In Emerging Leaders AcademyStarting from freshman year, our ELA groups have been practicing our servant leadership skills. While in the healthcare ELA class, we hosted a "MEDieval Night" at the YMCA where we had fun medieval themed activities for the kids of the community while teaching them about how to stay healthy. From the beginning, we learned that we each had a role to play and something to give. In order to make the event beneficial and enjoyable for the kids of Bismarck/Mandan, we all had to work together as a team.
Sophomore year in the Liffrig Family School of Educational and Behavioral Sciences ELA, our class broke into small groups to carry out service projects. I was the head of a group that put on an event called "Project Santa's Little Helpers". Together with the University of Mary community, we collected about 60 gifts to give to Carrie's Kids for the holiday season. Without the help and kindness of others, this project would not have been possible. It was very inspiring seeing how excited groups were to get involved and help others. Junior year, our class had the opportunity to organize a large scale service project to benefit something of our choice. We agreed upon Elks Camp Grassick, a camp for children and adults with disabilities. We sold raffle tickets, water bottles and tumblers as well as hosting a spaghetti benefit dinner. Doing this, I truly saw the importance of giving your best to reach a common goal. It took all of us working together, striving to make a difference for others that allowed us to do so. Thanks to the hard work of every member of our team, we were able to exceed our goal of sending one person to camp every week of the summer by nearly double. |
Outside of Emerging Leaders AcademyI have been involved in SPURS, a student service organization, for two years. In 2016/17, I was a club officer. With SPURS, I have had opportunities to volunteer at Open Door Christian Preschool doing activities with the children, collect canned goods for Ministry on the Margins, deliver care packages to students on campus, and volunteer at the Dream Maker's Ball for God's Child project.
In addition, I participated in the UMary Day of Service for three years, served as a junior marshall for the Spring of 2016 graduation ceremony, acted as a Peer Leader welcoming freshman to the University in the fall of 2016, and volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House through the PACS club. In doing these things, one's mentality cannot be "what can I get out of this", but rather should be "what can I do for others". In my experience, taking the latter mindset often allows a person to get much more out of the experience than what they may otherwise. As a leader, you can learn a great deal from helping others. |