My Experience At Key Leader

by Ola Alexander from George C. Marshall High School, Falls Church, Virginia

While at Key Leader, I learned what a true leader was. I always thought I was already the best leader I could be. I learned that there was different ways to be a leader and that there was different kinds of leaders. Leaders can be analyzers, innovators, implementers, and/or collaborators. I learned that I was a collaborator. Before I attended Key Leader, I believed that I was such a good leader because I had traveled the world and lived in a different country. While living overseas I learned how to get along with people who were different from my family. When I attended Key Leader, I realized that you could be a leader without even leaving your neighborhood, just like Larry. When I first arrived at the camp site, I didn't know what to expect. I thought I would be hungry and I wasn't sure what kind of people where going to be there. I had it made up in my mind that I was going to be spending the weekend with the people I already knew from school. I was not against meeting new people, but I thought they would be spending time with their friends from school. I realized how very wrong I was the very first night. On the first night we did lots of activities that allowed everyone to get to know each other. I have never been a person who judges people, but from these activities, I really learned not to judge people. I believe I talked to just about everybody that was there, and I was so glad that I had not judged them. I became really close with a lot of the people who were there. I really enjoyed meeting the new people and doing group activities. They were really fun. My favorite part was the ropes course. It was so fun getting to trust my group members and learning how to collaborate together. From doing the ropes course, I learned trust people easier. I also learned to try new things while working with my group on the ropes course. Going to Key Leader was worth it because I will take with me the things that I learned about being a leader in my community and apply them. I can also share what I learned with my friends and family. Future students should go because they would learn so much. I believe I left a better person, and I think they would also. They should also go because they would learn to work with others, and get to know people with different backgrounds. Since this experience benefited me, I know it would benefit future students.

For more information about the Capital District Key Leader weekends in spring 2010 in Millersville, Maryland, and fall 2010 in the Hampton Roads area (specific details to be announced), please contact District Chair Nicole McDermott at capitalkeyleader@gmail.com or 703.917.8877. Search Capital District Key Leader on Facebook and become a fan!