On-Site Coordinator: Round One
The LeaderShape Institute had such a large impact on me during my week, that I decided to apply for the On-Site Coordinator position to donate my time for students who would be attending for the following two years. This reflection covers the first year experience as an On-Site. Stay tuned for next years reflection!
Reflection
Lead with integrity. A statement that literally follows me every day. A statement that holds me responsible for my actions, inspires me to move forward and keeps my vision at the forefront of my agenda. Those three words would mean little without LeaderShape. But with this powerful experience, they have molded the student, and person, that I have become.
Not only was this role completely different than any other I have played, it was challenging and exciting at the same time. My first experience with LeaderShape was one of growth and personal awareness. I found my passions; I made a plan to complete these goals, and I created a life that I wanted to live. The second time, I watched as 60 students went through this journey. Cody, the Senior On-Site Coordinator, said before we left, that I would see it in students eyes when they reached that moment. The moment when their vision had steps, and those steps were feasible. He remembered seeing it with me, just as I remember it for many of the students that attended this winter.
This intensive program has a knack for bringing the best of personalities out. It has an even better knack for instilling solid lessons that carry on throughout our lives. There hasn't been one person who I either attended LeaderShape with or mentored during their adventure who didn't experience this change. It's something that, to me, is tangible. I can't begin to describe how excited I am for the following year's group of students to go through this experience. After only one year, I had already discussed the possibility of playing a national role with LeaderShape as a coordinator.
Rich told us from day one not to attempt reliving our experience as we ventured in for our years as On-Sites. I took his advice to heart, and I am so glad I did. This group was unbelievably different than mine. While we bonded as Family Clusters, staying up late expressing our inner most thoughts and feelings, they bonded as a community. Instead of separating, they stayed up late playing board games and enjoying company as a large group. It was unbelievable. Cody and I would head to the room where our main sessions were held to set up after staff meetings and students would still be wide awake sitting in circles playing cards, discussing schools, envisioning futures- it was truly remarkable. What one group of students got out of ten others, the next group of students got out of 60. Watching that interaction and respecting the differences was a huge task for me. I didn't understand it while it happened, but I bit my tongue. Instead of saying, "hey, why don't you talk to your family cluster," I found myself urging them to find their relief and support wherever they needed to go to get it.
This week was surly about learning the exact meaning behind being a servant leader. I came back the first time because of my love for the LeaderShape Institute. I didn't learn the same lessons, but the pillars are all but etched in my head. Instead, I learned, first hand, how to act on the principals we were taught by giving a week of my break up for 60 students, many of whom I didn't know. What an opportunity! Now, I go back to see another completely different group of students experience "Sitting in the front row of their lives", and creating a vision for themselves that will change the world we all live in. I can not wait.
Not only was this role completely different than any other I have played, it was challenging and exciting at the same time. My first experience with LeaderShape was one of growth and personal awareness. I found my passions; I made a plan to complete these goals, and I created a life that I wanted to live. The second time, I watched as 60 students went through this journey. Cody, the Senior On-Site Coordinator, said before we left, that I would see it in students eyes when they reached that moment. The moment when their vision had steps, and those steps were feasible. He remembered seeing it with me, just as I remember it for many of the students that attended this winter.
This intensive program has a knack for bringing the best of personalities out. It has an even better knack for instilling solid lessons that carry on throughout our lives. There hasn't been one person who I either attended LeaderShape with or mentored during their adventure who didn't experience this change. It's something that, to me, is tangible. I can't begin to describe how excited I am for the following year's group of students to go through this experience. After only one year, I had already discussed the possibility of playing a national role with LeaderShape as a coordinator.
Rich told us from day one not to attempt reliving our experience as we ventured in for our years as On-Sites. I took his advice to heart, and I am so glad I did. This group was unbelievably different than mine. While we bonded as Family Clusters, staying up late expressing our inner most thoughts and feelings, they bonded as a community. Instead of separating, they stayed up late playing board games and enjoying company as a large group. It was unbelievable. Cody and I would head to the room where our main sessions were held to set up after staff meetings and students would still be wide awake sitting in circles playing cards, discussing schools, envisioning futures- it was truly remarkable. What one group of students got out of ten others, the next group of students got out of 60. Watching that interaction and respecting the differences was a huge task for me. I didn't understand it while it happened, but I bit my tongue. Instead of saying, "hey, why don't you talk to your family cluster," I found myself urging them to find their relief and support wherever they needed to go to get it.
This week was surly about learning the exact meaning behind being a servant leader. I came back the first time because of my love for the LeaderShape Institute. I didn't learn the same lessons, but the pillars are all but etched in my head. Instead, I learned, first hand, how to act on the principals we were taught by giving a week of my break up for 60 students, many of whom I didn't know. What an opportunity! Now, I go back to see another completely different group of students experience "Sitting in the front row of their lives", and creating a vision for themselves that will change the world we all live in. I can not wait.