Thanks to Nicole Lando, Alpha Gamma Delta, for her Feature Friday thoughts on Leadershape!
My LeaderShape Experience:
Leaning in to Discomfort
As a Greek student, I’ve attended my fair share of team building
and leadership-focused facilitations. That being said, I had no idea what I
would experience when I applied to attend the LeaderShape Institute. At the
start of the Institute, I was in a place of transition. As a student who also
planned to study abroad in the Spring 2017 semester, I wasn’t entirely sure how
my narrative would fit in with that of everyone else’s. Unlike the rest of the
group, I wouldn’t be returning to Lehigh after the week.
I arrived on campus already unsure of how my experience would go.
The week before, I was placed in a cumbersome plastic air cast due to a chronic
foot injury that I had been ignoring for far too long. Seeing as the Institute
would take place at a camp in the Pocono mountains, I also wasn’t sure how much
this would limit me from participating in group activities. Thankfully, I was
quite wrong.
In just six days, LeaderShape helped me foster some of the most
amazing relationships with other Lehigh students that I otherwise would have
never known here on campus. (Shout out to my Lit Lemons cluster family; you are
all forever in my heart.) LeaderShape enhanced my abilities to lead with
integrity, both as a member of the Greek community, as well as a Lehigh
student. Thanks to a team of incredibly dedicated staff members and some great
late night conversations with other LeaderShapers, I’ve broadened my
perspective on where Lehigh’s existing culture thrives, as well as problems
that have arisen over time. Our group was so incredibly diverse in thought and
backgrounds; allowing me to see unique perspectives on issues I had discussed
in the past.
LeaderShape gave me confidence that there are some incredibly powerful
students here at Lehigh who have the ability to enact lasting change. As a
junior surrounded by many first and second year students, I couldn’t believe
how brilliant and welcoming this group was.
I’m positive that the skills and lessons I’ve gained through
LeaderShape will take me far in the rest of my time at Lehigh, as well as
through my career aspirations beyond college. Additionally, I now see so much
room for development that I can’t wait to bring back to the organizations to
which I’ve dedicated my time: as a member of my chapter, as a past GEM mentor,
and other roles beyond those in Greek life.