Learning to Lead

Close to one hundred students from area schools spent their day learning how to be leaders. But organizers of the annual leadership forum at Angelo State University say students were chosen to take part because they already are showing leadership abilities.

Megan Aldridge, a student at Veribest High School says leadership is more than just telling people what to do.

"If you just stand up there and boss people around then they're probably not going to listen to you," she says, "Whereas if you're a leader you help them out, tell them where to go, but you also tend to their needs."

Cody Manning, a student at Grape Creek High School, says, "Good leadership is being able to guide a group of people without forcing them to do it."

Victoria Aguila of Grape Creek High School says leadership "shows how you are, it shows your personality and how well you communicate with others."

High school sophomores from San Angelo schools, Grape Creek, Miles and Veribest took part in the annual junior leadership forum at ASU. They were chosen by teachers and school counselors, who believe the students already are showing a tendency to lead and influence others.

Event co-chairman Stacie Squier says "It's kind of like a diamond in the rough. We are working with them and pointing out all these leadership aspects and characteristics. And when they see it in themselves and see it in their peer group, then we know that when they go out in the community they'll apply it and become good leaders."

The day included speeches from community and business leaders, team building exercises, and planning a community service project. The goal, organizers say, is to take people who have the capacity to be good leaders, show them how it's done.