I served as a facilitator at the LLC, which means I was assigned a group of 12 students to mentor throughout the conference. On Day 1, I helped usher students from the drop-off area to the check-in lobby, where I first met Sam (name changed to protect their identity). Sam appeared reluctant to be there.
After check-in, we gathered in the auditorium for introductions and our first guest speaker, Molly Kennedy. During the introductions, Molly asked the students to raise their hands if they were unsure why they were there or if they didn't want to attend. Sam raised their hand and was called down to the stage with a few other students to grab a prize.
This was the turning point. On Sam’s way back to their seat, a group of students stopped Sam to compliment their outfit, and Sam’s face completely lit up. After that, I saw Sam sitting with that same group during meals and free time, laughing and clearly enjoying connecting with others.
This was the turning point. On Sam’s way back to their seat, a group of students stopped Sam to compliment their outfit, and Sam’s face completely lit up. After that, I saw Sam sitting with that same group during meals and free time, laughing and clearly enjoying connecting with others.
After going through the leadership steps presented in the conference, Sam went from being a quiet, reluctant participant on Day 1 to leading their peers in leadership activities, speaking up during Q&As, and being the first one on the dance floor during the morning pump-up sessions.
It was wonderful to witness Sam’s growth, and I believe Sam is a perfect example of why it is so important to sponsor students who might not immediately strike you as the typical leader type. Sam is a great example of what the Life Leadership Conference can do for a student's development, and I'm positive that it made a lasting impact.
Article submitted by Coleman Schindler, a facilitator at Life Leadership Conference.