Leadership Spotlight: Erica

@Erica is one of our OGs who’s been with us, off and on, since 2015. Erica joined Cups as a teen (even made the 2017 PB Awards as a teen influencer), and since aging up she’s been a true teen advocate all the way. As a testament to her passion, she recently became a Mentor Leader for the Teen Transitioning Program.

She’s also known for the Welcome Back Committee, which she launched earlier this year to reacclimate returning users to the platform.

From the nominator:
Erica is an absolutely wonderful teammate, listener, and all-around incredible person. She is dedicated and passionate about everything that she commits to and is never afraid to ask for clarification if necessary. She's compassionate and understanding. Erica always is able to lighten the mood and it's a joy to see her in LSR as well as around 7Cups in general. I'm proud to call her my friend.

Q&A with Erica!

What motivates you to be a volunteer?
What motivates me to be a volunteer here on 7 Cups is looking back on my long journey on here and realizing that from day one, I have made such an impact on the community. When I am feeling burnt out or wondering if I am making a difference, I remember the countless member chats I have taken and the long-lasting impact I had on them. Even during my extended breaks on here, I had my regular members remember my birthday and would wish me a happy birthday, even acknowledging I wasn’t actively on the site, which spoke volumes to why I do what I do.

Proudest 7 Cups achievement:
My proudest 7 Cups achievement is getting awarded the PB award in 2017. This meant the world to me as when I was a teen, I had taken on so many responsibilities and roles here and it really showed me that I am making a difference. This award was really special to me as well because it’s a surprise and you get to celebrate immediately with the people who had helped you get to that point, which is why it holds such a special place in my heart.

Which fellow 7 Cups leader(s) do you admire and why?
A fellow leader I admire here is @Jenna. I met Jenna on day one of my listening journey when I was just a teen. From the interactions when I was a teen to their dedication of the 7 Cups mission for close to 10 years, I really admire them. They have truly supported the community consistently, taken on challenges head-on, and are never scared to voice their opinion, even if unpopular, which is really inspiring.

Which active listening skills help you when communicating with your teammates and fellow leaders?
One of my favorite active listening skills that helps me communicate with my teammates is using empathy in every interaction. When you work as a team, you need to be able to understand how everyone is feeling or how a decision could affect someone else, as it’s not just what you want anymore. This also helps you to better understand how someone might react or see something, as it can be very different than your viewpoint.

What’s next for you on your 7 Cups journey?
The next thing on my 7 Cups journey is to continue down the leadership path. When I first joined the site at 15, I had my heart set on becoming an Ambassador, after being inspired by the incredible Ambassador Team we have here. I hope to eventually become a Teen Ambassador, as I hold the Teen Community super close to my heart and want to be someone they know they can turn to and in the process, I hope to better their community, with a special focus on getting more Adult Teen Listeners.

Congratulations, Erica, and thank you for helping make 7 Cups a great place for teens.