What Does It Mean to Be A Social Entrepreneur?...what a loaded question

Well friends, this post is summarized all in the title. What does it actually mean to be a social entrepreneur? I don't have a clear cut answer for you because I find it to be a title that can apply to anybody- it just has different meaning for everybody. However, I can offer you some insight into my thoughts on the subject.

High school, in hindsight, I imagine is when this whole concept of social entrepreneurship began to apply to me. I had always been involved, simply because that is what I was good at. I was good at taking plans or ideas and putting them into action. This really came to light when I, on a whim, decided to run for Vice President of senior class. Leading my peers was just something that came naturally, as it still does.

So fast forward three years, and here I am today reflecting on my college experience thus far. As a third year college student, I assume that my college experience has been very similar to many others. I've switched my major and my "future plan" (whatever that means anyway) approximately 4 or 5 times. I transferred from Miami University after my freshman year, and came into Ohio State knowing nobody. As a side note, meeting people has never been hard for me. I'm generally very outgoing and can relate to people pretty easily. But when I found myself at a school of 50,000+ students, most of which had already established friend groups/ been involved in clubs (activities that many freshman do together in their dorms, etc.), I was really unsure of how I was actually going to meet people. I realize how big of an oxymoron this is- there was nothing but people around me, yet I still wasn't sure how to meet any of them. So I waited about a week or two, still adjusting to my class schedule and my long walks to class, all the while contemplating what my next move would be. Before I knew it, I had joined three clubs- just because I could. Because my crazy self likes to be involved in about 1,200 things at once, and just being a general member of these groups would eventually not be enough for me, I decided to run for an executive position within my sorority and took leadership positions in two other organizations as well. And here I am today- a constantly stressed, overly involved, maximum-credit-taking nut. And I like it. What is wrong with me?

To make a long story even longer, I have come to realize (after more than a healthy amount of mental breakdowns) that no two life paths are the same. And that is the wonderful, awful, maddening, and awesome part of life. Because I have accepted this fact, I have become a very flexible leader. I think my strong suit in any leadership position is my ability to adjust when needed. Naturally, I was born a creative problem solver: when someone is sad, I find a way to fix it; when a plan doesn't work, I find a new one; when studying gets boring, I make up a game.

I think my natural inclination to come up with creative ways to solve problems as I see them, combined with my acquired world view and experiences has refined my abilities as a social entrepreneur. These traits are what I bring to the leadership table. Since they are entirely unique when combined with my world perspectives, this makes me a social entrepreneur. I may not always come up with the ideas that need to be implemented, but I can find a way to work with others to turn their ideas into action. And I can dodge many bumps in the road along the way- all while having fun doing it. Leadership is what I am passionate about, and that over all else, is what makes me a social entrepreneur.