SUMMARY:
The Student Leader Roundtable is through the University Honors Program. It consists of a group of students who value leadership and have participated in a leadership role through student-led or university organizations. Leadership is something that I’ve been actively working on since I have been a high school student, and I’ve learned a lot about leadership and what it takes to be successful at it. During the spring semester, we met biweekly, where a small group of about ten honors students would collaborate and have an open-ended conversation about the struggles faced when taking part in leadership on campus. This opportunity made me more self-aware of areas I may need improvement on as a leader and gave me a sense of community as there were times when we collectively faced the same issues as student leaders. Below I have included summaries of what each meeting consisted of.
Session 1
Welcome Meeting!
For the first meeting, we all took the time to introduce one another and the various organizations and leadership roles we were a part of. As a collective group, we were able to pick out five topics that we found valuable to discuss throughout the spring semester. At the end of this meeting, I was very excited to speak with students whom all had the common goal of making each other better leaders and sorting through the struggles of being an on-campus leader.
Session 2
Diversity and Inclusion & Recruitment
My partner Morgan and I were the first to hold a meeting discussing the struggles of diversity, inclusion, and recruitment. We both thought that these topics would go hand and hand as during recruitment, it is essential to make everyone feel that they will be welcomed and supported no matter their race, sexual orientation, financial class, culture, etc. One of the significant motives for recruitment that we all struggled with as leaders is that since Covid, it has been really difficult to get students to become involved. Morgan gave the group strategies and techniques to encourage students to join our organizations, such as tabling with fun activities. My main motive for discussing diversity and inclusion was first to explain that diversity can look different in many ways and that lack of awareness or knowledge could hinder us from being supportive leaders in an inclusionary aspect. I provided advice to tie into recruitment by explaining that something as simple as addressing pronouns makes others feel comfortable enough to address their own and shows that, as an organization, we value that. As well as displaying flags that support communities are ways of showing support. I thoroughly enjoyed our discussion as my peers seemed engaged and hungry to learn more.
Session 3
Transitions in Student Leadership
Our third session covered the topic of the struggles of transitioning into a student leadership position for underclassmen and transitioning out of a student leadership position for our seniors. Ironically some more sophomores and juniors have already occupied leadership positions, only one freshman who would be transitioning into a position, and two seniors who would soon be graduating to start a new chapter. Collectively, we reflected on ways to prepare students wanting to transition into a student leadership position. It can be tough transitioning into a leadership position because you usually don’t know what work goes into it until you finally have the position. We all suggested strategies where general members could sit in on leadership meetings to see if they fit them. We concluded that it would be a great idea for student leaders who will be graduating to observe and build a dynamic that would set their organization up for success after leaving. Overall what I most appreciated about this meeting is that it made me realize that we all have to leave our organizations, and as leaders, we must ensure that we leave our organization in good hands.
Session 4
Inter-Organization Collaboration
Our discussion on inter-organization collaboration was one of my favorite sessions because collaboration wasn’t something the organizations I was a part of partook in often. I learned that partnering with other organizations benefits the contributing organizations. One organization may have more funding or connections than the other they could be lacking or vice versa. With more people coming together with one goal, it makes it easier for both ends to accomplish it. One of the most important aspects to consider when agreeing to collaborate is to ensure that each group has the same goal, so effectively noting your purpose will set each organization up for success. Three types of collaboration were covered: connective, creative, and compounding. Not only will these types of collaboration contribute to a specific goal, but they will also tie into problem-solving skills, communication skills, and diversity. I plan to carry the idea of collaboration in the future as I have recently accepted an event planning position, so collaboration is a way to grow as a leader.
Session 5
What Makes a Good Leader?
Our last discussion included individually speaking about how we would describe someone as a good leader. What made someone a good leader was someone who was is strong-willed. As a student leader, you must balance the various tasks you must complete in your daily life. You have to be able to be tugged three different ways and remain dependable because, ultimately, you are the backbone of the organization. A good leader is someone personable, someone, who is authentic and can express who they are. Not only as a leader, are you in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly, but you should also be someone that is approachable. Members should feel comfortable enough to talk to you about their concerns, whether about the organization or their personal life.Additionally, I think it’s essential to build relationships within your organization. As a leader, you aren’t just selected to fill the void of a needed leadership position for the organization. I believe that the imprint you leave on those parts of the organization can go a long way as they will have a deeper meaning of a leader and more value.
Session 6
Reflection
Our last meeting consisted of reflecting on our learning throughout the spring semester. I am very appreciative to have spoken with such great leaders within the University of Cincinnati’s campus. I learned more about who I am as a leader and what areas I can focus on to continue growing and evolving. I plan to carry on what I’ve learned during each meeting throughout my last year of college and beyond!