As Americans begin to evaluate the US candidates for the next presidential election, ο καθένας θα θέσει στον εαυτό του αυτήν την ερώτηση: How will they lead? Will those who seek to serve this country in its top job understand the major issues, be passionate about their ideals, and then be able to inspire and educate their peers to take action so as to make a positive difference in the lives of the American people?
Leadership is a complex proposition. Wanting to serve is probably the most important first step, but there are never simple answers or quick fixes along the challenging road to making a sustainable difference. A group of talented students from 30 different countries and very diverse socioeconomic backgrounds understand this better since they got the chance to sharpen their perspectives and broaden their leadership skills this year. Hand picked from hundreds of applicants by a prestigious international panel of judges, including Monica Seles, Brandon Short, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Ambassador Mitra Vasisht, και Πρίγκιπα Ρασίντ Ελ Χασάν, αυτοί οι νέοι άνθρωποι κέρδισε την ευκαιρία να παρακολουθήσουν την ελίτ της ICL Ακαδημία (Ινστιτούτο Αστικής Ηγεσία — σκεφτείτε Χόγκουαρτς για πολίτη ηγεσία). The Academy stands high on a hill surrounded by the world’s largest temperate rain forest, βήματα μακριά από τη λίμνη Shawnigan στο μαγευτικό νησί του Βανκούβερ στη Βρετανική Κολούμπια.
Βρίσκοντας το πάθος σας αλλάζει τα πάντα. The mission of ICL is to inspire students through other people’s passions and journeys, teach them how to relate it back to their own lives and passions, and equip them with the leadership skills that enable them to take action so that they can make a positive difference when they return home to their schools and communities.
Lucky me! I got the chance to connect with a sample of these talented 15 να 18 year old graduates (δηλαδή. future leaders) after they returned home, to find out more about them and the outcomes of this once in a lifetime summer experience.
First up, I should mention their real-life role models. They include leaders such as Barack Obama “for his tolerance, acceptance and open mindedness to other countries and cultures,” and Oprah Winfrey “for her hard work to become an independent woman and her strong passion to help disadvantaged young women around the world.” Then there are fans of Ban Ki Moon “for his ability to remain neutral while leading the world’s efforts to combat war, disease and human rights violations,” and Wyclef Jean “για τη συνέχιση το πάθος του για να δώσει πίσω στην πατρίδα του με την παροχή εκπαιδευτικών υποτροφιών, καθώς και την περιβαλλοντική ευαισθητοποίηση.” Last but not least in my survey was the popular co-founder of ICL, Kirk Spahn, “για την απίστευτη ικανότητά του να συνδεθεί με τους ανθρώπους σε ένα πολύ βαθύ επίπεδο.”
Βρίσκοντας το πάθος σας αλλάζει τα πάντα. Η ICL διδάσκει παγκόσμιους ηγέτες νεολαίας αφοσιωμένη στην εξυπηρέτηση.
Είναι, πόσο αποτελεσματικό ήταν το πρόγραμμα κατάρτισης τους? If the ICL program is just a beginning, πώς μπορεί αυτοί οι νέοι ενήλικες ανταποκρίνονται στις “How are you a leader? How have you made a difference?” several months after graduation?
“I am (currently) setting up a compost heap at my school,” Julia Masselos (Λονδίνο, Αγγλία) εξηγεί. “I’ve educated and encouraged students, cafeteria staff and chefs to compost any peelings or leftovers from lunch.” The compost will be used to fertilize the rose garden at school or be donated to local farmers so they don’t have to use chemical products.
Daniel Rodriquez (Oxnard, Καλιφόρνια) explains the program taught him how to work better with others and motivate them to work better with him. “Along with a fellow I met at ICL,” λέει, “we developed plans to go to nearby schools to give gang violence and gang prevention presentations to inspire students through education to take action with us on the issue.”
Zeinab Al-Mohanawy (formally Lebanon now Seattle, Washington) tells me she is in the process of “creating a leadership course for at risk and underprivileged young girls who come from disadvantaged neighborhoods to have the opportunity to change the way they look at things in this world through hands on leadership lessons and activities.”
Dylan Sparks (Γιοχάνεσμπουργκ, Νότια Αφρική) says that for the first time in his life he asked himself what his morals were and what he is willing to stand up for. In terms of how he is using lessons learned at the Academy, εξηγεί ο ίδιος, “I have created personal and academic goals for myself. Giving yourself something to aim for not only gives you a clearer idea of where you are going and what you want to do, but it also motivates you,” λέει. “Then you work to create steps that will help you get there!”
Savannah Swann (Vancouver Island, British Columbia) λέει, “I learned effective ways to convey my ideas, despite my quiet nature, in such a way that engages others to see the value in my passions. Education of youth is vital to the global community. I plan to use the new presentation skills I learned to help me convey my interests and ideas with complete confidence.”
“I have learned to be a balanced leader,” says Taji Phillips (Μπρούκλιν, Νέα Υόρκη), “to be able to humble myself and express understanding towards others, but also to acknowledge the power and responsibility I’ve been granted for the benefit of those who rely on me. I encourage my peers not to wait to do the things they want. If they want to raise money to plant trees in Central Park, DO IT; if you want to clean the beach, DO IT; if you want to reduce homelessness in NYC, DO IT. You are not alone. I will help you!”
“I believe perseverance, υπομονή, tolerance and generosity form the base of a true leader,” says Daniela Pfeffer (Montevideo, Ουρουγουάη). “These were without question the most inspiring and motivating weeks in my entire life. The range of cultural diversity was huge. It has made me a richer person. The network we formed will last forever and we will make great changes if we work together.”
So what can Barack Obama, Όπρα Γουίνφρει, Μπαν Κι Μουν, Wyclef Jean, Kirk Spahn, και μάλιστα, όλοι μας να μάθουν για την ηγεσία από αυτούς τους νέους ενήλικες? Well naturally, Έχω κλήσεις σε όλα τα μοντέλα του ρόλου τους για να ρωτήσουν, αλλά ενώ εγώ περιμένω να ακούσω πίσω, επιτρέψτε μου να μοιραστώ απάντηση Kirk Spahn στην ερώτησή μου.
“I learned the most about myself through the students in the leadership program. Their passionate enthusiasm and unstoppable drive was contagious. I was so reinvigorated, έτσι εμπνευσμένη από τις προσωπικές τους ιστορίες, ταξίδια τους, as well as their constant idealism and optimism. Τόσο πολλοί από αυτούς έχουν υπομείνει ήδη στη ζωή τους τόσα πολλά, και ξεπεράσει τις τεράστιες αντιξοότητες, αλλά δεν το συνειδητοποιούν. Είναι αξιοσημείωτο ότι θέλουν να συνεχίσουν να αφιερώνονται στη βοήθεια άλλων.”
For more information on the Institute for Civic Leadership, founded at the Dwight School in Manhattan, επίσκεψη www.iclny.org
Photos courtesy of ICL and the Dwight School.
Ακολουθήστε C. M. Rubin στο Twitter: www.twitter.com/@cmrubinworld
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