Leadership Scholar Program - Semester 3
Semester 3 of the Ithaca College Leadership Scholar Program was one of growth, engagement, and discovery! After getting my footing during my first year, I decided to branch out and try new on-campus and off-campus experiences that are outside of my comfort zone.
Experiences
On Campus Involvement
Park Portable Equipment Center and Services (PPECS)
This semester was my first working at an on-campus job as a technical services employee for Park Portable Equipment Center and Services (PPECS). As a Park film student, PPECS is our source for professional equipment for every project, and being hired to work there was one of my collegiate goals. Getting the opportunity to work with professional equipment every day while providing technical support to other students is the perfect job for me. Working at PPECS requires organization, attentiveness, and acute communication skills, as each employee is responsible for building orders of equipment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. This job has taught me a lot about cooperation with coworkers, similar to being on a film set, as we are all working together towards a goal of building 30+ orders per day. It is essential for every student employee to be an engaged leader and listener in the workplace.
Open Mic Night
Fall '22 was my second semester being a part of the IC Open Mic Night organization, which has since become my favorite on-campus organization! With performances by singers, poets, writers, comedians, and musicians, my respect and appreciation for all forms of art has expanded exponentially. Every Thursday night, I am able to share personal songs with an audience of receptive and constructive listeners, and in turn I am able to engage with their performances. Open Mic has opened my eyes to new people, taught me about public speaking, and created a safe space to share my love for music.
Planned Parenthood Generation Action
This semester I decided that I wanted to try organizations outside of the Park school. With Roe v. Wade being overturned during the summer, I decided to try Ithaca College's Planned Parenthood Generation Action organization, which focuses on women empowerment and education about reproductive rights and injustices. With the national midterm election in early November, Planned Parenthood encouraged students to register to vote, especially students who reside in states where abortion and women's rights were on the ballot. The meetings typically include presentations displaying recent information pertaining to the organization, as well as some sort of action step (such as filling goodie bags for events). As someone who tries to stay active in his community by standing up for the underrepresented, Generation Action was an eye-opening experience for me!
STUDENT PROJECTS & THESIS FILMS
This involvement, while not technically an organization, is where most of my leadership growth stems from. As a film student, I work non-stop on projects for classmates. I am fortunate to have been asked to be a part of crews for multiple senior thesis films this semester, both as an assistant camera. Working with mostly established Park seniors, this work has expanded my leadership toolkit, as I am learning and applying skills from film crews of 30+ people. Communication, efficiency, timeliness, and listening are key pieces to a successful set, all of which I have absorbed and can now implement on my own projects. This semester I have voluntarily worked approximately 70+ hours on student projects (other than my own).
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Community Service
SERVICE SATURDAYS
In October, I was able to return to my favorite Service Saturday location, Kendal at Ithaca! Each semester, the retirement community invites Ithaca College students to volunteer with helping the residents who need simple technology help, including new device set-up, current device maintenance, and other miscellaneous items. This event is perfect for students who love to connect with the Ithaca community, as most of the residents have lived in and around Ithaca for most of their lives. Volunteering for Kendal involves more than just tech help, as many elderly people are just seeking someone to talk with. As I was leaving, some of the residents suggested that I come and teach a basic technology introduction class for those who need regular help. I'm considering looking into that option for next semester!
SLI: Leading vs. Managing: What's the Difference?
"Leading vs. Managing: What's the Difference? A LOT!," presented by Connor Watson, was my first SLI of the semester, in which we discussed the difference between a leader and a manager. Participation was essential for this session, as Watson encouraged us to use real-life experience with leaders and managers to find the difference. I learned that the best leaders can manage and encourage growth of everyone, while the best managers are not necessarily leaders; rather, they just adhere to structures.
