We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Leidy Pichardo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Leidy, thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?
I was raised by my grandmother in the Dominican Republic until the age of eight. As many immigrants, my mother came to the United States seeking better life and career opportunities. While my grandmother only attended school until the third grade, being the oldest daughter out of fourteen children, she was stern, serious, organized, and highly self-disciplined. She became my number one role model. I would see how she would wake up very early in the morning and not leave her bedroom until the bed was made and her room tidied-up. As simple as it may sound, that is where my self-discipline began to develop. I would mirror her actions. Every day, before leaving for school, my bed was neatly made and my bedroom was clean as a whistle. She used to say “you never know who will come over to visit”. In our country, family or close friends would openly come to your home, uninvited. The house always had to look clean so that it may be welcoming for any guests who may arise. This level of discipline has stayed with me until my adulthood, and one that I have instilled in my own children.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been a Student Support and Success specialist and advocate for over ten years. I am a higher education manager whose mission is to see each student graduate from college, specifically students from under-represented and impoverished communities. As a Latina with a Doctorate degree, it is my goal to be a role model to my Hispanic and Black students to know that anything is possible in life. Professionally and personally, my goal is to help students utilize the many resources available to them so they can be successful in college. As always been a community college administrator, my dream is for my students to pursue their Bachelor’s degree and beyond.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Highly organized Goal Oriented
Determination
One of the most important qualities of a self-disciplined individual is the ability to be organized in your personal and professional life. As a busy mother of three, the youngest being non-verbal autistic, I have had no choice but be highly organized. Just thinking of all my responsibilities inside and outside of the home is overwhelming. However, I have learned to stay focused, determined to finish every task I begin to the very best of my ability. I never do anything half-way. As a mother, manager, wife, and spiritual leader, I have the determination and growth mindset to propel forward in order to give my children a brighter and stronger future. You must be goal-oriented. Set short term and long term goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bound. I learned this early on in my career and have made it a daily practice in all I do.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
My biggest area of growth has definitely been academic within the past 12 months. I have successfully completed my doctoral degree in Higher Education Leadership against all odds. I started during the pandemic, and was determined to finish before the end of 2024. My family, close friends, and faith in God helped me stay focused, and gave me the stamina to propel forward. As a mother of a special needs child, there were times when I said “I can’t do this”, “I don’t have the mental energy”. However, prayer and continuous support from my husband, older children, and close friends, motivated me to grow in this area and learn the strength I have within that I didn’t know I had. During this time, I assisted my brother and close friend to edit their books, now published. I was in awe of myself with the way in which God took care of my time to balance it all in the midst of my own educational journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.drleidykpichardo.com
- Instagram: @lpichardo14
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/leidy-k-pichardo-edd-ms-ma-95a01983
Image Credits
Sabrina Charles-Pierre
