FIUTS Leads 2020: Reflecting on Student Leadership Development
On Friday May 22, 2020, FIUTS facilitators and community members joined together at FIUTS Leads, an annual leadership conference led by the FIUTS Student Board. During the conference, participants explored professional leadership development through workshops, a series of games, and a panel discussion. Kathryn Zhang, former FIUTS Programming and Leadership Committee Co-Chair, shares her reflections on the conference below...
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WHAT DID YOU LEARN about leadership and teamwork DuRING the planning process leading up to FIUTS Leads?
“I learned how important it is to have everyone working towards a common goal. We made significant progress when everyone was focused and known what to expect. Our last three weekly meetings were very productive despite being physically apart. It was a pleasure to work with team members who took up initiatives and responsibilities.”
WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM the participants at FIUTS Leads that will help you as a leader?
“From the first activity, I learned that people with unlike personalities would deal with the same issue differently. I became more understanding of the various reactions towards problem-solving. From the second activity, our participants shared the leaders they admire. It was inspirational to me as a leader to acquire some of the quality they mentioned qualities, such as humble, prudence, service, and generosity.”
This year, due to COVID-19, FIUTS Leads took place virtually over Zoom.
Panelists such as Sunny Cai, former President of the FIUTS Student Board, offered exciting and interactive presentations.
What do you think is the most important lesson participants took away from FIUTS Leads?
“I think from this year's FIUTS Leads, our participants have broadened their perspective on the characters of a leader. Leaders have various traits. From our activities, they could see different types of leadership in action and share personal feelings for what a leader could be like. Due to the nature of the online meeting format, this year's FIUTS Leads is more communication-based. If we were to meet in-person, more hands-on activities would take place to enhance participant engagement.”
What would you like to let people know about FIUTS Leads?
“FIUTS Leads is an annual event put on by the FIUTS Student Board. It is one of a kind activity that takes a unique perspective on the commonly used word: leadership. The word leadership is widely used in personal statements, interviews, and daily conversation. However, what exactly does this word mean? It is hard to give it a defined set of rules and guidelines. Nevertheless, here at FIUTS Leads, we will try to decipher the deeper personal connections to this word from sharing and thought-provoking activities. Most of our participants find this workshop useful for their exploration and ideas of leadership, so come and join us for our next FIUTS Leads.”
— Mark your calendars! The next FIUTS Leads conference will take place in Spring 2021! —
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Vincent Doan, former Programming and Leadership Committee Co-Chair.
Kathryn Zhang, former Programming and Leadership Committee Co-Chair.
The 2019-2020 FIUTS Student Board at CulturalFest Performance Showcase.
Thank you to all FIUTS Student Board members for the time, commitment, and passion they dedicated to this event, with a special thank you to Kathryn Zhang and Vincent Doan, former Programming and Leadership Committee Co-Chairs.