Aspects of Leadership Sets the Foundation for Prep for Prep Students to Become Effective Leaders

After two years of virtual programming, Aspects of Leadership, Prep for Prep’s signature leadership development program, is back in person. Over the course of three days in August, students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade gathered at LREI to engage in our required curriculum focused on ethical and effective leadership. They read defining texts on leadership, examined case studies, and participated in role-play exercises to understand the kind of leadership that is increasingly needed in today’s diverse society. 

During the first two days, students in Aspects 1 received an introduction to the concept of leadership. In sessions led by Prep alumni and supported by Prep undergraduate teaching assistants, the youngest students explored the tasks and attributes of leaders and the ideas of power and authority. They then applied what they learned to a simulation activity. Each student in the group took on the role of a member of Libertyville. As doctors, journalists, and other professionals in the community, they participated in school board meetings and as members of the town’s city council, country club, local union, Chamber of Commerce and other organizations, and worked together to make decisions about running the town.  

Students in Aspects 2 focused on the similarities and differences of transactional and transformational leadership. They developed a community dictionary to help make the language of leadership accessible to people from different backgrounds, examined the four stages of social movements, and watched a film titled Precious Knowledge, which documents high school students’ fight to save the Mexican-American Studies Program in Arizona’s Tucson Unified School District. The students also engaged in a role-playing game about privilege, oppression, and intersectionality called C’est la Vie.

In Aspects 3, the program’s final module, students explored the idea of rhetoric versus reality. Topics of discussion included radical imagination, individualism and responsibility, and patriotism versus nationalism. Discussion materials included an article titled “I Love America. That’s Why I Have to Tell the Truth About It.” 

While Day One concluded with a session titled Finding Your Platform: How Your Real and Digital Reputation Works For You, presented by Andrew Ricketts (XVII), Day Two closed with a speed networking session with Prep alumni. Students had an opportunity to hear from alumni working in entertainment, government, law, tech, art, and finance. 

On the third and final day of Aspects, participants engaged in student-led programming focused on topics that are important to Prep students. Discussions included the impact of one’s name on one’s identity, sneaker culture, morality, debate versus dialogue versus discussion, and mass incarceration. Day Three ended with an alumni keynote by artist, writer, and immigration activist Marco Saavedra (P9 XVI).

Aspects staff and students were thrilled to be back in person. “You could see the excitement in students' eyes as they connected before and after class, during lunch, as well as in their student-led sessions and in-person with our alumni,” said Michael O’Leary, Prep for Prep’s Director of Leadership Development Projects. “It was very special to watch their social skills develop and friendships bloom before our eyes. We plan for a full academic conference with many learning goals, yet building community is always at the top.”

Aspects of Leadership would not be possible without the generous financial support of Liz Perelstein (in honor of Michael Perelstein) and the Max and Sunny Howard Memorial Foundation, and the contribution of time and knowledge by the following individuals: 

Alumni Facilitators: Karen Alonzo (XXIII), Sinai Cruz (XXX), Alejandro Desince (XXX), Will Huang (XXIV), Sherina Jardine (XXV), and Ismail Lawal (P9 III).

 

Undergraduate Teaching Assistants: Aurelius Beckford (XXXVI), Abigail Drummond (P9 XXXVII), Lukas Kennedy (​​XXXVIII), and Madison Mason (XXXVIII). 

 

Alumni Mentors: 

Matthew Blackburn (XXVI)

Diógenes Brito (XXIII)

Barry Cleckley (P9 XVII)

Elizabeth Erra (XXIX)

Alicia Frank (XII)

Emilio Gonzalez (XXIX)

Heidi Guzman (XXV)

Zoe E. Jasper (VII)

Ngozi Max-Macarthy (P9 XX)

Christopher Mizell (XIX)

Justin Ng (XXV)

Nicholas Patascii (P9 XIII)

Ian Pearson (XXII)

Taylor Perez (XXIX)

Eni Popoola (XXIX)

Dominique Preito (XXVI)

Ann Satine (P9 XXI)

We are also grateful for the catered lunches provided to the students by La Morada, Marco Saavedra’s family restaurant.