The Enneagram is a fascinating personality typing system that teaches there are nine different personality styles in the world. If you don’t know anything about the enneagram, visit the Enneagram Institute online to learn more. If you are a self-proclaimed “Enneagram-er,” read on! 

Eights are known as the “Challenger” They are the Powerful, Dominating Type: Self-Confident, Decisive, Willful, and Confrontational.

International Business, Minor in Spanish

Because this is the number I received when I took the test. I’m not a huge fan of labels and being confined to a bubble of what others say you are. But I do like learning more about who I am as a person and being able to grow from that.

I feel that Grace has been a great fit for me and I believe that it would be a great fit for any number. As far as eights go, I believe that the way you make decisions gauges how life will go for you. You can be domineering toward everyone and try to always get your way, or you can let others lead at times and be okay with following. I realized that some things just aren’t that important. I have to focus on what is important and spend my time on those things.

For my toughest classes, studying included reviewing the powerpoints, the book, or and study guides provided. However, I believe that by being attentive and interacting in class you should do well in any class. 

Over the past three years I’ve been involved with intramural events and sports, travel band, chapel band, student senate, joust captain, student mentor, and other minor events but I just got married this past summer so I have taken on a lot more responsibility and given up some as well. Overall, I have definitely been very involved but one of the biggest challenges I faced was deciding on what to be involved in. 

There are so many things to consider while choosing a college, but here is a factor that is extra important to consider as a eight. 

Leadership Opportunities — As an eight, you are a natural leader. Look for a college campus where you can lead unapologetically and use your gifts of persuasion and power to introduce others to new ideas and to defend the vulnerable.

We aren’t saying that these are the only programs that you would fit in, nor are we suggesting that every enneagram eight would be good in these fields. However, given your natural tendencies, you might just have a knack for one of these.

1. Entrepreneurial Management / Business — An entrepreneur needs to have a laser-focus vision and relentless pursuit after their vision for their product/service. An eight is amazing at controlling the variables they can control which is of utmost importance in the ever-changing world of business.

Again, these are not cookie-cutter placements, but here are some ways that, as an eight, you can capitalize on your gifts and use your strong voice to speak up for ideas you believe in.

Debate Club — Did you know there are clubs on campus where argumentation and confrontation are actually rewarded? The Mediation Team and Forensics Team are a good place to start. For some of you eights, this just might be the extra-curricular activity you never knew you needed.

Grace College alumnus gives advice to college students who identify as an eight.

It’s wonderful to stand up for what you believe in and to be the voice for those ignored, especially in a crowd of new people and ideas. However, it is equally important to make sure you put down your armor sometimes to share your fears and struggles with those that love and support you.

Here’s a practical growth step for you during your college experience.

Strive to be vulnerable in growth groups and with your close friends. It will not come naturally to you, but you will find incredible freedom when you let others in.

Now we’ve covered ones, twos, threes, fours, fives, sixes, sevens, and eights! Stay tuned for a post about the last enneagram type! Give us a call and find out how eights find their place at Grace!

1 https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-descriptions