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Personal Story

Travel

The best part of travel is doing what the locals do, eating what they eat, and going where they go. I've realized that although people have various customs, they all seek community, friendship, love, acceptance. (Even these are luxuries as many individuals in the developing world seek clean water and a safe place to live.)

Bio

Healthy Lifestyle:

Living what I consider to be a healthy lifestyle is important to me; part of that is staying active. I grew up playing volleyball and running track; in college, I was a competitive pole-vaulter.  

 

One of my best life lessons was failing to become an All-American pole-vaulter; despite all efforts, I just did not jump high enough. However, being a part of a competitive NCAA DII team taught me a lot about perseverance, teamwork, time management, and performance. I learned to just enjoy the process of training and focus on being a positive influence on my teammates despite not performing well.

Recent blog posts:

Growing up, my family constantly moved because of my father's occupation. In 12 years, I attended 9 different schools.  At the time it was very difficult, but now I see it as a blessing. I learned to adapt, make new friends, step out of my comfort zone, and be thankful for the people I do have in my life.

 

I also got to travel quite a bit. Although I grew up mostly in the USA (Michigan and California), my family is Hungarian, so I spent many summers in Europe visiting family. It's a double-edged sword. I've been blessed to have the opportunity to travel, but I only get to see my loved ones for a few days each year (at most).  

My travels have taken me mostly to the USA and Europe, but I hope to see more including: Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Africa.

 

In the USA, I've lived in California, Michigan, and Virginia. In Europe, I've lived in Budapest, Hungary and Lugano, Switzerland.

 

I speak fluent Hungarian and a little Italian and Spanish.

A healthy lifestyle is about more than just exercise and food.  It's about striving for wellness across all dimensions: physical, mental, emotional, social, intellectual, environmental, financial, occupational, and spiritual.

 

A large part of adult life is spent at the workplace.  Thus, to attain "optimal health", it's crucial to find work that is meaningful and aligns with an individual's strengths.

 

Martin Seligman, pioneer of Positive Psychology says it best:

 

“Use your signature strengths and virtues in the service of something much larger than you are” (Seligman, 2002, p. 263).

 

Visit the University of Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology Center 

for more information.

Photo Gallery:

Photo Gallery:

Places Visited:

Inspiration

My biggest inspiration is a business woman in Northern California whose story is one of pursuing her calling despite great obstacles.

 

She graduated as a dentist from one of Europe's top medical school in Budapest, Hungary and had a private practice for 10 years before moving the the USA.  Here, her diploma was not accepted, so she couldn't be a dentist.

However, eversince she was a child, she has wanted to be a dentist because it is her true passion.  She was very poor growing up and becasue of having such a sweet tooth, she had constant dental problems.  She had many traumatic experiences at "cheap" dental clinics because that is all the family could afford; she vowed to become a gentle dentist.

 

Upon moving to the USA, she spent the next 6 years learning English and attaining her dental licence.  This was of course meanwhile taking care of her family.  After 10 years, she purchased her own dental practice and has been there since 2004.  She believes in treating the whole person and is focused on helping patients become knowledgeable about preventing dental issues.

 

 She's the most generous, caring, and selfless individual I have ever met.  She has also demonstrated how to pursue one's passion while still taking care of her family. My inspiration is my mom and I am grateful to have her as an example.

 

I am also very thankful to several mentors:

 

Dr. Kenny Chan and Dr. Emily Huang for working with me on my first research publication and for showing me the ropes 

 

Dr. Mike Rehg, Dr. Kim Hinrichs, Dr. Andy Hinrichs, and Bonnie Persons, J.D., for supporting me in my journey towards applying for a PhD program

 

Ted L. Kromer- for bringing me on to Expeditions to Planet Earth and trusting me to take charge of the leadership development program

 

Matt York- for bringing me on board to One Mobile Projector per Trainer to design communication material and later fundraising

 

Dr. Melanie Connor- for her patience in supervising my Master's thesis and teaching me about research

 

Dr. L. Suzanne Suggs- for supporting her students to gain real world experience by designing their own social marketing campaign

 

Dr. Suzanne Zivnuska, Dr. Joe Russo, and Dr. Linda Kline for supervising my Bachelor's project and pushing me to always strive for the best

My inspiration

Nowadays, I like playing on my co-ed adult volleyball team and going to the gym. I also enjoy cooking and experimenting with different local ingredients. I believe that it's important to be very mindful of what you feed your body- physically, emotionally, and intellectually.  However, moderation is key- so you'll definitely find me enjoying an ocassional dark chocolate bar or tiramisu.

 

 

My greatest fulfillment comes from helping others see past traditional paradigms. I specialize in working with early-career, high potential individuals and helping create their desired future. I am also fascinated by how businesses can “do well while doing good”. 

 

Life is about discovering your calling and using your strengths for something greater than yourself. My calling is to become a scholar who empirically studies bringing out the best in employees and organizations. I am excited to be currently pursuing my PhD in Management at the University of Central Florida. Previously, I was a lecturer for four years in the College of Business at California State University, Chico (CSUC), my alma mater. I taught about 700 undergraduates and collaborated on research regarding employee well-being and workplace outcomes.

 

I get energized by rising to the occasion. Whether it is moving to a new country with nothing but two suitcases to pursue a Master's program, or networking with top executives for our leadership development private venture, I am eager to take the opportunity.

 

Connecting people and sharing ideas are very fun for me, so please email me at rekalassu@gmail.com if I can help you or connect you with someone I know.

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