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LEADERSHIP
By the second year, there’s a good
chance your student has found one
or two clubs or organizations they
are participating in. One way to link
their involvement activity to gaining
valuable career skills is by seeking
a leadership position within the
organization. Having great leadership
skills is one area most employers
seek out, yet it is not always taught
directly within classes.
Student Leadership and Community
Engagement
Developing students to be capable,
confident leaders who are able to take
action to make positive, sustainable
change has long been a priority for
institutions of higher education in the U.S. In addition to developing students
to be the leaders our world requires upon graduation, leadership development
has a significant impact on the college student experience. We have found that
leadership development increases a college student’s self-efficacy, academic
performance and personal development. At Clemson, there is a universitywide
focus on the development of student leaders, including both curricular and
co-curricular leadership and community engagement experiences:
•
Leadership VOICE
This program is an intensive and transformative experience that seeks to
produce breakthroughs in the leadership capacity of participants. Through
this two-day experience students explore their personal leadership skills and
develop a plan for the legacy they will leave at Clemson. The experience is
designed to be interactive and focused on action, but is also visionary and
encourages creativity and big-picture thinking.
PARENT TESTIMONIAL
“Getting involved right away
has been a key to our students’
success. Immediately upon
landing at Clemson, they both
attended first week activities,
which are available in
abundance. Numerous campus
organizations host events all
week long. Our children chose
to visit organizations where
they would meet people with
interests similar to theirs.
Both of them met people that
first week with whom they
became friends, and they have
remained involved in some
of those organizations.
Good friends do not come
along overnight, and it takes
time to develop those deep
and lasting relationships. At
home, our children had some
of the same friends since early
elementary school. Those types
of relationships are not easily
repeated. So, we have had to
encourage and love our kids
through some lonely times. We
have let them know what they
are experiencing is normal
and that it won’t last forever.”
Rhonda Barinowski
North Augusta, S.C.
How You Can Support
As a family member, one of the best things you can do for your student
is to recognize this may be happening. Your student may feel it is harder
at this point to reach out to you or someone at school for help. Your
student most likely has to start making some more important decisions
at school with internships, classes, involvement, etc. Talk to them and ask
them about these things, as they may not bring them up. It may give them
some confidence talking through them. The absolute best thing you can do
for your student during this time is to listen. Listen to them as they confide
in you, and provide encouragement with their decisions.
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