Day 7
I returned yesterday from the best week of my life since I moved to Athens last August and the best professional experience of my life. I spent the past week outside of Atlanta, GA at a retreat center with 43 undergraduate student leaders, one amazing student intern, and 7 student affairs rock stars participating in The LeaderShape Institute.
I did not know what to expect, didn't have a clue what I would gain from the experience, and viewed the week-long experience as just another program I was helping plan without realizing how impactful the experience would be.
Over the course of six days, I saw real change. A student too afraid to speak because of a language barrier starring in a skit and believing in herself. A student who had suffered tragedy no one should endure find hope and another student, who had given up his reason to live find joy, and a new reason to believe in living. I say these things and it sounds like I am exaggerating or being overly dramatic but I am not. This is the magic of LeaderShape.
I have danced through today with a heavy heart that the experience is over but on a euphoric high that I had the opportunity to attend LShape and form new relationships with some of the most incredible individuals.
Change can happen and as my LeaderShapers go forth on this Day 7, I hope they will remember the past six days, stay true to their passions and their visions, and change the world. I believe they can.
I recognized this week why I do what I do and why I love working with students so much. I cannot thank them enough for helping me realize that.
So to Jess and Angel, Rick, Lamar, Nyerere, Katy, Candace, Gregorio, and the 43 LeaderShapers,
"If you're out there, sing along with me, I'm dying to believe that you're out there, stand up and say it loud, tomorrow's starting now."
Cheers.
I did not know what to expect, didn't have a clue what I would gain from the experience, and viewed the week-long experience as just another program I was helping plan without realizing how impactful the experience would be.
Over the course of six days, I saw real change. A student too afraid to speak because of a language barrier starring in a skit and believing in herself. A student who had suffered tragedy no one should endure find hope and another student, who had given up his reason to live find joy, and a new reason to believe in living. I say these things and it sounds like I am exaggerating or being overly dramatic but I am not. This is the magic of LeaderShape.
I have danced through today with a heavy heart that the experience is over but on a euphoric high that I had the opportunity to attend LShape and form new relationships with some of the most incredible individuals.
Change can happen and as my LeaderShapers go forth on this Day 7, I hope they will remember the past six days, stay true to their passions and their visions, and change the world. I believe they can.
I recognized this week why I do what I do and why I love working with students so much. I cannot thank them enough for helping me realize that.
So to Jess and Angel, Rick, Lamar, Nyerere, Katy, Candace, Gregorio, and the 43 LeaderShapers,
"If you're out there, sing along with me, I'm dying to believe that you're out there, stand up and say it loud, tomorrow's starting now."
Cheers.
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