Submitted article
This past summer, Bucyrus Middle School student Samuel Rager had a unique opportunity to learn about leadership traits. Rager was one of hundreds of students from across the United States to attend the Junior National Young Leaders conference in Washington, D.C.
The Junior National Young Leaders Conference (JrNYLC), an Envision program, is held in Washington, DC for mature middle school students who demonstrate leadership potential, who are motivated to learn and excel, and who desire the critical leadership skills needed for success in middle school, high school and beyond.
“I believe Samuel’s attendance at the Junior National Young Leaders conference in Washington, D.C. provided him with a unique opportunity to meet and work collaboratively with middle school students from all over the country,” Samuel’s mother Lori Rager said. “Each day the students took field trips to different locations in and around the Washington, D.C. area.”
Students who attend JrNYLC develop and sharpen the essential leadership skills needed for academic and career success by examining the leaders of the past, and are empowered to become leaders themselves. The program centers on leadership through a practical, everyday lens, incorporating a detailed examination of six leadership traits and focusing on leaders in American history and social advocacy.
“I had the opportunity to meet students from Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma and many other states from around the country,” Samuel said. “I connected with several students based on similar interests including one student who was a drummer like me.”
The Junior National Young Leaders Conference is filled with distinctive site experiences, hands-on exercises and workshops bring these concepts to life, while students work together to develop action plans that affect change within their homes and communities.
“We visited Harper’s Ferry and learned about how John Brown led a raid against the city to help free the slaves,” Samuel said. “We also visited the Capital Building and the monuments on the National Mall.”
In addition to visiting historic sites, students also learned about historical figures who were leaders in different areas of the development of the United States.
“Samuel really enjoyed the story of Thurgood Marshall,” Lori said. “He learned how Marshall overcame great adversity to get an education and subsequently become the first African-American Supreme Court Justice.”
The purpose of the field trips, and the conference as a whole, was to help Samuel learn how to develop his leadership skills. Students kept a journal that included many different aspects of leadership. Samuel was also responsible for getting to meals, lectures and activities on his own based on a schedule he was provided.
“I have reviewed the journal several times since I’ve been home and the biggest thing I need to improve on to be a better leader is communication,” Samuel said. “I need to try to understand more about what other people are thinking and what they are trying to relay to me through asking more questions.”
“Spending six days away from familiar surroundings and family has made Sam more confident and self-reliant,” Lori said. “This experience has broadened Samuel’s view of the world and his place in it.”
Those interested in learning more about the conference can do so by visiting http://www.envisionexperience.com/explore-our-programs/junior-national-young-leaders-conference.