Junior Leadership Seminar: Cultivating tomorrow's global leaders
As part of the 40th Junior Leadership Seminar (JLS), students from across DoDEA Europe gathered in Hubingen, Germany last week. The Junior Leadership Seminar is an immersive, six-day experience tailored for seventh and eighth grade students. This seminar serves as a foundational journey for young minds to develop into leaders in a globally interconnected community.
At the seminar, leadership is not just taught, it's experienced.
Throughout the event, students engage in hands-on activities and workshops focusing on essential leadership skills. These include listening skills, leadership traits, effective decision making, time management, goal setting, and project management.
"JLS taught me that different situations require different leadership styles. I never realized that before,” stated Sophie, a student from Wiesbaden Middle School in Germany, attending the seminar.
The seminar emphasizes the importance of advocacy, fundraising, as well as intercultural and interpersonal skills, all crucial for future leaders.
"Being a part of JLS during its 40th anniversary was inspiring. Knowing that I am a part of something larger is reassuring. I'm only in middle school, but the leadership lessons that I learned this week will help me be successful in anything that I want to try,” stated Beatrice, a student from Wiesbaden Middle School.
A unique aspect of Junior Leadership Seminar is the integration of team building exercises, which not only foster a sense of unity among participants but also enhance collaborative skills essential in any leadership role.
The highlight of the seminar is the development of a service, spirit, or needs-based project. Students are encouraged to conceptualize, plan, and upon returning to their schools, implement these projects. This hands-on approach ensures that the leadership principles learned during the seminar are applied in real-world scenarios, nurturing a generation of responsible, innovative, and community-focused leaders.
"The most valuable lesson I learned is how to prioritize when not being supervised. I also learned how to incorporate others in the conversation or topic we were discussing,” shared Isabella, a student from AFNORTH Middle High School in the Netherlands. “I know that I can be strong by myself but learning how to work with others was a fundamental part of learning how to be a leader, and not overpowering the conversation is what can get me through life."
