Leadership Forum first of its kind
Bringing out the best
Students
who participated in the Leadership Forum.
About 75 students, nominated by faculty and fellow students, attended
Memorial’s Leadership Forum Nov. 3. The event, the first of its kind
in Canada, recognizes the contributions of campus leaders and invests
in their ongoing development. The Leader’s Forum also provides student
leaders an opportunity to share their expertise with one another, according
to coordinator Jennifer Manning, whose own involvement with campus activities
began with a stint as a group leader during orientation week.
The forum is designed to encourage and promote leadership activity with
the myriad of clubs, societies and volunteer organizations throughout
Memorial University. As the global village expands, the number of special
interest groups on campus increases as well, resulting in a greater need
for students with leadership skills. MUN is well aware of this growing
international trend and within the broader context of Celebrating Memorial’s
November special events, Memorial is encouraging and educating a new generation
of student leaders.
The forum boasted a full day’s roster of lectures and activities
centring around the forum’s theme, The Leader Within. The students,
clad in complimentary leadership t-shirts, participated in a personality
test in order to determine their personal strengths and individual leadership
styles, and broke a decent sweat playing a Survivor-type game designed
to encourage both teamwork and strong organizational skills. Whispered
strategic plans, laughter and cheers of triumph filled the old Thomson
Centre cafeteria as the various teams competed to complete their assigned
tasks correctly, in the fastest time possible.
Amanda Boone, a first-year nursing student at the Sir Wilfred Grenfell
College campus in Corner Brook, admitted that she was “frightened
to death” when told that she had been nominated to attend the fast-growing
forum in St. John’s. Frightened or not, she took her first plane
trip alone from the west coast of the province, and negotiated St. John’s
– a city as unfamiliar to her as Memorial’s campus itself –
entirely by herself. Although the experience was at first intimidating,
Ms. Boone considers it invaluable. This year’s recipient of the David
Kirkland award for student leaders, Ms. Boone never considered herself
a candidate for student leadership, and was never involved in student
activities prior to attending the Grenfell campus. Through a position
as resident’s assistant, she gradually got to know other volunteers
and became more deeply involved in university activities.
Many students wonder how they can get involved in opportunities such as
these. Frank Durnford, a fourth year Memorial student also attending the
weekend forum, spoke of an “almost unofficial network” existing
in the volunteer community at MUN, a concept echoed by a number of other
students. By getting involved in the smallest of ways, students open up
themselves to numerous connections and a supportive community, eager to
help out its members. Often, a single volunteer position can lead to a
greater variety of experiences. The key concept appears to be “start
small”, a reassuring notion to an uncertain first- or fourth-year
student.
The 2001 Leader’s Forum concluded with a reception at the University
Club. Elegant cello music played as participants, organizers and speakers
helped themselves to food and drink. Through the windows, St. John’s
at dusk was a sea of twinkling lights as each student was presented with
a university pin and a certificate signifying completion of the Leader’s
Forum.
The forum went off without a hitch and, by all accounts, is a valuable
addition to the Celebrate Memorial events.
Also during the week, 628 first-year students were recognized at an entrance
scholarship award ceremony, and a volunteer fair was held featuring community
agencies. Students interested in student leadership opportunities can
contact both the Student Life Centre and the Volunteer Centre for further
information.
