"I've always been the youngest in a leadership position within my department as a whole. Being the youngest, and being in a position of leadership is alienating on two accounts. I'm excluded because I'm "oh so young", and I'm excluded because I'm also their boss. It's certainly alienating and can be discouraging. That said, I have made every effort to make myself a part of the team, whether that is finding ways to relate to what they're talking about and going along with the joke or poking fun at my age, to an extent, and even sometimes giving it back to them in jest about their eras, to also being sure to walk the fine line of being appropriate, fun, but also requiring some degree of respect. I want to be comfortable and accepted, but not at the cost of compromising myself or my leadership abilities."
