LIMA — Stereotypes can cause communication barriers, even in a relatively small area.
Closing those barriers is just one of several goals with the Allen Lima Youth Leadership class.
“A lot of people have stereotypes of how you see people from other school districts, even here in Allen County,” said Allen Lima Leadership Executive Director Heather Rutz. “This is a very diverse group. They get the opportunity to meet other people from other districts and find out that they have a lot in common. They get to know each other and work together. It is a valuable lesson in leadership.”
The program held its graduation ceremony Wednesday at Husky Lima Refinery Recreation Hall. A total of 27 students who are sophomores or juniors at Allen County schools finished the program, which began in October. Rutz said sophomores and juniors are chosen purposely so they can take what they learned back to their respective schools and spread what they have learned. Other lessons with the program include learning how the Allen County community works, understanding and accepting civic responsibilities, developing their own leadership skills, and responding to concerns in their community with service projects.
This year’s class has developed three service projects that will be conducted throughout the year. Challenge Day was developed to show the importance of having good self-esteem and how leaving people out of social situations can lead to bad circumstances. The students participating in that group showed a video, which showed a casual story line of a boy and a girl meeting at school after communicating by writing on a desk. The story ends with a gun violence situation, and once replayed, it is shown how easy it is to miss obvious signs.
A second group developed You’re Irreplaceable, aimed at the problem with suicide. A Suicide Prevention Week is planned at a later date to focus on the problem.
The third project, called The Nest, will focus on bullying and has already made strides in fundraising. A fundraising event is planned for 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at Chipotle in Lima, where 50 percent of funds will go to the program.
Riley Webb, 15, and a sophomore at Spencerville, said he first chose the program so it would look good on his college résumé. However, he said he also picked up many valuable skills.
“The way it impacted me is that I had to learn to work together with people I never met, just like in the real world,” Riley said. “These skills I developed I feel will make me a more effective leader wherever I go.”
Allison Bowsher, 16, a junior at Spencerville, said she was involved in a lot of leadership roles at her school and wanted to improve on those skills.
“We did a personality test that showed our strengths and weaknesses as leaders,” Allison said. “I learned how to evaluate what my strengths were and when to take a leadership role. I also learned when to no longer be a chief and to sit back and be an Indian.”
Londell Smith, an ALL Committee member, challenged all of the graduates to share what they had learned.
“Take these experiences and share them with your classmates,” Smith said. “Think about what you are going to leave behind that will benefit the next generation.”
Applications for next year’s program are available at http://allenlimaleadership.com.
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