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The Messenger
Leaving a Legacy of Leadership at MHS
Early Monday morning, the ASB leadership team departed in vans to Disney’s California Adventure to attend the park’s Youth Educational Services’ “Leaving a Legacy of Leadership” Conference.
Early Monday morning, the ASB leadership team departed in vans to Disney’s California Adventure to attend the park’s Youth Educational Services’ “Leaving a Legacy of Leadership” Conference. The team was greeted outside of the park by two bubbly tour guides, who promptly separated the team into two groups and began the course. Rather than a lecture in some classroom, as many of the team expressed that they had expected, the students were ushered throughout the park to various locations symbolic to Walt Disney’s journey and given a series of mini-lectures regarding the intricacies of leadership. For instance, there was discussions on branding, as well as four of the core characteristics of a leader: Relevance, Empathy, Realness, and Friendliness. The three hour course flew by, but was filled with many poignant lessons and activities that stuck in the minds of the ASB team.
One activity that stuck out in the minds of many was the “Window of Opportunity”, in which the students were instructed to draw, on notecards, a goal that they wish to achieve. Then, on the back, they wrote the steps to achieve that goal in order to visualize and determine whether or not they were willing to accept the risks associated with that goal. The students came up with a variety of responses, ranging from speaking in front of students in the Ambassador Auditorium to becoming the first female President of the United States. Eli Rodarte, Director of Inreach and Outreach, said regarding his visions of the future: “I drew the space-themed donut shop that I want to own in a few years.” There was clearly a diverse range in aspirations amongst the students, but all centered around a desire to be a leader in some capacity.
In another activity, the students were given blank stickers on which to draw their brand. A brand, according to the instructor, is what defines you as a leader, and the students were left to consider what they want and believe themselves to be known for. This proved challenging, and many students struggled to embody their personality in a single sticker. Daniella Shishoian, Director of Marketing, said that: “It [the activity] forced me to really consider the impact that I am having on my peers”. Considering the positive response to the course as a whole, this field trip will more than likely be continued into future years.
After the course’s conclusion, the students were permitted to roam about the park until 9pm. At 9, the students all reunited for one final ride on the Guardians of the Galaxy Tower. This field trip was an inspiring one, filled with lessons that will hopefully be reflected in future events at MHS.
One activity that stuck out in the minds of many was the “Window of Opportunity”, in which the students were instructed to draw, on notecards, a goal that they wish to achieve. Then, on the back, they wrote the steps to achieve that goal in order to visualize and determine whether or not they were willing to accept the risks associated with that goal. The students came up with a variety of responses, ranging from speaking in front of students in the Ambassador Auditorium to becoming the first female President of the United States. Eli Rodarte, Director of Inreach and Outreach, said regarding his visions of the future: “I drew the space-themed donut shop that I want to own in a few years.” There was clearly a diverse range in aspirations amongst the students, but all centered around a desire to be a leader in some capacity.
In another activity, the students were given blank stickers on which to draw their brand. A brand, according to the instructor, is what defines you as a leader, and the students were left to consider what they want and believe themselves to be known for. This proved challenging, and many students struggled to embody their personality in a single sticker. Daniella Shishoian, Director of Marketing, said that: “It [the activity] forced me to really consider the impact that I am having on my peers”. Considering the positive response to the course as a whole, this field trip will more than likely be continued into future years.
After the course’s conclusion, the students were permitted to roam about the park until 9pm. At 9, the students all reunited for one final ride on the Guardians of the Galaxy Tower. This field trip was an inspiring one, filled with lessons that will hopefully be reflected in future events at MHS.
