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Leadership seminar inspires students

By PHYLLIS SALMONS
CORRESPONDENT

N-J Photo/PHYLLIS SALMONS Seventh-graders Jolisa Spencer, 13, left, and Alexis Williams, 12, discuss the reprecussion of choices with Dr. Ram Nayer, a microbiologist from Daytona Beach Community College.
Teah Culver	Ashley Pratt

Leaders stood up to be counted at a conference at Campbell Middle School last week. The Student Leadership Conference on Jan. 23 offered student leaders the opportunity to hear municipal dignitaries, School Board members and business owners share their experiences and give advice about dealing with stress, making choices, communicating effectively, handling peer pressure, being assertive, and identifying strengths.

"It's never too late to start going the right way," Campbell Middle School seventh-grader Teah Culver, 12, said of the day. "We can learn how to deal with stress, work out our problems and become better leaders."

"The Student Leadership Conference is a great opportunity for the students," said Michael Chitwood, Chief of the Daytona Police. "A lot of kids don't have good role models. Campbell Middle School and the Rotary West go out of their way to provide valuable input from community leaders from all walks of life."

"Choices made in the early years can follow us for the rest of our lives," said Dr. Ram Nayar, Professor of Microbiology at Daytona Beach Community College.

Nayar was the leader of a breakout session entitled "The Choice is Yours" offered at the Leadership Conference.

In addition to six breakout sessions, a panel discussion was offered by a variety of individuals.

"Dr .Nayar helped show us how to accept the choices that will help us reach our goals," said seventh-grader Alexis Williams, 12. "He said we must follow our hearts and we should not worry too much about what others think."

Alexis has her heart set on becoming a family lawyer.

"In fact, I learned that making no choice is making a choice," seventh-grader Jasmine Woodard, 12 said. "It is not too soon to start building a foundation for a successful life."

Jasmine has set her sights on becoming a doctor or lawyer.

All participants were impressed with the number of local municipal and business leaders who came out to support the conference.

"It is obvious they care a lot about young people and they love their community," Jasmine said.

Classmate Jolisa Spencer, 13, said, "Most of these people have very busy schedules and the fact that they would take the time to come talk to us shows how much they care. They told us about the obstacles they faced and encouraged us to think positively."

Jolisa wants to be a lawyer or a model.

"I think that it is very important for kids like us to have someone to talk to," said sixth-grader Ashley Pratt,11. "Having a conference geared toward student leaders and their future success fit the bill perfectly."

Ashley has plans to become a crime scene investigator.

The Campbell Middle School Student Leadership Conference was the brainchild of Assistant Principal Joe Rawlings and Daytona Beach Rotary West member Shirley Browder.

"We wanted to bring our future leaders a chance to learn from today’s leaders," Rawlings said. "We hope that the benefits will grow exponentially as our participants share what they have learned with classmates for years to come."

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