Until She Believed: The Butterfly Effect

“I can’t do it,” she says,

In that moment, I note not failure,

but fear.

An outcome not of inability,

but of negative self-belief.

“You can,” I say,

seeing her capability

beyond what her mind can capture.

She sees her deficits,

I see her resilience.

The issue was never strength,

but permission

to try, to fail,

and to try again.

Her hand hovers, uncertain.

She hears the words “I can”

ripple through her mind,

the echo steadies her breath

as she attempts what she believes is impossible.

And in that moment,

I see the smallest shift,

a quiet victory.

She conquers the voice

that told her she couldn’t.

Progress this session was not measured

by numbers or values.

Instead,

by her courage to try again.

I carry that moment forward

into every session, every room.

Leadership, I’ve learned,

is not volume, but a presence a whisper that says,

“You can,”

until they say it,

and believe it too.

She carries this moment with her,

But little does she know I carry it too.

The Butterfly Effect at work

as her courage transforms to confidence,

and mine into purpose

to motivate others,

to believe they can too.

About The Poem

During the 2025 fall semester, all my classes were completely online. While this was quite a big change from my in-person courses and fieldwork rotations, I didn’t expect that this online semester would become a catalyst for both personal and professional growth. I have always preached the importance of personal and professional growth, yet time was a constant barrier. This semester, however, with my four online courses centered around advocacy, policy, professional growth, and leadership, I finally felt balance.

With the mix of synchronous and asynchronous coursework, I was able to address both academic and personal goals. Specifically, in my Complex Adaptive Leadership course, we explored many forms of leadership. Before this class, I believed that leaders were often the loudest voices in the room. Now, I understand that leadership is not always bold or obvious. Sometimes, leadership is subtle and rooted in intention.

While learning about complexity sciences in the leadership course, the butterfly effect taught me that even the smallest action can create a meaningful change. When I looked back on my fieldwork rotations, I realized that I had been practicing leadership all along, just not in the way that I had envisioned. A simple “you can” from an occupational therapist (OT) can empower a client to attempt a task that they thought was impossible. On my fieldwork rotation in hand therapy, I had a client who struggled to open her daily medication bottle, often relying on others to open it for her. While she was apprehensive at first, the joy on her face once she conquered the task stayed with me, reminding me why I am drawn to this profession. As OTs, we are natural leaders, motivating and advocating for our clients as we witness their growth right before our eyes.

Throughout this semester, I learned that leadership is not defined by volume or authority. Instead, leadership is defined by our presence, encouragement, and the belief in our clients’ potential. As I continue my leadership journey, I will carry this new understanding with me. Ultimately, I have learned that leadership is not just a title or a role, but an everyday act. If I can be a leader, you can be too.

Lizzy Koenig, OTS, is a third-year student at the University of Missouri’s occupational therapy program. She is passionate about leadership, growth, and everyday advocacy.

She hopes to work in an outpatient hand-therapy setting while continuing to motivate and advocate for her clients to reach their full potential.