Leadership Scholar Program - Semester 5
Semester 5 of the Ithaca College Leadership Scholar Program was focused on constructing a professional student leader persona in the Park School, specifically through mentorship roles. As an Assistant Manager at my on-campus job, my responsibilities expanded and my established reputation had to be met with specific leadership goals. Outside of my field, I sought to diversify my volunteer background for the LSP.
Experiences
On Campus Involvement
Park Portable Equipment Center and Services (PPECS)
In my third semester working at PPECS, the Park School's library for student equipment and technical services, I have been given the responsibility of Assistant Pro Manager, the second-highest student position, as I prepare and train for full Pro Manager next semester. As such, my responsibilities at PPECS skyrocketed, encapsulating everything from daily management, schedule processing, hiring new employees, and guiding the center towards a stronger, more streamlined environment. Under leadership from two-full time professional managers, my upper-level tasks are primarily centered on personnel decisions, new equipment decisions/testing, and student workshops. As an assistant manager, I have the responsibility to ensure that all daily tasks are completed, such as the returns, checking, pre-checking, building, and delivery of upwards of 50-100 orders per week. After normal work hours, I conduct several one-on-one or group workshops with Park students, providing professional instruction on industry-standard equipment and tests to ensure full comprehension and application. I am also a primary consultant for adjusting the PPECS operational practices, providing input for structural changes for our online checkout center and within staff management. As a fellow student employee, I walk the fine line between boss and co-worker, serving as a peer leader for new employees and pushing established employees into challenging environments. Working at PPECS is the best experience I've had at IC.
Open Mic Night
Fall '24 was very busy, but I still found time to express my passion and love for music in a space of growth, learning, and entertainment! Open Mic Night has been such a fantastic opportunity to expand my comfortability with art outside of film, building connections and relationships with students from every school at IC. As someone who has stepped into major leadership roles, Open Mic offers a space to build public speaking skills in a safe environment, where I have to push myself to be a live entertainer. Interacting with the audience, building up courage to invite my friends, and being featured on the Open Mic Instagram profile have all been moments of personal direct and indirect leadership growth. I hope to be able to do more Open Mic nights as my schedule settles next semester!
STUDENT PROJECTS & THESIS FILMS
The area in which I find most leadership opportunities exists outside of the traditional classroom and workplace, on student film sets. The backbone of the Park School cinema program, senior thesis films pull from the pool of all Park students to bring the best members onto their high-level productions. Working for entire weekends (sometimes even multiple), crew members volunteer their time and skills to bring these creative expressions to life. As a student manager of PPECS and a member of the PPECS Pro team, my skillset and knowledge are highly sought-after within the program, creating opportunities to take on significant production roles. Most frequently working as a Director of Photography, my leadership techniques are built upon communication, management, and delegation. With strict time constraints and thousands of dollars on the line, thesis sets are high-tension experiences in which high-efficiency is key. In my fifth semester, I found myself DPing two thesis and two other various independent video projects for student organizations, Assistant Camera operating two theses, and producing several. These projects build time management skills, as I have to balance school and work on top of filming nearly every weekend!
Intramural Flag Football
While not my main focus, I have a deep passion for sports, specifically football and baseball. When I heard that there was a team in need of a Quarterback, my baseball throwing skills and football knowledge were finally able to be applied in a semi-official setting! Due to my busy weekend schedule, I was not able to make many of the games. However, I find it important within my "leading of self" toolbox to find times for personal enjoyment. Not to mention, leading a full team of rag-tag players to a win in the Ithaca fall/winter weather is quite a leadership experience! Quick communication and decision making skills were flexed and strengthened with this team!
Source: The Ithacan
Community Service
SERVICE SATURDAYS
This semester, I challenged myself to go outside of my volunteering comfort zone, trying a new Service Saturday at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ithaca and Tompkins County! Working with a group of roughly 10 kids from families of need, I was able to connect with one individual student. As my "buddy" for the day, we did activities like gym games, scavenger hunts, and group activities! It was rewarding to be able to provide mentorship to a child who is was clearly still developing emotional-behavioral skills. I used my skills as an oldest sibling (of four!) and was able to build trust and friendship with my little "brother". The entire group of volunteers felt extremely fulfilled to work on our communication and leadership skills with people younger than ourselves! A very unique opportunity that I hope to return to!
SLI: Leadership Skills Assessment
"Leadership Skills Assessment," presented by Jess Shapiro, was a comprehensive look into our personal skills as leaders. Working in groups to brainstorm what leadership meant to each of us, we determined common values of communication, confidence, and patience; traits that all good leaders share. Using an assessment, we discovered our strengths and places we still need to grow!
