thought I was done, and there was a pile of dirt kind of around. And he said, mijo, so, son, you know, um, go, go, move that pile of dirt over there. And so I was like okay, and I went and moved it and I'm working and done, propped up and stood there for a second and he said we'll move it back. And I was like what? So I moved it back and what he was teaching me is like there's something probably to be done, don't stand around.
Blake Vargas:And so I learned early on, like it doesn't matter what it is that needs to be done, it can be something minor, it can be larger, but just go do it, stay busy. And so I remember telling that story at his funeral and having several young men or older men laugh because they said he did the same thing to me, but he was teaching that lesson that if there was something to be done, if you needed to do that. And so I think about those wise lessons that our parents taught us. That really helped us out. Parents taught us, that really helped us out. But the moral of that is just, you know, when you see something that needs to be done, go ahead and do it and find something you know. Don't just stand around and watch.
Dr. Katie Ervin:Yeah, oh, I love that and I love the lessons that you know we learn from generations. You know that came before us and I'm on this mission to like let everyone know that the younger generations are really phenomenal and a gift and they are doing such great things and going to do great things. They're just so different than how we grew up. It's not good or bad, it's just so different. So, with these unique times and everything changing and technology and globalization and I mean, just frankly, keeping up with the latest PlayStations how do you keep up and help the current generations grow and experience all the opportunities in front of them?
Blake Vargas:I think, as hard as it is, you have to be immersed in their technology. I felt like that was my role as a teacher, that I was the one who took the opportunity to find a way to connect with them. That, you know, was way back in the day, you know, 15, 20 years ago, when garage band was coming about or rock band on, like you know, one of the playstation or xbox or something, and the kids were in love with it at the time and I was like you know what, I'm gonna figure out how to do this and surprise him. And so we, you know, had done that one day after school and a couple groups had kind of stayed around I think think it was a field trip or something and so I was like let's plug this in and try this out. And so I play it like you know how to do that, and so being relevant, right, staying up to date I'm not saying that you have to do everything, but being staying in touch with that is so important, because it's so different than with an individual that you have a different opinion on is that I have to be able to understand their viewpoint. And so if I'm unwilling to do that, if I'm unwilling to even put myself in their shoes and to think about what is it like for a generational kid coming up right now? What is it like? And you know, the access they have to information is unbelievable, but the access to information that's incorrect is unbelievable too. Right. And so, having those speed bumps and opportunities and things that are there, it starts with acknowledging what can I do, and so I think that's a piece of it.
Blake Vargas:But at a conversation this morning actually that was, someone was saying oh, you know, the kids don't even know how to count change. I said they've never had to count change. They grew up in a society where they've never had money. I said that's probably my last generation where we actually used it. You know, now, do I agree that they need to know how to count and understand the concepts of that? Sure, I'm not gonna. Yes, I absolutely do. I'm not gonna debate that.
Blake Vargas:But understand that for a kid who's never used that, I said no different than than a rotary style phone or something. I said if they've only had a cellular device, that's all they've ever known, and is that their fault? I mean, are we gonna go back? Or same way with the? Yes, I know how to ride a horse, but I was taught that skill. I didn't do it out of necessity, right? I had a car, I had access to a vehicle. I had to teach myself that skill. So I think that's the side of it that's always intriguing to me is that at the end of the everyday, you have an opportunity and it starts with what can I do to close that gap? And then you can address you know, how do we, how do we bring along the next generation to understand what we've gone through, so they have a better understanding as well?
Dr. Katie Ervin:Yeah, well, and I think it's so important. It's funny because I've been doing so much research on Gen Z because it's such a hot topic in you know the workforce today and I tease that like I'm reading the books and reading the research but also living it in my house with a 20 and 22 year old. And you know, as I'm talking to employers, they're like how do we fix them? Well, you know what the generations before you wanted to fix you too, but they didn't do that. So, like, adapt and support and care for them.
Blake Vargas:Yeah, and I think that's ultimately what our role is is that it starts with you know, letting that and that's the old adage right, that you know kids don't care how much you know until they know how much you care and it starts with that.
Blake Vargas:You have to make sure that they know that you care for them and that you're there for them, and then you can remove those barriers and move on. And, by and large part, that's what we try to do every day. You know when they're getting on the bus at the beginning of the day. I remind our drivers that you have such an important impact on the first person through. You're going to see from the school, and so we're making sure to greet them and see how they're doing. And if you notice something's off with little Johnny or Susie, let us know so we can begin to dive into that. And so I think that that's just the piece of it is that, ultimately, you have to start there, and the world will be a much better place if we started with hey, I care about you as an individual. I might have to have a tough conversation with you, but it comes from a place of caring, and so I think that's the piece that, hopefully, I think we're all trying to improve on and get better at.
Dr. Katie Ervin:Yeah, I think you're so right and you know, fortunate in K-12 is you get to see these kids and you get to see their lives and you get to and in a small town, you get to know their families and the community and everyone takes care of each other. But I know we've talked about in our Leadership Kansas class. You know the disparity of resources and needs in our different communities, especially in rural communities. You know what are some of the things that would be beneficial for your students, what are some of the things that they need.
Blake Vargas:I think it's just awareness, and that's what we try to do is bridge that gap between experiences and exposure that they may not have in a small town, and I also think that goes to the other side, that in large urban settings, for those, uh, I don't think that we do enough job of exposing our urban students to rural settings and letting them have an understanding of what, um, what a day might be like for a rural kid, because many of my students are up before the sun's up. They're doing chores that are a necessary part for their farm or for their you know livelihood of their family, um, and and then they may come in to do, or for their you know livelihood of their family, and then they may come in to do a full-time, you know school setting, go to practice, and then there are more stuff that they have to do when they get home that again are a necessity to keep. You know the crops going, or cattle or whatever that may be, and so it's an awareness piece, much like a rural student may not understand what it's like to go through that urban setting or what those dynamics that go along with that and opportunities. So that's where we try to bridge that gap. We'll take students to Wichita and other areas where they're able to be exposed, they're able to see other opportunities and things that are out there, and ultimately I think that that's a piece that I hope to grow. I hope to be able to bridge that.
Blake Vargas:I think, once you understand that right I kind of talked about that in the beginning a little bit about putting yourself in someone's shoes is that when you start to have a better understanding of what that person is coming from, where they're coming from, then we can start to grow and start to develop those commonalities and move towards a common goal. So I think it starts with that. And then I go back to you know there are things that exist that maybe one day we'll get changed in law, that you know we have some weird anomalies right now where certain school districts are receive, you know, state aid on like a bond, and we're one of them that doesn't that, just because of a timing issue, and so to me that's an equity thing, that thing that, hey, you're doing this for other school districts, you're providing state aid on these bonds for these smaller communities. We need that same support, but we don't get it, and that's just a loophole that I feel like from an equity standpoint. Maybe one day it'll be addressed.
Dr. Katie Ervin:Yeah, well, and as a city girl I mean leadership, kansas has been so cool because you know, being in Dodge City and seeing you, you know a cow give birth and literally standing at the dairy watching a cow give birth and it's like, oh, this is really amazing. And before that we went and saw where our food is made. And so we went to, you know, a beef processing facility and saw from start to finish. And you know, as someone who's only grown up in a city and walked into a grocery store and always had plentiful meat and fresh water and things like that, I told my husband, I said I feel like we need to eat more. You know we need to celebrate. You know the hard work that our rural communities are doing to feed us. I don't think we appreciate it as much as we should.
Blake Vargas:Yeah, I think there again, it's just that understanding, that awareness piece, and for many you know down in our area it's getting ready to start here pretty quick, is you know? You get deer season and many of our families will fill their freezer with another type of meat that they process on their own. I mean, I remember I'm stepping on a tangent here, but I have to tell you this story. You can edit it out. But the first time I ever brought my wife home, we're pulling in the driveway and there's a deer hanging from our basketball goal that my brother and my dad are processing and she is from very much from the city and I'm sure she thought what am I getting myself into? Going to meet this guy's family as they're processing the deer?
Blake Vargas:But again, fast forward and now our kids are out there in the deer, stand with me and have an understanding that that's a way that we help provide for our family, that yes, we, you know, utilize a local farmer for our side of beef every year and a pig, but but ultimately deer is a piece of that staple meat that we utilize, that we talk about why we do that and the benefits, and so I think that that's just again, the understanding that there are so many great things that are out there that we can just learn by having a conversation that can really enlighten us. And that's what education to me is about. That's what I love about. It is us learning, and I say that if you haven't learned something new in that day, then then you haven't done a very good job, because there's stuff out there. There's, there's plenty of stuff you can go and learn about.
Dr. Katie Ervin:Yeah, peek your head up and learn something from somewhere or something or someone. Well, in thinking about kind of the community and the work that you're doing, you know, if money and resources, if nothing was a barrier, what would make the biggest impact on the community that you're a part of?
Blake Vargas:I often say, like you know, what would it? You know because, believe it or not, like you allow yourself to dream every once in a while I bought a lottery ticket. I'm like what would I do with that? You know, and I think about, you know, a facility like an actual community facility that had a variety of supports, like we do some afterschool program help, but like that would expand that. So opportunities for kids, because a lot of them will just go home and if they don't have commitment to chores at home, then they're just kind of there. And so providing enrichment activity where they can begin to learn what they're passionate about.
Blake Vargas:So, whether it be in STEM activities, whether it be in arts, whether it be in music, um, those creative things that are there. That I think, um, you know, mental health stuff, right, that, whether it be learning yoga or just mindfulness or how to work out, like that's a stress relief and that's a mental health. People you know are like, well, wait a second. Oh, it is like you going through and physically working out, like that's the mental health for a lot of people and being able to work through that. And, and I think, along with that, like in this facility, like I envision this community facility where not only do you have that piece for the students but also for your community right.
Blake Vargas:So for first-time parents, like what a terrifying experience. Even though I came with a big family and had that experience with younger siblings, I had one upbringing my wife had a difference. She was the baby in the family and didn't have a whole lot of siblings or cousins around that were young. And so I'm just thinking of like opportunities for first-time parents, for people who are dealing with grief, for people who are dealing with a breakup, for people who are dealing with so many things that you know where you could go to and those resources would be available. And then ultimately, like the workforce piece of it is huge.
Blake Vargas:So, if you don't have a job, if you haven't found your passion, how do we connect you with that so we can do that? And that's why I say is that I feel so fortunate being in the role that I'm in, that I'm in a job that I'm passionate and I love, and so, yes, there's stress that comes along with that, but by and large part, again, I'm getting what I get to do, what I firmly believe I'm meant to do, which is to serve other people and to help them find what their passion is. That's really what I feel like my role is as a lead educator is to help people find their passion, and so I think that that's just what I go back to. Time, money, resource all that is not available. Yeah, I'm building something that not only our community, but that you know regionally, that they could come into and say hey, I can get connected to what I need at this spot.
Dr. Katie Ervin:Just soaking that. I mean it just talks to who you are as a leader and and what you give to to the community. I'm curious how do you, you know, continue to grow as a leader? How do you invest in yourself? How do you kind of get learning going?
Blake Vargas:I think it's you know you have to. I had a great leader one time remind me that you have to carve out that time for yourself, and it's not being selfish that ultimately you have an obligation to those that you work with to continue to grow, and I think that not only from that piece that it's important, but it's also I have to be able to practice what I preach. So I encourage my young students, my staff members, that I want them to continually grow and educate themselves. And really what I encourage is like I want you to make mistakes, which may seem odd, but I feel like that we learn the most from our mistakes or when we fail. I say often that if you've never failed and your goals aren't high enough, and that's a natural part of life to kind of go through that ultimately, and I'd rather you do that in a safe environment, when the stakes are much lower as a young adult than in the real world, where there are natural real world consequences that can impact you for years, where there are natural real-world consequences that could impact you for years, and so I think that that's a piece of it, is that, as a leader, I try to carve that out Now.
Blake Vargas:Everything has to come with a balance. You know family and the things that go along that are really important. You know finding time to get to church, finding time to be with my family, finding time for sports activities and getting on the deer stand every once in a while. There's a balance to that, and I think that if you really look back, or people look back when things don't feel right in their life, something isn't balanced. They haven't been able to find that time to stay balanced, and so I think that's it. It has to start with you as a leader, setting the tone and being willing to join a group like Leadership Kansas and bring those things back where they see. Okay, that was maybe a little outside of his comfort zone. I know he didn't really want to be away, but look at what he's been able to bring back, and so I think you have to walk the walk for people to be able to follow you.
Dr. Katie Ervin:Yeah, I think you're right, and at the very beginning, when we were talking about Leadership Kansas, you mentioned a mentor who encouraged you to join, and I was actually just on a panel at one of the local universities the other night talking about the importance of mentorship, especially younger in our lives and our career. So can you touch on that a little bit?
Blake Vargas:Yeah, I think that that's the thing of value that I found along the way, that I really want to talk about my career journey. It would be about the network of people that have taken an interest and have helped develop my passion for this, and so I think that that is the other role as a leader is identifying that talent, and really it's having those conversations with people that maybe had never crossed their mind that, hey, you would be good in this role, you would really be good in empowering them to maybe think of something that they didn't think. My early administrative really came from a desire to impact more individuals. I saw and knew what my impact was with a small number of kids and I felt like, man, if I could just grow this more, then look at how much more we could do, and that was really my desire about, okay, moving on to the building level, and then it was well, okay, there might be barriers there, what could I do if I was a district leader? And so I think that that's kind of where it came from.
Blake Vargas:But it all started with those mentors who really identified me and said, hey, this would be good for you, I want to help develop this, or uh that were willing to be a good mentor, like they should sit you down and have a tough conversation and say this is an area you need to improve on. Uh, and that's an area, I think, that scares people, um, if you're not used to it. But that constructive feedback process and that ability to grow, I feel like, is what we're about. If we're not improving and we're not growing, then you're staying still and you're going to get left behind, and so that, to me, is the important piece of that mentor role is having someone that you can trust, that can come in and make sure that they keep you, keep pushing you in the right direction. It's like a good workout partner, which I need to get another one, cause I know this is audio only, but if you visually could see it, you would know that I need to get a better workout partner. I need to get one that is hilarious.
Dr. Katie Ervin:Well, and I mean that leads beautifully into the final question that I love to ask everyone on every show. And the reason I love to ask this question is our journey is never a straight path. You know it's never perfect. We make mistakes, we take, make missteps. I kind of give my the kids around me the same message that that you do, like make mistakes young, when it's safe and nothing permanent, and if it's permanent, like make sure it's a beautiful tattoo and not, you know, something that's going to hang hang on your career journey. But I love this question to the level you're comfortable sharing what's the biggest leadership or career misstep you've taken?
Blake Vargas:I actually was thinking a little bit about that in the fact that I've tried to live my life or encourage that, we are a of our experiences. So there are definitely things that I wish I would have done differently as it goes through. But had I not had that opportunity to learn, then I don't believe I would be the leader that I am today. So I say that with a grain of salt, that I firmly believe that that's a piece of it. None of us are perfect. I don't care who's listening or who it may be. There's something that hasn't quite worked out that way. But if I had to really go back and look back at it from a career misstep is early on I felt like I might have taken a direction that I felt like I was supposed to take, because to be a candidate, that's what my dad did. I wanted to be business because that's what dad was doing and I thought that's what my dad did. You know, I wanted to be business because that's what dad was doing, you know, and I thought that's what I wanted to do. I quickly realized, as I got into that field, that experience that really wasn't where my heart and my passion was. So I think you know, early on, when I was in school, I kind of felt like I was supposed to do what dad was supposed to do and had started this endeavor to kind of follow in his footsteps. And what I quickly realized is that that really wasn't where my passion was, and really it was from an understanding of. What I found out later is what I loved about what he did as kind of an implementation consultant. He would go in with the company, he would assess a problem, he would then teach somebody how they can improve on that process and grow with them and and work with people. And so I'm thinking, well, he really kind of was a teacher, just with a different title and in the role that I had.
Blake Vargas:Uh, initially, when I first started in school, that wasn't where I was at, and so I found out, you know, was that that teaching, that mentoring, that working with people, um, that growing of their passion is? Is? I was like, okay, that's what I want to do and, and so I think that that was the pieces. Is that for those listening that, despite right, like, like, yes, your parents have wisdom and the things that go along and your peers and your things that go along, but ultimately, you are the one who knows what you're passionate about and don't be afraid to really say this is where it is.
Blake Vargas:Um, you know, my son's talked early on about maybe being a Marine biologist. Well, son, you're in the middle of the country, but if that's something you're really interested in, maybe we can get you connected with that and understand where that is. So, uh, I'm all about feeding that passion and and and and providing the opportunity for you to find that. So I think that's the biggest thing as I go through is that an understanding that those things are going to happen. But that's a natural part of our growth and development as leaders, and so embrace it. It may be rough in the moment, but ultimately it's going to make you stronger as a leader if you let it impact you that way.
Dr. Katie Ervin:Yeah, I think you're so right. I've been talking to so many young adults these days and it's like you define success what does success mean to you? And then figure out how to get there and stop worrying so much about what everyone else expects you to do. And we could probably do another two and a half hours about the pressures of social media and that, so we won't do that. But, yeah, I think that's a perfect message to end on. Thank you so much.
Blake Vargas:No again. I really appreciate the opportunity and I have felt very fortunate and thankful to get to meet you and learn about your journey and your passion, and it's been a great class. I really am going to be sad to see it come to an end and I hope that we've got to get a reunion or something that we just commit to, where we stay connected, because I really do feel like this group has the right key to make things special and to continue to improve Kansas overall.
Dr. Katie Ervin:Yeah, I totally agree. I think it has been such a gift that we are giving to each other. You know all across and to you know have 39 people that are just so wildly different that you know it's funny. I had Erica on recently and she is like we'd probably never walk up to each other in a bar to talk to each other, but I'm so thankful now that we would walk into the bar together.
Blake Vargas:Absolutely absolutely.
Dr. Katie Ervin:So thank you so much for joining and for sharing your story. I appreciate it and we will talk to you next time on to path to leadership. Bye, everyone.
