Bella Leon Flann's Path to Leadership: From Student to Supervisor
KALAMAZOO Mich.—Bella Leon Flann's journey from a College of Health and Human Services student intern to full-time staff to supervisor and now coordinator of training at Western Michigan University (WMU) Center for Disability Services and Adult Wellness Programs, was marked by her deep appreciation for the university's culture and people. Coming from a small town on the east side of Michigan, Bella found WMU to be a unique and enriching experience. Her desire to gain more experience with older adults and nurture the relationships she had built with clients motivated her to transition from an intern to a full-time staff position upon graduation with her bachelor's degree.
As a student, Bella took many healthcare-based classes, which informed her approach to her job responsibilities. She felt proud to be in her full-time position and often referred back to her academic knowledge while caregiving for clients. The transition from student intern to staff was challenging, as Bella had to learn about new clients and adapt to working full-time. Her empathetic nature made it difficult not to become consumed by the job, but her internship at the WMU Senior Day Services during her last semester changed her perspective. She fell in love with working with seniors, learning about their lives and the lessons they taught her, which influenced her career path.
Bella's organizational, computer and time management skills honed during her college years, helped her succeed as a staff member. Her familiarity with online systems and Electronic Health Records was crucial for her role. Bella's bachelor's degree in healthcare services and sciences with an occupational therapy concentration and a minor in Spanish provided her with a fantastic college experience. She felt motivated and inspired by her major and the people who shared her passion. Bella was promoted to supervisor where she was responsible for training new staff, monitoring progress, conducting staff meetings and providing direct care to individuals with cognitive impairments and Dementia. She valued the importance of having supervisors who listen, respect their staff and create a positive learning environment.
Bella's bachelor's degree provided her with knowledge and personal growth, teaching her interpersonal skills, time management, critical thinking, adaptability, problem-solving, budgeting and organization. Her position as supervisor at WMU Senior Day Services prepared her for her newest role as Training Coordinator for all CDS programs. Her office is located at the Skill Building program on WMU’s east campus.
Bella said, “my experience as a student and in various positions within the Center for Disability Services and Adult Wellness Programs helped me to understand the best approach for training. Being in many roles for over three years made me learn the importance of training and how it impacts not only the staff and client success but the entire workplace.”
Bella plans to pursue a master's degree in speech language pathology or occupational therapy, with a focus on helping clients with Dementia.
Reflecting on her career journey, Bella found every part of it rewarding. She gained skills that helped her grow personally and professionally, and she enjoyed caregiving for clients and engaging them in activities. Bella's advice to students is to start gaining experience early, as it helps in figuring out one's interests and creates an advantage in the desired field. She emphasized the value of the opportunity at WMU and the importance of accommodating class schedules and internships for success.