With the mission to challenge, to support and to grow into leaders, the campus organization Student Educators for Active Leadership (S.E.A.L.) fosters students into citizen leaders by having fun, by turning friendships into family and by becoming better people along the way.
Rachael Knick ,a sophomore Communication Sciences & Disorders major, is a member of S.E.A.L. Speaking for the organization, she said, “We believe we’re an organization that builds citizen leaders on campus by not just being a member of an organization, but also by promoting leadership on campus.”
Knick said, “I think that S.E.A.L. is not as recognized on campus, but I feel like we really do contribute a lot to it.”
Throughout the year, S.E.A.L. sponsors programs in conjunction with the Office of Leadership & Civic Engagement. These activities include the New Student Leadership Program (NSLP) in August or early September and the Mountain Lake Leadership Conference in November and the Social Justice in Action Leadership Conference in February.
With the purpose of making the transition into college life easier, NSLP involves students in low-and high- ropes courses in Charlottesville, Va.
According to the NSLP application, “You will learn about group dynamics, leadership, good decision-making and other valuable skills.”
Knick said, “I see people go into NSLP so scared and come out so confident in themselves because they helped contribute to a team and build better confidence.”
She further stated, “Going, I’ve been told, has really changed their life for the
better, and I think that leading that and bringing that to them educates students on what they should experience and what they should be like on campus. They should be a leader on campus.”
The Mountain Lake Leadership Conference is located at Mountain Lake in Pembroke, Va., the same location where the psrt of the 1997 American movie “Dirty Dancing” was filmed. Every year, the conference features workshops based on a chosen theme.
At this event, Knick said, “You meet friends, and you feel like you’ve contributed to their college experience just from one weekend.”
The Social Justice in Action Leadership Summit is an annual event organized by both S.E.A.L. and the Student Diversity & Inclusion Council. In the event, students learn about racial inequalities and how to combat them through various workshops and speakers.
S.E.A.L. also participates in various on-campus community service events, including the Big Event and Relay for Life.
Knick noted that what drew her into the campus were various members of S.E.A.L., including President of S.E.A.L. Alissa Ritchie. Knick added, “I really wanted to help [the] campus because I feel like they’ve helped me a lot, even being a sophomore ... Just knowing that S.E.A.L. has made such an impact on campus really drew me to it.”
Speaking on how she has been influenced as a member of the organization, Knick said, “I guess that I become a better leader. I’m much more outspoken. I used to be very nervous, shy around groups of people, but I feel very comfortable speaking in front of groups of people, especially S.E.A.L.”
“We’re somewhat like a family. We have a mentor program for when we first come in to kind of give us an idea of how to do things, and I never felt like I can’t ask a question,” she said. She further stated, “It’s made me grow as a person and a leader, and I want to step up and do a lot of things for them because if I feel like being a part of an organization, my dedication is just as important as other peoples’ dedication even if I’m just one person.” To be a member of S.E.A.L., a few of the
many obligations include attendance of at least one open house, 100 percent participation and “lead[ing] by example through language, friendliness and willingness to help others and by challenging and inspiring others to get involved,” according to the S.E.A.L. 2013 application.
The application to be a member of S.E.A.L. for the 2013-14 academic year was on March 13. New members were initiated into S.E.A.L.’s organization this past Tuesday on March 26.
S.E.A.L. is sponsored by the Office of Leadership & Civic Engagement.
