The Heart of the Leader Training event will take place Sunday, February 10th and Monday, February 11th at Texas A&M-Texarkana, facilitated by Bobby Audley, a leadership character development trainer. This training will accompany a total of 11 student participants hosted by the student activities committee, formally known as Student Life.
This rigorous training is intended to refine and enhance student success. The training consists of multiple educational breakout sessions that address such subjects as motivation, stress management, communication skills, decision-making, ethical leadership, and group processing techniques. Students as well as varying participants are said to graduate from the training with a noticeably new-found confidence, assured future goals, and long-lasting self-awareness.
Since the training is an all-day two-day event, and resides on a Sunday and Monday, many students are positioned to sacrifice religious and academic scheduled days. Though the training workshop is supported by the president of Texas A&M-Texarkana, when students sign up, they are required to commit to the schedule entirely. All assignments surrounding the set dates are to be left under the student’s responsibility and handled accordingly. Professors are even asked to support the students despite the training necessitating their absence of class.
Furthermore, Heart of a Leader is taken very serious by everyone involved. Students breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all accommodated by the campus. As well as, the materials needed to complete the program. A formal letter is sent to the professors and they along with family friends, and supporters are asked to attend to Heart of a Leader graduation ceremony at the completion of the training. Supporters have been known to take great lengths to show their support. Some have traveled from Dallas and taken off work, even past graduates from all over come to support future graduates of whom they’ve never met. All in order so that they may attend this one-hour graduation.
As this day approached a group of past and present participants were interviewed.
“I’m really excited about this thing, I’ve committed to entering this with an open heart!” said Casey Castell, who is a freshman here at Texas A&M-Texarkana.
“Honestly, I am nervous. I mean, I am an extremely shy person and I don’t really know what to expect. The email about it was specific but vague at the same time. I know one of the activities will cover communication and leadership skills…but what does that even mean? What will I be forced to do?” says another freshman participant named Leslie.
Her face began to tense up as if she were searching for an internal relief. Nevertheless, she digressed with a sigh and said, “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“…Well, I am very excited but apprehensive. A friend of mine participated last year and he said I will be forced out of my comfort zone but that I will also appreciate all of it in the end. He didn’t tell me specifically what will take place.” says Matthew a junior participant.
As the interview came to a close each student agreed that the experience will be “life changing and eventful”.