ORANGE COUNTY MIDDLE school students came together in the second of a three-part leadership conference to learn how to inspire, speak in public and work together.
More than 250 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students across the Diocese of Orange and Pax Christi Academies recently spent the day at Servite High School in Anaheim to build the strong foundation needed to be a servant leader. The series will continue with more leadership training in April at Rosary Academy.
LIANA LODEVICO, 10, FROM ST. PIUS V CATHOLIC SCHOOL, WORKS ON A SPAGHETTI TOWER DURING A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE AS PART OF A TACSC MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT LEADERSHIP DAY AT SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL ON FEB. 27. PHOTOS BY SCOTT SMELTZER/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“Leaders are born in all shapes and sizes,” Superintendent Dr. Erin Barisano said in her welcoming address to the middle-school students. “I think one of the hallmarks of our Catholic schools is to recognize those God given gifts that you have been born with and to bring them out so you can help serve others. That’s what leadership is, so we hope today is a great day.”
KAYLA TRAN, 13, FROM ST. BARBARA SCHOOL IN SANTA ANA, GIVES A SPEECH DURING A TACSC MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT LEADERSHIP DAY AT SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL.
The special event, which was sponsored by the diocese’s Catholic Schools department, was hosted by The Association of Catholic Student Councils (TACSC), a nonprofit leadership organization based in Pasadena with a curriculum built on four pillars: servant leadership, effective communication, lifelong mentoring and real-world strategic planning.
“Our student leadership days are all about bringing students together from all around the diocese to work on different leadership skills,” explained Ava Halliday, TACSC program director. “We focus on public speaking, team building and group dynamics, conflict resolution and problem solving and servant leadership. It’s an opportunity for them to develop these leadership skills outside the classroom, meet new people, and to do it in a fun way.”
High school students from Servite and Rosary led the middle schoolers in activities throughout the day. The first activity broke students up into small groups that focused on building leadership skills while also having fun and getting to know one another. Rosary junior Destiny and Servite senior Julien led their group in discussing what it means to be a leader and what guidance they look for in their own lives.
“Can anyone tell me the qualities of being a good leader?” Destiny asked her group. “What do you guys look for in leaders in your life?”
Students shared the traits they see in their own team captains, club leaders, coaches and teachers: good communication, patience and guiding those they lead.
St. Cecilia Catholic School student Valeria Folch, 12, said this is her second leadership conference. She enjoyed meeting students from different schools and learning how to be responsible even when worried or frustrated. Folch said she wants to build her leadership skills, learn to communicate better and help others — especially now that she’s a seventh grader and has a special responsibility on campus.
“I just wanted to learn about leadership and how to be a good leader, because when you are in seventh grade you get first-grade buddies,” Folch said, “so I want to show them how to be more mature, like when we go to Mass and in general.”