Run the World [(Everyone)].
Leadership- Guiding a group or those around me in a positive manner to follow through with an objective. By having leadership skills, I can lead by motivating instead of being controlling and domineering.
Criteria:
- Be encouraging of everybody
- Must be confident
- Be willing to get out of your comfort zone
- Must reflect a good attitude at all times
- Must be passionate
This semester I had the opportunity of being a CrunchTime Leader. CrunchTime is a retreat for high school students, grades 11-12, to come learn about maintaining a Christian life throughout college. This was my first experience doing something of this nature and it really taught me a lot about leading. For example, as the students were arriving to retreat, it was imperative for the leaders to get the students pumped up about the weekend. I am used to talking to random strangers, but they are usually are around my age. I needed to come up with a way to relate to the students without coming off as someone who similar to a “big sister” to them. I wanted them to feel comfortable around me because they would be spending the whole weekend with me and the other CrunchTime staff.
When the students got there, I thought I could talk to them and rile them up about the weekend they were about to experience. I remember what it was like to be in high school, so I asked them questions about what activities they were involved in, what subjects in school do they like, and what they like to do in their spare time. By talking to the students about themselves I was able to create a bond. After talking and getting to know the campers, I decided to show off my mad skills in basketball. By mad skills, I mean running with the ball, screaming, trying to at least hit the backboard of the basketball. The students definitely thought I was weird, however I challenged them to play with me so they were able to get to know the other people on the retreat and have a small fun game of “basketball.”
Couple of hours later, we all broke down out into our small groups. There was a portion of the retreat where we have “Big Game” and every small group comes together to have a friendly competition. Before the “Big Game,” my partner, Brent, and I got our small groupers pumped by acting excited and peppy. Brent and I would heckle the other teams, in a friendly way of course, about how awesome our team was. I think the pre-game really pepped up our small group because we ended up winning. During the game, our small group had to go through all of these obstacle courses. Brent and I would root, cheer, and maybe even do a little dance for them, just so they knew that we we’re their biggest cheerleaders. By pretending the games were a big deal the students took it semi-seriously. By winning, you could see on their faces that they were more than content with their teammates and the small group they were in.
The night before the campers left, we had a “rave.” I want to take you back to a time where you were in high school and the dances were sometimes anything but in your comfort zone, especially if you did not know everybody. Everybody on the Crunch Time staff wanted everybody to have a fun time. So we all got loose and danced crazy with all the students. By acting crazy and fun we all relaxed and easily socialized with all the campers.
The last day of the retreat, I wanted to let my group know how much I enjoyed each and every one of their unique personalities. I wrote a quick note to each one saying that I was very blessed to be their counselor. I encouraged all the juniors in the group to come back and for the all the seniors to have the best of luck next year.
Overall CrunchTime taught me how to lead a group of students who were not in my age group. I learned that when leading, you must never be negative. If you put off a negative vibe then others will feel it as well. For example, if I rolled my eyes and thought the “Big Game” was stupid, then I just set the mood for them to believe that too. However, by exuding a peppy attitude and excitement about the retreat, the students absorbed that energy and they too participated willingly in the game and the rest of the retreat. The leadership skills I took away from CrunchTime will follow me with every leadership position I possess in the future. Next school year of 2014-2015, I will be the Fellowship chair at The Wesley Foundation. Even though I have never been on the Wesley's council before, I feel confident that I have the right attitude and drive to do well. I also plan on going back to CrunchTime next year to be on the leadership staff!
Written Spring of 2014
Criteria:
- Be encouraging of everybody
- Must be confident
- Be willing to get out of your comfort zone
- Must reflect a good attitude at all times
- Must be passionate
This semester I had the opportunity of being a CrunchTime Leader. CrunchTime is a retreat for high school students, grades 11-12, to come learn about maintaining a Christian life throughout college. This was my first experience doing something of this nature and it really taught me a lot about leading. For example, as the students were arriving to retreat, it was imperative for the leaders to get the students pumped up about the weekend. I am used to talking to random strangers, but they are usually are around my age. I needed to come up with a way to relate to the students without coming off as someone who similar to a “big sister” to them. I wanted them to feel comfortable around me because they would be spending the whole weekend with me and the other CrunchTime staff.
When the students got there, I thought I could talk to them and rile them up about the weekend they were about to experience. I remember what it was like to be in high school, so I asked them questions about what activities they were involved in, what subjects in school do they like, and what they like to do in their spare time. By talking to the students about themselves I was able to create a bond. After talking and getting to know the campers, I decided to show off my mad skills in basketball. By mad skills, I mean running with the ball, screaming, trying to at least hit the backboard of the basketball. The students definitely thought I was weird, however I challenged them to play with me so they were able to get to know the other people on the retreat and have a small fun game of “basketball.”
Couple of hours later, we all broke down out into our small groups. There was a portion of the retreat where we have “Big Game” and every small group comes together to have a friendly competition. Before the “Big Game,” my partner, Brent, and I got our small groupers pumped by acting excited and peppy. Brent and I would heckle the other teams, in a friendly way of course, about how awesome our team was. I think the pre-game really pepped up our small group because we ended up winning. During the game, our small group had to go through all of these obstacle courses. Brent and I would root, cheer, and maybe even do a little dance for them, just so they knew that we we’re their biggest cheerleaders. By pretending the games were a big deal the students took it semi-seriously. By winning, you could see on their faces that they were more than content with their teammates and the small group they were in.
The night before the campers left, we had a “rave.” I want to take you back to a time where you were in high school and the dances were sometimes anything but in your comfort zone, especially if you did not know everybody. Everybody on the Crunch Time staff wanted everybody to have a fun time. So we all got loose and danced crazy with all the students. By acting crazy and fun we all relaxed and easily socialized with all the campers.
The last day of the retreat, I wanted to let my group know how much I enjoyed each and every one of their unique personalities. I wrote a quick note to each one saying that I was very blessed to be their counselor. I encouraged all the juniors in the group to come back and for the all the seniors to have the best of luck next year.
Overall CrunchTime taught me how to lead a group of students who were not in my age group. I learned that when leading, you must never be negative. If you put off a negative vibe then others will feel it as well. For example, if I rolled my eyes and thought the “Big Game” was stupid, then I just set the mood for them to believe that too. However, by exuding a peppy attitude and excitement about the retreat, the students absorbed that energy and they too participated willingly in the game and the rest of the retreat. The leadership skills I took away from CrunchTime will follow me with every leadership position I possess in the future. Next school year of 2014-2015, I will be the Fellowship chair at The Wesley Foundation. Even though I have never been on the Wesley's council before, I feel confident that I have the right attitude and drive to do well. I also plan on going back to CrunchTime next year to be on the leadership staff!
Written Spring of 2014