Student organization acting like a governing body in some respects
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The Author is extremely knowledgeable about the harmful effects of the drugs that have been available for many years to the newest drug crazes hitting our streets. Her experience teaching economically disadvantaged, inner city high school students has proven how well she relates to teenagers. As sponsor of Student Council at her school she has excelled with the students. The organization has won numerous awards and two national awards including the Difference Maker Award from the National Association of Student Councils and a Special Recognition Award from America's Blood Bank in Washington, D.C. for the school's outstanding Blood Drives. During her years as sponsor of Student Council, Amy has dedicated herself to educating the students on the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol and has lead numerous campaigns educating the student body. One of her policies with the students is being honest. She answers the students questions about her alcoholism and drug addiction and how she has recovered. Her honesty inspires many of the young people to listen and take heed.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-x-zone-radio-tv-show--1078348/support.Please note that all XZBN radio and/or television shows are Copyright © REL-MAR McConnell Meda Company, Niagara, Ontario, Canada – www.rel-mar.com. For more Episodes of this show and all shows produced, broadcasted and syndicated from REL-MAR McConell Media Company and The 'X' Zone Broadcast Network and the 'X' Zone TV Channell, visit www.xzbn.net. For programming, distribution, and syndication inquiries, email programming@xzbn.net.We are proud to announce the we have launched TWATNews.com, launched in August 2025.TWATNews.com is an independent online news platform dedicated to uncovering the truth about Donald Trump and his ongoing influence in politics, business, and society. Unlike mainstream outlets that often sanitize, soften, or ignore stories that challenge Trump and his allies, TWATNews digs deeper to deliver hard-hitting articles, investigative features, and sharp commentary that mainstream media won't touch.These are stories and articles that you will not read anywhere else.Our mission is simple: to expose corruption, lies, and authoritarian tendencies while giving voice to the perspectives and evidence that are often marginalized or buried by corporate-controlled media
Drop your toys off at any of the PEM school offices before December 1st to help out!
Who's responsible for this?!Director: Michael LehmannWriters: Daniel WatersStars: Winona Rider, Christian Slater, Shannon Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker, Glenn ShadixWhat do we recommend?Michele - Craft, Mean GIrls, Jennifer's Body, Lisa Frankenstein, Ready or Not, American Ultra, Love Lies BleedingEmily- Revolutionary GIrl Utena, SLC Punk, Ben - LadybirdJeremy - Tragedy Girls, DeadlochTake our listener survey: http://bit.ly/progressivelyhorrified-surveySign up to support Progressively Horrified on Patreon for as little as $5 a month and get bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/progressivelyhorrified Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After losing his vice presidential student council campaign, Micah is feeling down in the dumps. Can G-Ma help pull him out of his slump with a story about another famous American who lost his political campaign? Join Micah as he learns to deal with disappointment and finds out why being the president wasn't the most important thing John Quincy Adams ever did! If you'd like to learn more and access free coloring pages, fun recipes, and other educational materials, please visit kidsonthesquare.com and check out the Resources for this episode. And if you enjoy this podcast, please share it with a friend!
On today's program, we're talking to senior Highland Student Council members Hailey Plank and Chase Hickenbottom about homecoming.
G-Ma is trying to convince Micah to run for vice president of the student council, but the whole process seems pretty daunting. With all the campaign requirements and the other candidates to deal with, Micah would rather call it quits. Good thing G-Ma has been reading a book about a former United States president who dealt with some very similar problems! Join Micah as G-Ma helps him with his campaign and tells him the story of John Quincy Adams! If you'd like to learn more and access free coloring pages, fun recipes, and other educational materials, please visit kidsonthesquare.com and check out the Resources for this episode. And if you enjoy this podcast, please share it with a friend!
Listeners will hear the inspiring journey of Sara Gubbels, a mother of six and new school counselor at Pius X High School, as she shares how faith, family, and community have shaped her life and led her to serve in Catholic education.
Join us for a candid conversation with AUS Student Council President Qusai Altah and Vice President Anas Elsayed as they share their journey of leadership, the challenges they've faced, the people who supported them, and the unforgettable experiences that come with representing students.
Thank you to Ellery Flanagan, Nora Henry, Charlee Jech and Ethan Walch for joining us to chat about the PEM Student Council and Family Fun Night!
Student Council is looking for 9th grade students to represent their class. Current open positions are: Freshman Class President, Freshman Class Vice President, and Freshman Class Representatives. Please come by the StuCo interest table in G-Wing to pick up an election packet. All paperwork is due August 22nd. Come by G1 (Mr. Breed's Room) if you have any questions or email Mr. Breed! FCCLA will have its first meeting of the year for all new and returning members on Thursday, August 28 at 7:45 a.m. in room D04, Mrs. Mertz's classroom. FCCLA is the club to join us if you are interested in working with children and families. There will be a short Spanish Club interest meeting on Wednesday, 8/20 in room F-2 from 3:40 - 4:00 p.m. Picture Day is August 19th and students will be sent to the gym to take pictures by last name and grade level.
The I Love CVille Show headlines: UVA Student Council “No Confidence” With BOV Will UVA BOV Respond To Deeds' Investigation? AHS, WAHS & MHS Doing Weapon Screenings What Should AlbCo's Economic Dev Priorities Be? School Is Starting… How Should Businesses Respond? Pre-Season Injuries Hammer UVA Football Team CEO Conan Owen, Tomorrow At 12:30pm Executive Offices For Rent ($350 – $2000), Contact Jerry Read Viewer & Listener Comments Live On-Air The I Love CVille Show airs live Monday – Friday from 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm on The I Love CVille Network. Watch and listen to The I Love CVille Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, iTunes, Apple Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, Fountain, Amazon Music, Audible, Rumble and iLoveCVille.com.
Since 2010, Stockdale High School has hosted HOPE Day, a day where we get together to give back to someone in our community who needs help and HOPE. This year, the event was held May 15. Stockdale Student Council assisted the HOPE Day committee in organizing and running the event. With the help of the Student Council and the community at large, the committee raised ,000 for Sofia Gonzales, a Stockdale High School junior who has been battling undifferentiated sarcoma — a rare, soft-tissue cancer — for the past year. Some HOPE Day committee members and Student Council officers were...Article Link
Simon Barry (Warrior Nun, Continuum) returns to the YVR Screen Scene Podcast to discuss his latest series. Bet – 10 episodes of which dropped on Netflix in May 2025 – draws its inspiration from the manga Kakegurai – Compulsive Gambler. The series tells the story of Yumeko (portrayed by Miku Martineau), a young woman who enrols in an exclusive boarding school to avenge the murder of her parents. This exclusive boarding school ain't Hogwarts: it's a cutthroat academy run by a powerful Student Council whose power structure is entirely based on gambling. Yumeko's prowess at gambling and her overarching revenge quest put her in the crosshairs of the Student Council and its formidable president, Kira – leading to a showdown that is both high-octane and deeply satisfying.Bet is at once a breath of fresh air and exactly what we've come to expect from Simon Barry: a wildly entertaining adventure set in an unexpected world about a whip-smart woman on a seemingly impossible quest. In this fascinating interview, Simon discusses his journey with Bet, what Miku Martineau brought to the pivotal role of Yumeko, his thoughts on AI, collaborating with director Jacquie Gould (Outlander, Obi-Wan Kenobi), Dennis Heaton's brain, and what he learned from Warrior Nun and its fans.Episode sponsor: Directors Guild Of Canada, BC District Council
CSR Election Debate - University of AmsterdamFrom looming budget cuts in higher education to government directives on de-internationalisation, from defending the right to protest to safeguarding the mental well-being of students – this year, the university faces major decisions that will shape its future.In the midst of these challenges, the Central Student Council (CSR) plays a crucial role. As the highest student representative body at the UvA, the CSR has the power to influence university policy, push for change, and protect student interests.Join us for the CSR Election Debate: an open, critical conversation between student candidates on the issues that matter most. This is your chance to hear how they plan to represent you and to ask questions, so that you can make an informed vote in shaping the university's direction.
Welcome to the WAB Podcast. In this episode, we take a closer look at what student leadership looks like in our Elementary School, and how even our Elementary students are making a difference in their school community. We're joined by three members of the ES Student Council: Carolina and Maya from Grade 5, and Julian from Grade 3, as well as Elementary School Principal Catherine Pierre-Louis. Together, they reflect on what it means to be part of Student Council, why they chose to get involved, and how they've worked together to lead projects that matter to them and their peers. Building Leadership Through Action Catherine explained that the ES Student Council operates as an after-school activity (ASA), where students sign up through SchoolsBuddy. They can join one or all of the three activity seasons throughout the year. Looking ahead, there's a vision to expand the program into a year-long commitment to foster leadership development and support more student-led projects. Once they join, students collaborate to brainstorm, vote on, and implement ideas that enhance the school environment. Through this process, they learn how to express their thoughts, turn ideas into action, and develop essential skills in leadership, communication, and teamwork. Why and What They Lead When asked what motivated them to join, Carolina shared that she wanted to make a positive change in the school environment. Maya was inspired to contribute positively and help others. Julian joined out of curiosity and discovered a passion for leadership along the way. They also highlighted some of the projects they've led. Maya and her friends transformed an underused Grade 5 hangout spot into a welcoming space by cleaning and repainting it. Julian brought creative ideas to Spirit Week by introducing different themed dress-up days. Carolina led an initiative to build connections between students and cleaning staff, encouraging students to take responsibility for cleaning up after meals. Overcoming Challenges and Creating Impacts Catherine shared how students had faced actual challenges, like adapting when events don't go as planned, and learn to problem-solve and rally support from their peers. One success story is the Plant Squad, which reopened the school greenhouse for student use during breaks, overcoming initial hurdles related to supervision and participation. Student feedback has also played a key role in shaping larger school initiatives, such as the redesign of the ES playground, where many student ideas were incorporated into the final plan. Tune in to this episode to hear how WAB's ES Student Council empowers students to voice their opinions, build leadership skills, and take an active role in shaping their school community and learning spaces.
On this episode of The Movie Podcast, Daniel and Shahbaz sit down in Toronto with the star of Netflix's BET, Miku Martineau— aka Yumeko herself! Bet follows the students at a boarding school for the global elite, where underground gambling determines the school's hierarchy. When Yumeko, a mysterious transfer student arrives, her gambling prowess puts her in the crosshairs of the powerful Student Council, while her secret quest for revenge threatens to upend the school's status quo entirely. Bet is now streaming on Netflix. Watch and listen to The Movie Podcast now on all podcast platforms, YouTube, and TheMoviePodcast.ca Contact: hello@themoviepodcast.ca FOLLOW US Daniel on X, Instagram, Letterboxd Shahbaz on X, Instagram, and Letterboxd Anthony on X, Instagram, and Letterboxd The Movie Podcast on X, Instagram, TikTok, Discord, and Rotten Tomatoes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Shishtata Bhandari, who came to Australia as a student in 2023, is the President of the Student Council at Charles Darwin University. SBS Nepali spoke with Bhandari as she reflected on her journey into student leadership and how she balances her academic life, work and the responsibility of representing thousands of students. - सन् २०२३ मा विद्यार्थीको रूपमा अस्ट्रेलिया आएकी शिष्टता भण्डारी चार्ल्स डार्विन विश्वविद्यालयको ‘स्टुडेन्ट काउन्सिल'की अध्यक्ष हुन्। आफ्नो पढाइ र कामका साथसाथै विश्वविद्यालयका हजारौँ विद्यार्थीहरूको प्रतिनिधित्व गर्ने जिम्मेवारी लिँदाको अनुभवबारे भण्डारीले एसबीएस नेपालीसँग गरेको कुराकानी सुन्नुहोस्।
Staff and students of an Ennis secondary school are expressing disappointment as plans for a bus shelter appear to have hit a dead end. After engagements with Clare County Council, the National Transport Authority and the Department of Education, there remains no clear funding stream for the much requested piece of infrastructure. Roughly two years ago, the Student Council of St Flannan's College made it known to school management that a bus shelter had been identified as a priority project by the student body which currently numbers 1,280. Those who avail of a school bus service at St Flannan's currently have to wait on the footpath beside the school gates on Cusack Road which although sheltered by trees has no protection from the elements. Leaving Cert student Brendan O'Halloran, who sits on the Student Council, says it deters people from wanting to get the bus. After becoming aware of the problem, the school's principal, Father Ignatius McCormack, wrote to the National Transport Authority to request the installation of a bus shelter. Having been told the matter wasn't within the authority's remit, he then contacted the Department of Education but this effort also proved fruitless as he was informed there's no designated funding stream for such a project. Clare County Council was the next port of call in the school's bid to secure funding and a meeting was held between a school official, an Ennis Municipal District engineer and a Department of Education representative to this end in November 2024. This meeting heard however that the local authority has no responsibility for the provision of a bus shelter at the location as the bus stop isn't publicly used. Father McCormack is remaining hopeful Clare County Council will fund the project. Exploring another avenue, the Student Council recently contacted Clarecastle Fine Gael Councillor Paul Murphy who subsequently raised the matter at a recent meeting of Ennis Municipal District. A response from a Senior Engineer reiterated the view that such a development is the responsibility of either the school itself or the Department of Education. Councillor Murphy believes engaging with the Department to be the most viable way of progressing the project. A recent survey conducted by the Student Council has found that over 300 students at St Flannan's get the bus which accounts for over a quarter of its enrolment. Student Council member Aoibheann O'Dwyer insists if schools want to make travelling bus more appealing, the right infrastructure must be in place.
The Matt Allison Show
Sierra Hawley was nominated as a Beck's Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the court. Along with the good and bad experiences that sports have put her through, she would say the thing she loves most about high school sports is the way these experiences have shaped her and will continue to impact her for the rest of her life. Sports at her high school is something that brings the community together as a whole, and it's an amazing feeling to see a full crowd support her. She loves the feeling of stepping on the field or court, knowing that all her hard work is about to be tested. No one likes to lose, but she's come to realize that she learns the most from losing, and she can't grow until she fails. Beyond the competition aspect, high school sports have allowed her to surround herself with teammates and coaches who have pushed and supported her through everything. The countless hours of dedication she's given to three different sports over the last few years have taught her discipline, leadership, resilience, and teamwork. At school, Sierra is involved in varsity volleyball, basketball, and tennis. Outside of sports, she is involved in the National Honor Society (NHS), Spanish club, art club, Student Council, prom committee, and FFA. Outside school, she is involved in Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy (KYLA), Leadership Marshall County Emerge (LMC), 4-H, and Jr. Leaders. Sierra's KYLA group puts boxes in local schools, churches, and banks to collect donated clothing, hygiene items, and craft supplies, which they then set up a little "shop" at Cardinal Services in Warsaw. Cardinal provides services for children and adults with disabilities. With the remaining donations, they bring them to local homeless shelters. Her involvement with Jr. Leaders through 4-H has allowed her to participate in various community service projects such as volunteering at the humane society, local food pantries, and Cultivate Food Rescue. In FFA, she completes many community service projects as well. Every year she makes tie blankets to give to Riley's Children's Hospital, participates in roadside cleanup, and attends the Farmers Breakfast, where they make pancakes and sausage for their local farmers to come in and eat for free. Most people think agriculture is just farming, but it means more to Sierra. To her, it means hard work, responsibility, and a way of life that feeds and sustains her community. Being involved in 4-H and FFA for eight years has given her hands-on experience that has deepened her respect for the farmers and agricultural leaders of the world. Whether she's raising livestock or working on a 4-H project, she's come to understand the dedication it takes to succeed in agriculture. It has taught her leadership, problem-solving, and the importance of innovation in this advancing industry. In a way, agriculture brings communities together and she is proud to say she's a part of something that plays such a vital role in everyday life. Sierra's plans aren't fully set in stone, but she knows she wants to do something in the medical field so she can help people. As of right now, she wants to pursue a career in radiology and potentially attend the University of IU Bloomington.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Delaney Engler was nominated as a Beck's Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the field and court. The thing she loves most about high school sports is the team aspect and the positive culture that it provides. Living in a small community has allowed her to play multiple sports with several of her classmates. This core group of girls has not only served as talented teammates but also lifelong friends. She is extremely grateful for the incredible opportunities that she has been introduced to throughout high school sports. Competing at such a high level alongside her best friends is an experience that she will truly never forget. Throughout her high school career, Delaney has had successful varsity careers in volleyball, softball, and basketball. Additionally, she currently serves as her school's FFA chapter president and the Southeast District FFA treasurer. She is also involved in the National Honor Society, and Student Council, and serves as her 4-H Club secretary. Through living in a small community, Delaney has had multiple opportunities to lend a helping hand to charitable organizations. Specifically, she spends the majority of her summer volunteering with youth sports league organizations and providing sports lessons. It is exciting for her to be able to help grow the athletic skills of young athletes in her community. Additionally, she volunteers at the local ballpark concession stand and Easter Egg Hunts when needed. She has also had the opportunity to volunteer with Café on Vine through her 4-H club and serve meals to the less fortunate. To Delaney, agriculture serves as the traditional backbone of America. Without the agriculture industry, consumers would not be able to eat food, wear clothes, drive their cars, and so much more. The practice of providing products for the American people will never become insignificant. The work ethic that farmers showcase to provide for consumers is truly admirable. Being raised on a diversified livestock and crop operation has taught her firsthand the work that goes into the agriculture industry day in and day out. After graduating high school, Delaney plans to attend Illinois Central College to obtain a transfer degree in animal science and compete on the livestock judging team. Then, she will attend Iowa State University to complete her bachelor's degree and continue her livestock judging career.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Caleb Urban was nominated as a Beck's Player with Heart for his commitment and passion on and off the court and field. One thing he loves about high school sports is the leadership roles that he has held. He has been a captain in football and basketball for the past two years but has considered himself a leader his whole career. He enjoys being a role model for all the younger kids in his school and enjoys seeing and talking to them during school and after games. He expressed his gratitude that sports have allowed him to be a role model to the kids in his community. Caleb competes in football, basketball, track and field, and baseball. He is involved in the National Honor Society and Student Council. Caleb participates in his community as an EMAYS youth volunteer, where he coaches, referees, and helps set up and take down events. He is also the 4-H vice president, has worked at multiple blood drives through NHS, and volunteers at other various projects at his school. Through 4-H, he has attended nursing homes for visits with the elderly and made goodie bags to hand out, toy drives for Christmas gifts for kids in need, the Salvation Army bell ringing, and cleanup at the fairgrounds. Agriculture is important to Caleb and his family because it has provided a living for his grandparents and is an important way of life for all of them. His mother was raised on a second-generation farm and he grew up in tractors and combines, riding with his grandfather. He has also been given the opportunity to work on an area farm as a farmhand and enjoyed the first-hand experience. By growing up on a farm, he has had the chance to learn about the importance of agriculture to his family, his community, and the world. After graduating high school, Caleb plans to attend Central College and major in kinesiology with the goal of becoming an Emergency Room Physician. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Madison Lauck was nominated as a Beck's Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the court and course. What she loves most about high school sports is being part of a team. As one of the team captains this year, she wanted to lead by example by having a positive attitude and encouraging her teammates when times got hard on the court. As for golf, she has valued building her ability to handle stress independently on the course and discovering her mental strength and ability to perform successfully under pressure. She has been blessed to grow up in a small community where she can be highly involved, allowing her to develop time management skills, work as a team, and become a leader. Madison competes in volleyball and golf. She is involved in the FFA for 6 years and holds the office of chapter secretary, 4-H for 10 years, Student Council and holds the position of president, band, co-section, Tri-M music honor society group as the secretary, National Honors Society as the fundraising chairperson, and FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). Madison spends her time volunteering in numerous church and community activities, like serving at the Triotel appreciation banquet, 4-H barn clean up before achievement days, serving the annual harvest meal to the farmers, serving at the pancake feed during FFA week, serving Salem Community Women Ladies Night Out meal and working concession stand with the golf and volleyball team. Madison is most proud of the senior project that she developed to benefit her community. She went on a two-year journey to create a statewide campaign with Trashie, a company that prides itself on zero-waste fashion. She developed a knowledge check survey of upcycling and the effects of textile waste on the environment. She then created an educational video on upcycling, environmental concerns with textile waste, and how people can be part of the solution. She wanted to not only complete a final research project, but also to put it into action and make actual change, bring awareness to the importance of limiting textile waste, and gain knowledge of ways upcycling can help the environment. Agriculture to Madison is a way of life. More importantly, it is a community. She has been blessed to be surrounded by family and friends who work tireless hours and will drop everything to help a neighbor or community member. FFA has provided her with invaluable knowledge of agriculture's importance, leadership skills development, and how agriculture will play a role in the rest of her life. Madison plans to attend South Dakota State University to earn her undergraduate degree in human biology while in the honors program. She will then obtain her physician assistant degree potentially at the University of South Dakota. She plans to practice with her physician assistant license for a few years while earning her functional medicine license. She hopes to use her future career to help those in her community. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Kylee Hall was nominated as a Beck's Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the field and court. What she loves most about high school sports is the team aspect; where she can cheer on her teammates, celebrate success together, and help each other through every high and low. She also enjoys having her friends as teammates who participate in the same sports as her. She enjoys working hard in practice to improve her skills and see the results in the competitions. She appreciates being coached, learning different things during each sports season, and the variety of life skills that sports teach her. The sports Kylee competes in include softball, basketball, and volleyball. She is involved in the National Junior Honor Society, Student Council, Knowledge Bowl, and Choir. When she is not working in school, Kylee participates in her church's youth group and travel softball. To Kylee, agriculture means hard work and dedication. In her family, there have been generations of farmers, so she understands the commitment it takes, the work ethic that is needed, and the overall importance of agriculture to provide necessities to communities. She enjoys traveling to stay with her grandparents who farm corn and soybeans each fall during harvest. Their work ethic has been an example to her parents and has passed on to her in everything she does. Kylee plans to graduate from high school, attend college, and play Division 1 softball. She is currently thinking about majoring in elementary education or exercise science. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Writer Rick Mitchell (The Ellen Show, How To Write A Speech with Carol Leifer) TMZ) shares a pivotal moment in his life running for student council in elementary school. Each week Hollywood's most talented people in the entertainment industry share true, personal stories on the Story Worthy Podcast. Story Worthy celebrates 15 years of podcasting in July 2025 and has over 850 episodes recorded. Christine Blackburn is the creator, host and producer of Story Worthy, Story Smash the Storytelling Game Show, and My Life In 3 Songs exclusively on Spotify. Listen wherever you hear podcasts. If you get a chance, will you please give Story Worthy 5 stars and a good review on Apple Podcasts? It always helps, thank you! And join the mailing list! Follow Christine's new show, My Life In 3 Songs. Independent Podcast Producer Christine Blackburn talks to comedians about the 3 songs in their lives that have impacted them, not necessarily their favorite songs, but songs that paint a picture of the of the comedian and where they're from. Listen exclusively on Spotify Find My Life In 3 Songs on Insta and at the website ! PLUS! Watch Story Smash The Storytelling Game Show! Comedians spin a wheel and tell TRUE 1-3 minute stories on the topic they land. You can watch episodes from the pandemic and from summer 2023 right now on YouTube. See Story Smash LIVE at the Lyric/Hyperion Theater in Los Angeles now! Check the website for upcoming dates and tickets! And here's Christine everywhere. THANK YOU!
Ashton Brusveen was nominated as a Beck's Player with Heart for his commitment and passion on and off the field and court. What he loves most about high school sports is how it is a great way to challenge himself, stay active, and bond with teammates. He loves the thrill of competition whether win or lose. Extracurricular activities have been a major part of his high school experience. Through the many different meetings, contests, and games, he has developed strong leadership, communication, and teamwork skills that will serve him well in the future. Ashton competes in basketball, football, and track and field. He is involved with the National Honor Society as the vice president, Cambria-Friesland Forensics, Student Council as the president, and Future Business Leaders of America. Ashton is also heavily involved in his community. He has volunteered at many activities including the Wisconsin Agricultural Youth Council, Youth Leadership Board Adams Columbia Electric Cooperative, NHS Red Cross blood drives, FFA & Hilltopper Football Corn Carnival. He also participated in the Student Council highway cleanup, Brie Shed Educational Day, spring cleanup for local communities, Columbia County FFA breakfast, 4H June Dairy Days breakfast, and set up the Dump Run. Growing up on a farm, Ashton has gained hands-on experience in grain handling, crop marketing, and customer relations by working alongside his grandfather and father. As a third-generation farmer, his passion for grain farming stems from the opportunities and work ethic his grandparents instilled in him. These experiences have shown him the importance of hard work, problem-solving, and building relationships in agriculture. His community service experience has made a big impact on life skills, but it has also shown him the importance of being a role model for younger members. Over the past four years, Ashton has built and grown his business, Seed Clean, where he purchases, cleans, and resells bulk seed for cover crops. After graduating high school, he plans to continue expanding his business while attending UW-Platteville for agribusiness with an emphasis on commodity and price analysis to prepare for a career in grain production or agricultural sales.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Student council members Jason Pesola and Naomi Miller join the GMS
# Full transcription available at [heartsofgoldpodcast.com](http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/) ## Episode Summary Makayla Hoefs shares the inspiring story behind her Girl Scout Gold Award project, *"Coding for Cookies."* This innovative initiative bridges Girl Scouts and robotics, offering young girls hands-on STEM experiences through engaging events. Makayla discusses how her project evolved, collaborating with the Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes & Pines Council, and making the program sustainable for future generations. Listen to hear about the impact she's made, the challenges she faced, and how she encourages girls to explore STEM fields. ## More from Makayla My name is Makayla Hoefs from Becker, Minnesota. I am a senior at Becker High School, and I plan on going to a four-year college next fall to get my master's degree in electrical engineering. I have been a Girl Scout for about ten years. Throughout my time in Girl Scouts, I have earned my Bronze and Silver Awards and have completed many service projects. Last year, I was a Girl Scout delegate for my service unit. I am also involved in Student Council, National Honors Society, archery, and robotics. This is my fourth year on the Becker Robotics team, *C.I.S. 4607.* I am part of the electrical department and facilitate *Failure Modes and Effects Analysis.* My time in robotics has inspired me to become an engineer and a woman in STEM. ## What You'll Learn in This Episode - How *"Coding for Cookies"* introduced over 100 Girl Scouts to robotics - The collaboration between Makayla's robotics team and the Girl Scout council - Challenges in creating sustainable robotics kits - Makayla's advice for Gold Award candidates and key lessons from the process ## Follow Makayla's Journey Check out the resources from her project at [Coding for Cookies](https://sites.google.com/frc4607cis.com/cis4607/coding-for-cookies) ## Connect with Us Follow *Hearts of Gold* for more inspiring Gold Award stories. Don't forget to follow or subscribe and leave a review!
In this episode of Tea with Gen Z, we sit down with the incredible Ms. Maha Jibril, a familiar face at AUS who has been a cornerstone of the university community for over 16 years. From her unexpected journey into Information Systems to her insights on student life, motherhood, and the Student Council, Ms. Maha shares her story and wisdom in a way that will inspire and surprise you. Join us as we uncover the story behind one of AUS's most beloved figures.
Pella Middle School Student Council Members Lauren Van Kley, Sam Weaver, Addison Phillips, Allysen Hellbusch, Lark Thomas, and Sibley Carlstone discuss their work throughout the 2024-25 academic year and the importance of service.
Lauren Schroeder was nominated as a Beck's Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the court. What she loves most about high school sports is the connection and friendships she has made with her teammates, coaches, and athletes from other schools. Lauren is involved in volleyball (club and travel), is the National Honor Society president, Student Council as the senior class president of student council, and has been an officer with FFA for the past 3 years. Lauren also participates in Liberty 4-H Club, annual "Elementary Ag Day" through her FFA Chapter, is the Scott County Pork Queen in 2022, volunteering heavily through her garden project, and shows livestock at local county fairs, as well as open shows in eastern Iowa. To Lauren, agriculture is the foundation of almost every product she uses today. The need for food and clothing will never become a "fad" like various technology, it's key to survival. After graduating high school, Lauren plans to attend the University of Northern Iowa and major in an area in the medical field. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Katie McCashland was nominated as a Beck's Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the court and field. The things she loves most about high school sports are the relationships she has been able to build with her teammates. They are friendships she will cherish forever. Katie is involved in volleyball, basketball, and is a member of the track & field team. She is also involved in Student Council, National Honor Society, FFA, Unified Sports, Patriot Singers, UC World Travelers, and FCA. She is also getting ready to start her 10th year of 4-H where she shows dairy goats, swine, and participates in the photography, arts & crafts, and sewing construction projects. Katie has been involved in a variety of community activities throughout her high school career. Some of the most memorable activities being youth sports camps, Family Fun Nights and the School Carnival at her local elementary school, helping the local Pack 40 Boy Scout clean up the local state park, distributing food boxes to the residents of Union County through Gleaners' Mobile Food Bank, and most recently being able to help stock and set up a sensory room at Liberty Elementary School. To Katie, agriculture means family. She is the 5th generation to live on her family farm and believes it is really something special being part of a multi-generational farming family. It connects her to the land, ancestors, and the cycle of life. Katie is currently undecided on a college, but she would like to be a physical therapist. She also plans to study kinesiology before going to PT school. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Anna Rott was nominated as a Beck's Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the court and field. What Anna loves most about high school sports is the opportunity to hang out and compete with new people. They allow her to connect with kids that aren't in the same grade or school as her. She finds it refreshing to find people who have the same passion for sports that she does. Anna is a three-sport athlete, competing in volleyball, basketball, and track & field. She is involved in 4-H, FFA, Knowledge Bowl, and concert band while also serving her school and community in National Honor Society, Student Council as the Junior President, and the PEM Bulldog Ambassador Program. Agriculture to Anna is one of the most important parts of her life as it represents hard work and selflessness. Many of her passions stem from her background in agriculture and farming. She expressed how she always feels lucky to have been able to grow and learn in her community. Anna plans on attending a 4-year college majoring in Animal Science, Biology, or Engineering and hopes to play sports in college as well. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Send us a textIn this episode, Evie Borders and Danica Branson interview Paraprofessional Jen Asmus. They ask questions about her unique position in the district, various roles throughout her career, and current role as co-advisor for Student Council. Jen also shares a few of her favorite and funniest memories from her 25 year career at Otsego. This episode was edited by Ace F. and recorded by Addison F. Intro/Outro Music: “Motivated” by Alex MakesMusicDate Recorded: October 18, 2024FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS: Twitter: @OHS_RoundTable Instagram: @ohs_roundtableEmail: podcast@otsegoknights.orgtiktok: @ohs_roundtable
Step into the vibrant world of student leadership with NorthStar Academy's own Isabelle Phillips and Hallie Griffin, whose remarkable stories promise to inspire and educate. Join us as Isabelle, the Student Council content creator, and Hallie, the ad coordinator, share their unique experiences from an international online school setting. They offer a window into how they balance an array of responsibilities—from student council duties to personal passions like Isabelle's emerging cookie business—while forming meaningful connections with peers across diverse cultures. This episode is packed with valuable insights into how these experiences have shaped their understanding of the world and honed their leadership skills.
Join us for a chat with Ava Thieke, a senior at Lebanon High School and intern with Lebanon Middle School Athletics. Ava is heavily involved in DECA, The Pennant School Newspaper as Editor-in-Chief, Student Council, and the National Honor Society, all while playing on the Varsity Soccer Team. She intends to pursue a degree in Marketing or Finance at a college in Indiana. Don't miss this chance to kick it with Ava!
Can an online school truly foster deep, meaningful connections? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Tiana and Nathan, two of NSA's Student Council, as they share their inspiring journey of building a welcoming online community. Drawing from their rich experiences in England and the Middle East, they unveil innovative strategies like hosting virtual calls and assigning committee members to virtual school buildings on Microsoft Teams. This episode is a treasure trove of insights into how they've successfully created an engaging environment that nurtures lasting friendships and valuable leadership opportunities.
Senior interviewers Anna Thibodeau and Alyssa Carrier discuss the role and impact of the Buccino Leadership Student Council with co-founders Beth Berardi and Jacob Walker [video].
Nick and Hannah both love board games. There I said it. So what are they doing in a Civics 101 episode? Well, from Student Council and Model UN to CIA intelligence acquisition scenarios, there is a fine line between games and simulation. We learn more about things when we pretend to do them. Today we talk to three designers about their civic-centric games; Tory Brown of Fort Circle Games discusses Votes for Women, Cole Wehrle of Wehrlegig Games breaks down John Company, and Non Breaking Space explains Cross Bronx Expressway, an upcoming game from GMT. CLICK HERE: Visit our website to donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more!
Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Adoriam, a passionate Girl Scout, shares her inspiring journey of earning the Girl Scout Gold Award. Adoriam's project focused on addressing the declining bird population in Houston, a city that ranks as the second worst in America for migratory birds. Through her project, she aimed to educate the community about the importance of being bird-friendly by conducting workshops, creating videos, and providing resources. Adoriam's interest in conservation was sparked by her involvement in the Glenn Miller Agriculture Program, where she connected with professionals in the field. This led her to collaborate with various organizations such as the YMCA, Houston Audubon, and the Nature Heritage Society. She conducted workshops teaching people how to make bird feeders and birdhouses from recycled materials and emphasized the importance of turning off lights at night to protect migratory birds. Throughout the episode, Adoriam shares the challenges she faced, including meeting deadlines and managing large events, and how these experiences helped her grow in networking and leadership skills. She also highlights the support she received from her family, mentors, and community, which was crucial to her success. Adoriam's passion for conservation and her dedication to her project have not only earned her the Gold Award but also inspired many others in her community. She offers valuable advice to other Girl Scouts considering the Gold Award, encouraging them to pursue their passions and make a difference. We also get a glimpse into Adoriam's other Girl Scout experiences, including a memorable Costa Rica trip fundraiser and her love for camping and outdoor activities. She concludes with a fun and detailed description of how she makes the perfect s'more. More About: Through Adoriam's 13-year Girl Scout journey, she has had some amazing experiences. From volunteering at events in Houston to earning her Gold Award, where she learned the power of service and dedication. Creating a virtual walkathon and Halloween carousel fundraiser for her Costa Rica trip taught her leadership skills and communication. Besides Girl Scouts, Adoriam has been a part of school clubs like BPA, Speech and Debate, and Student Council. After graduating high school, she now attends Texas A&M University as part of the class of 2027, studying Bioenvironmental Science. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adoriam_dewalt?igsh=MW1pNmoxcnBkdzh6Yw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Articles: https://houstonaudublog.org/2023/01/30/diy-water-feature-with-drip/ https://houstonaudublog.org/2023/01/17/diy-bird-feeder/ https://aframnews.com/two-girls-educate-community-on-agriculture/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adoriam-dewalt-7aa21b26b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_con Key Takeaways from this episode: 1. Dorian's Girl Scout Gold Award project focused on addressing the decreasing bird population in Houston due to urbanization and industrialization. 2. Dorian connected with various organizations and partners, such as the YMCA, Glenn Miller Foundation, Houston Audubon, and Nature Heritage Society, to educate communities about bird conservation. 3. Dorian's experience with the Girl Scouts, including fundraising for a Costa Rica trip, organizing virtual events during COVID, and participating in camping and outdoor activities, has shaped her passion for sustainability and conservation. Share this show with your friends on Twitter. Click to have an editable already written tweet! https://ctt.ac/33zKe Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3rx06pr Join our Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/sherylmrobinson/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sherylmrobinson/?hl=en Please subscribe to Hearts of Gold on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/sherylmrobinson or on your favorite podcast app. Support future Hearts of Gold episodes at https://www.patreon.com/heartsofgold Editing by https://www.offthewalter.com/ Walter's YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt0wFZRVaOpUd_nXc_8-4yQ
(2:00) The maneuvers to replace Biden, just like his physical/mental inability to do the job, destroys the myth of the American Emperor. So who is the shadow cabal that runs Washington?Shifting alliances and backstabbingIs this a high school Student Council election? AOC vs LalaA civil war of donors, celebrities, politicians where the virtual nomination was the essential high ground(31:02) CashApp has implemented new restrictions that make it unusable for this show. Is it personal? And questions/comments from live audience (38:56) Enter the Clintons — did they back Biden or backstab him? (45:09) Biden's exit is UNPRECEDENTED but NOT UNPLANNED (52:16) Johnson is wrong to think he can mount legal challenges to replacing Biden. Here's why…What MAGA never figured out about delegates, electors, and political conventionsThe Hill Op Ed pushes "young" Hillary ClintonBarack Obama has returned to spotlight - pushing his anti-Constitution ideas(1:28:21) Since it's a beauty contest, take a look at this satire of political/technocracy leaders on the fashion runway (1:32:42) Questions/comments from live audience (1:36:58) RNC goes full professional wrestling idiocracy with Hulk Hogan. The greatest tag team in history is NOT who he says (1:12:09) Op ed piece in The Hill from DNC members spells out how this "transparent", "rules based" process will work in the next 28 days (1:50:01) Trump calls the largest conservative think tank, Heritage, EXTREME RIGHT WING even though he previously supported the policies in Project 2025 and praised Heritage. Do you understand who he is yet? (1:57:50) Questions/comments from live audience (2:05:49) JD Vance and the Technocrats Bankrolling TrumpElon Musk, always a strong supporter of UBI which goes hand-in-hand with AI to pacify their slaves — us(2:13:09) Fink: Trump's Treasury Pick SAME As Hillary's Pick BlackRock's Larry Fink (big ESG and EFT derivatives advocate)is touted as Trump's pick for Treasury Secretary (just he was touted as Hillary's pick in 2016). What are the implications for policy and for the Great Taking (2:16:33) Thiel Disses Davos, But He's a Bilderberg Regular Technocracy, transhumanism, the Singularity, Palantir surveillance…Look at Thiel's recent derogatory comments about Davos in light of his comments about secretive Bilderberg where he has long been a regular (2:26:14) INTERVIEW Goattree CyberPolygon Strikes? CrowdStrike's Global DisruptionJust as we saw with the shooting at the Trump rally, those who are tasked with protection can be the biggest threat — either through massive incompetence or malice. In the CrowdStrike global disruptions we see the people tasked with "cybersecurity" introducing a bug that shows how fragile our infrastructure is — and that includes CrowdStrike's connection to "election security".15 characters cause millions of computers to crashHow long will it take to correct?The increasingly fragility of our infrastructure due to computer vulnerabilitiesThe WEF linked Global Cyber AllianceCrowdStrike's "Cybersecurity for Election Systems"Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.comIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to DavidKnight.gold for great deals on physical gold/silverFor 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to TrendsJournal.com and enter the code KNIGHTBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.
(2:00) The maneuvers to replace Biden, just like his physical/mental inability to do the job, destroys the myth of the American Emperor. So who is the shadow cabal that runs Washington?Shifting alliances and backstabbingIs this a high school Student Council election? AOC vs LalaA civil war of donors, celebrities, politicians where the virtual nomination was the essential high ground(31:02) CashApp has implemented new restrictions that make it unusable for this show. Is it personal? And questions/comments from live audience (38:56) Enter the Clintons — did they back Biden or backstab him? (45:09) Biden's exit is UNPRECEDENTED but NOT UNPLANNED (52:16) Johnson is wrong to think he can mount legal challenges to replacing Biden. Here's why…What MAGA never figured out about delegates, electors, and political conventionsThe Hill Op Ed pushes "young" Hillary ClintonBarack Obama has returned to spotlight - pushing his anti-Constitution ideas(1:28:21) Since it's a beauty contest, take a look at this satire of political/technocracy leaders on the fashion runway (1:32:42) Questions/comments from live audience (1:36:58) RNC goes full professional wrestling idiocracy with Hulk Hogan. The greatest tag team in history is NOT who he says (1:12:09) Op ed piece in The Hill from DNC members spells out how this "transparent", "rules based" process will work in the next 28 days (1:50:01) Trump calls the largest conservative think tank, Heritage, EXTREME RIGHT WING even though he previously supported the policies in Project 2025 and praised Heritage. Do you understand who he is yet? (1:57:50) Questions/comments from live audience (2:05:49) JD Vance and the Technocrats Bankrolling TrumpElon Musk, always a strong supporter of UBI which goes hand-in-hand with AI to pacify their slaves — us(2:13:09) Fink: Trump's Treasury Pick SAME As Hillary's Pick BlackRock's Larry Fink (big ESG and EFT derivatives advocate)is touted as Trump's pick for Treasury Secretary (just he was touted as Hillary's pick in 2016). What are the implications for policy and for the Great Taking (2:16:33) Thiel Disses Davos, But He's a Bilderberg Regular Technocracy, transhumanism, the Singularity, Palantir surveillance…Look at Thiel's recent derogatory comments about Davos in light of his comments about secretive Bilderberg where he has long been a regular (2:26:14) INTERVIEW Goattree CyberPolygon Strikes? CrowdStrike's Global DisruptionJust as we saw with the shooting at the Trump rally, those who are tasked with protection can be the biggest threat — either through massive incompetence or malice. In the CrowdStrike global disruptions we see the people tasked with "cybersecurity" introducing a bug that shows how fragile our infrastructure is — and that includes CrowdStrike's connection to "election security".15 characters cause millions of computers to crashHow long will it take to correct?The increasingly fragility of our infrastructure due to computer vulnerabilitiesThe WEF linked Global Cyber AllianceCrowdStrike's "Cybersecurity for Election Systems"Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.comIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to DavidKnight.gold for great deals on physical gold/silverFor 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to TrendsJournal.com and enter the code KNIGHTBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.
Sabi nila, isang buwan daw of discomfort para sa ating mga Conservatives ang Pride Month, ngunit para sa content creator na gaya ko, it's a goldmine for topics. Another org from UST greets a Happy Pride. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=867735662045118&set=a.562544292564258 - - - The Sentinel Ph: Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSentinelPh - - - You can help SUPPORT THIS PODCAST thru: Shopee – Arugaan Online Shop: Fight this toxic culture in style! Order your THE JAY ARUGA SHOW podcast T-shirt now: https://shopee.ph/product/274489164/24822983311/ Buying me a coffee thru: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thejayarugashow - - - Today's Sponsor: Hallow - Try Hallow's premium contents for FREE: https://hallow.com/jayaruga - - - Socials: Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jagaruga Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jay.aruga Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheJayArugaShow Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JayAruga --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thejayarugashow/message
This week, President Ryan sits down with Lillian Rojas, the now-graduated Student Member of UVA's Board of Visitors. Lillian recently received her BA in Public Policy at the Batten School, served for 3 years on the Student Council, and mentored students in the Latino Peer Mentor Program. In this episode, they discuss her path to UVA, balancing leadership and schoolwork, and the responsibility that come with representing students on the BOV. This episode of Inside UVA was originally recorded on the week of April 29th, 2024.
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions
On today's episode, Tom Campbell (CEG's Community Manager) is joined by Carolyn Starks, a former Pomona and Bates admissions officer and Associate Director of College Counseling at Oakwood School (North Hollywood, CA) at the time of recording, to talk about extracurricular activities and the activities list on college applications. They get into, among other things: What are some of the benefits of getting involved in your school community? How can students explore activities outside of their high schools? How do admission officers evaluate a student's activities list? Frequently asked questions about activities and summer programs And more! But first, let's meet Carolyn: Carolyn Starks followed her father's footsteps and attended Rhodes College in Memphis, TN where she studied English and Africana Studies. After graduation, she moved to Portland, ME to work at Bates College where she focused on supporting first-generation-to-college, BIPOC, and/or low-income students through the admissions process. After two years, she landed a job at Pomona College's Office of Admissions where she joined the Access Team, ran the College's diversity fly-in programs, and learned to be justice oriented in her approach to educational equity. Though at the time of recording Carolyn was Oakwood School in North Hollywood's Associate Director of College Counseling, she will soon be moving to serve as Co-Director of College Counseling at Santa Fe Prep in Santa Fe, NM. In her free time, Carolyn enjoys indulging in local cuisine and watching Bravo with her husband and her dog, Ms. Pecan Pie. We hope you enjoy the episode. Play-by-Play 4:48 - What is Carolyn's background? 6:20 - What activities was Carolyn involved in during high school? 8:36 - What activities did Tom participate in during high school? 10:45 - How can students learn about the opportunities at their school? 16:50 - Why should students get involved within their school community? 23:09 - How can students be involved in extracurriculars outside their school? 29:57 - What should students keep in mind when applying to highly selective schools? 36:13 - Do colleges have preferred activities or summer experiences? 36:41 - Does placement on an activities list matter? 37:37 - How many years should students participate in an activity? 39:05 - How important is having formal leadership roles? 42:18 - What might not be worth putting on your activities list? 46:25 - How many activities is enough? 51:22 - How can students maintain a balance between their home life, academic, and extracurricular activities? 55:47 - Closing thoughts Resources Extracurricular Activities: A comprehensive guide with 400+ examples and ideas How to Write a Successful Common App Activities List A List of Activities You May Not Have Considered Including—But That Count! 80+ Real Examples for Writing Your Extracurricular Activity List
To influence for good, character paired with strong leadership skills is paramount. Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dana Born '83 brings the two together in Ep. 8 of Long Blue Leadership. ----more---- SUMMARY Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dana Born discusses the importance of character and leadership in the Air Force Academy's mission. She shares her background and career, including her time as the Dean of Faculty at the Academy. The General reflects on her class reunion experience and the impact of her family's military background. She explores the concept of leaders being born vs. made and highlights the value of curiosity and courage in leadership. Gen. Born emphasizes the importance of seeking help and mentorship and shares recommended readings for developing leadership skills. OUR FAVORITE QUOTES "Character and leadership are paramount for Air Force Academy graduates to influence for good." "I think that if I were to say there's two really important takeaways, those for me have been, be curious, be more curious. And that is just really asking a lot of questions." "I think leading with your heart and leading with, like the recognition that things that are hard, make your heart rate go up. Courage, you know, our heart rate goes up when we're in danger physically, morally, psychologically. And I think leaning into that to where our heart rate goes up a little bit is how we learn and grow." "I think there's that keeping the both and in the integration of that is what helped me in some of those tough decisions. I mean, I remember having to take a security clearance away from a lieutenant colonel, for all the right reasons, but trying, you know, that person then was going to lose their position in the Air Force, because it required a security clearance. And, and it wasn't a situation that I put that person in, right, they put themselves in that position, but what I didn't want to do was deliver the news in a way that then the individual would feel like they have nothing left right to or would ultimately, you know, take their life, right, that always was present to say, uh, don't want this person to go away with anything other than, you know, your life is not over." "I think courage, you know, the root word of courage is heart. And I think leading with your heart and leading with, like the recognition that things that are hard, make your heart rate go up. Courage, you know, our heart rate goes up when we're in danger physically, morally, psychologically. And I think leaning into that to where our heart rate goes up a little bit is how we learn and grow." - Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dana Born '83 SHARE THIS EPISODE FACEBOOK | LINKEDIN | TWITTER | EMAIL CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction: Character and Leadership 01:22 General Bourne's Background and Career 05:36 Early Life and Decision to Attend the Air Force Academy 08:19 Becoming the Dean of Faculty at the Air Force Academy 11:49 Challenges and Lessons as Dean 22:59 Discovering Leadership Abilities 24:24 Lessons from Friction Moments 26:19 Pivoting and Overcoming Challenges 27:49 Best Attributes of Leaders 29:46 Seeking Help and Mentorship 32:06 Balancing Compassion and Difficult Decisions 34:26 Family's Influence on Leadership 38:12 Developing Leadership Skills: Curiosity and Courage 40:04 Purpose and Passion 41:53 Recommended Readings 44:42 Conclusion GEN. BORN'S BIO Dana H. Born (Co-Director, Center for Public Leadership (CPL); Faculty Chair, Senior Executive Fellows (SEF) Program; Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School of Government) is a retired Brigadier General with 30 years of service in the United States Air Force. Prior to coming to Harvard, from 2004-2013, she served two terms as the Dean of the Faculty at the United States Air Force Academy where she was also the Professor and Head of the Behavioral Sciences and Leadership Department. Previously, Dana served as an Exchange Officer with the Royal Australian Air Force, Assistant Director for Recruiting Research and Analysis for the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management Policy), Deputy Chief of the Personnel Issues Team for the Department of the Air Force (DC/Staff Personnel), Aide and Speech Writer to the Secretary of the Air Force, Squadron Commander for 11th Mission Support Squadron at Bolling AFB, DC and in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A graduate with distinction of the United States Air Force Academy, Professor Born received her B.S. in Behavioral Sciences (1983), M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Trinity University, TX (1985), M.A. in Research Psychology from University of Melbourne (1991) and Doctorate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Penn State University (1994). She received Penn State University's Alumni Fellow Award (2012) and Distinguished Alumni Award (2018) and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Simmons College in Humane Administration (2007). Born is the recipient of the Secretary of the Air Force's Eugene M. Zuckert Award for Outstanding Management Achievement, Air Force Association's Hoyt S. Vandenberg Award for outstanding contributions to Aerospace education, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Defense Meritorious Service Medal. She has been honored with the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Annual Teaching Awards as well as the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Innovation in Teaching Award in 2017. Dr. Born is a Trustee on the United States Air Force Academy's Falcon Foundation – serving on the Strategy, Governance and Scholarship Committees; Supporting Director on the USAFA Endowment Board, Past President of the Massachusetts Women's Forum; Senior Consultant for the Core Leadership Institute; Peer Evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission; Member of the Women Corporate Directors, International Women's Forum and Council on Foreign Relations; Council Member on Boston Mayor's Pay Equity Workforce; Advisory Board Member for “With Honor;” and “A Child's Guide to War” documentary, “Blue Star Families,” Senior Officer for Mission: Readiness; Past-President of the American Psychological Association (Society for Military Psychology) and previous Independent Director on Board of the Apollo Education Group having served on Compensation, Audit and Special Litigation Committees. - Copy and image credit: Harvard University Gen. Born is a member of the HOW Conversations video (and podcast) series hosting team, bringing together a varied group of experts and leaders to discuss timely issues of our reshaped world through the lenses of moral leadership, principled decision-making, and values-based behavior. VIEW THE VIDEO SERIES | LISTEN TO THE PODCAST - Copy and image credit: Harvard University ABOUT LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP Long Blue Leadership is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network, drops every two weeks on Tuesdays, and is available on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn + Alexa, Spotify and all your favorite podcast platforms. Search @AirForceGrads on your favorite social channels for Long Blue Leadership news and updates! FULL TRANSCRIPT SPEAKERS Our guest, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dana Born '83 | Our host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz Gen. Dana Born 00:06 Through mentorship and wise counsel, in early days actually and magnified through the time at the Air Force Academy, that character is paramount. It's also not enough, because you want to be a person of strong character that also has leadership, qualities that help influence for good. We can have leadership where people are able to influence but maybe not for good. And we can have character but have people of great character that aren't able to mobilize the influence. And so, I have just been, I guess, embracing that character and leadership aspect of our mission. Naviere Walkewicz 01:19 My guest today is retired Brigadier General Dana Born, a 1983, graduate of the Air Force Academy. I'm excited to host this conversation with General Born, a recognized and widely respected expert in moral leadership, serving as a lecturer in public policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. We're going to explore the trajectory of General Born's own development as a leader. Our conversation will begin with her days as a cadet at the Air Force Academy, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science and Leadership. General Born began building her body of work then, first as a student, then analyst and researcher, now writer, teacher and speaker on public policy and society in the field of moral leadership as a How Institute for Society Distinguished Fellow through her distinguished 30 year military career, and since her retirement from the Air Force in 2013, she has been formally recognized more than 20 times for her exemplary service and academic excellence. In 2004, she became the first female Academy graduate to return to her alma mater as the Dean of Faculty, a role she held for two terms. Her work has been published more than 40 times and she has delivered nearly 200 presentations. General Born has endorsed more than a dozen books on leadership and public policy, and has contributed to five others. In addition to her work at Harvard, she hosts a video podcast series called HOW Conversations during which she discusses the tenets of moral leadership. Her guests include nationally and internationally recognized leaders from the private, military and public sectors. General Born. Welcome, and thank you for being here today. Gen. Dana Born 02:54 Thank you so much for the wonderful introduction. And it's great to be in the Long Blue Line conversation with you and all our other members of our tremendous extended family in our Air Force. So glad to be here. Naviere Walkewicz 03:07 Thank you so much, ma'am. And you know, you recently were just here for a reunion. How was that experience? Gen. Dana Born 03:13 It was spectacular. The only way I can describe it is like going to see family members that you haven't seen for a while. And even after 44 years, since our induction day, it was like just picking up where, you know, we left off in terms of the connection, the common bond, it was probably better than I anticipated. And I can't actually explain why. But it was just so special. It was poignant as well, because certainly during those times, we spend time reflecting on those that are no longer with us. And it was very powerful in terms of the way that our class decided to do that with. We don't call it a yellow cap, right, because there's nothing yellow in the military, but with our gold caps. And classmate who remembered our fallen friend, and lit a candle on behalf of them. And it was too many hats. It was too many candles, it was too many people that we have lost. But it was something that was spectacular in another way because we had such great stories to share that sort of brought back you know, the legacy and the person of our classmates. And so I think we left with a little bit more spring in our step in terms of let's make our lives and the lives of those we love count each day. So it was really inspiring and quite an amazing time. Naviere Walkewicz 04:41 I love hearing that. I get to come back for my 25th next year and even though I'm, you know, here working in this capacity, there is something so special that's timeless. With graduates, when they come together, we really do just kind of pick up where we left off and so I'm looking forward to that as well. Gen. Dana Born 04:57 We got together with our what we call "dooley squadron," but you know, with our classes that we were with for the first two years, and then also with the last two years, because we transitioned after our three-degree year, and there was one individual that was in my, like, all four years together. And so that was kind of fun as well, yes. Naviere Walkewicz 05:18 What our listeners love to do is kind of get to know our speakers as well. So if we could travel back to maybe your childhood and early days before the Academy. We'd really like to get to know what Gen. Born was like back then, you know, where did you grow up? What were you like? What were you into? Maybe you can take us back. Gen. Dana Born 05:36 That's going back aways because I entered the Air Force Academy in 1979. So it really is going back decades here. But I grew up in a small town in upstate New York called Penn Yan. And, you know, we maybe had two or three thousand people. It was a very small town. If you think of Norman Rockwell, that is kind of, you know, the the old world, maybe even American Graffiti. That is my hometown. Everybody knows everybody pretty much still to this day. And I graduated from high school, the same day that I flew out to start basic training the next day. I literally didn't get to stay for my whole high school graduation. Because on the East Coast, graduations tend to be late June and of course, that's when basic Cadet training begins. So I hopped on a commercial airplane for the very first time, the day I graduated from high school. I flew airplanes before I drove a car. But I flew with my flight instructor actually to the nearest airport and then flew commercially, for the first time in my life, to go start basic training. I'd never been west of Ohio, and of course, people think about Ohio as the Midwest. So it was really going into a brave new world for me, certainly. Naviere Walkewicz 06:58 So, were you always someone very courageous looking at new things. I mean, you said you were flying before you got into a car. So that's a bit telling there. What are their characteristics? Would you say you had as a young girl? Gen. Dana Born 07:11 Yeah. I think that's, I wouldn't have characterized it actually as courageous. But I was certainly enjoyed adventure and the outdoors. I mean, some of my favorite activities. My dad was the vice president of a local college. And we grew up on a lake. So you know, waterskiing sailing, you know, boating, I loved to run, I love to fly, I love to ski. So there was that adventurous spirit. And certainly, I think that was part of the selection to go to the service academy. But it was also my dad, being a college professional and administrator, he took me to a college fair at the University of Vermont, I still remember this. And my dad had been enlisted in the Coast Guard, and right after World War Two, but he taught me how to salute. And I was always just kind of enamored with that part of his life. And I saw a Coast Guard Academy booth at this fair. And I got really excited. I went back to my father who was at his booth for his college and I said, "Dad, I know where I want to go, I want to go to the United States Coast Guard Academy." And then, when I applied, they said, "Oh, you missed the application date for this year, you'll have to come next year." And I was not wanting to wait to go to college. Right? I was ready. And so they said, well, there's these other academies. And I went back and talk to my track and cross country coach, and he did some exploration for me. And he said, "What about the Air Force Academy?" And I said, "Where is that?" And they said, "Colorado," and I thought, okay, skiing, mountains, you know, running. And that really was, it was his kind of helping me search through, okay, if this isn't an option, you know, what are your other options? And it turned out to be serendipity, just a very good fit and very grateful to this day, you know, for his mentorship. Naviere Walkewicz 09:07 Well, I was going to ask how the Air Force Academy came into the picture. And it was by chance from the US Coast Guard Academy timing being off. Gen. Dana Born 09:16 It was meant to be, I think, and, you know, I've had fun, you know, with over the years certainly while I was the dean working closely with the leadership at the Coast Guard Academy, you know, just kind of puns you know, they've changed their application date, I think to be more aligned now, but it was it was funny in talking with them about that, but it worked out really for the better. Well, you're also aware I have a mixed family in terms of you know, having Marine Corps and Air Force and Navy and Coast Guard. So we're all really in the same profession. Naviere Walkewicz 09:56 We went kind of back in the early childhood days, but you just about your family kind of having mixed roles in different services. What does that all look like? Gen. Dana Born 10:05 Yeah, I actually just recalled, as you were asking that question, I thank you for digging deeper there, because I forgot to mention Army as well and certainly my brother in law was a West Point graduate. Naviere Walkewicz 10:16 We did that for him. Gen. Dana Born 10:19 So appreciate that. You know, it's interesting, because I did not other than my dad's Coast Guard service really did not have a lot of military in my family. And but when I met my now husband, who is a Naval Academy graduate, when we were assigned to the Pentagon, it opened up a whole like military side of the family, because he does have a brother that went to VMI, one that went to West Point, he went to the Naval Academy, his father was a WWII aviator, who retired from the Navy. And so I and my family was primarily all educators, right? So I must say that it was providence, right, to get to the dean of the faculty position where I think it was keeping both sides of the family happy the educators as well as blended military service. And then of course, we have two daughters who are serving now, and one of them is 2020, graduate from the Air Force Academy, whose IP instructor pilot in helicopters and our youngest, who's a Naval Academy graduate who is in the Marine Corps now and just heading over to serve in Okinawa for three years as a comm. strat. officer in the Marine Expeditionary Forces. So we are certainly in a family business of of military service. Naviere Walkewicz 11:41 Ma'am, you just shared a little bit about your time at the Academy as dean, first female graduate to become dean and then you serve two terms. What was that like? Gen. Dana Born 11:50 It's interesting, that you asked that question and, of your, I know your own background in working a lot of issues, particularly women in leadership issues in diversity, equity inclusion, I find it actually paradoxical to think of myself as kind of the, you know, the first female dean because it is a fact, I'm just really grateful that we have a currently serving dean who's also a female. And it's interesting, because we just want to fit in, right, and just be the dean. And yet, if we don't say female dean, then we're invisible. And so it really is paradoxical. Anytime you're a minority of having a an adjective that caveats or clarifies, you know, that your your role. So I recognize that, but I'm really just so thrilled that I had the opportunity, and again, through a lot of mentors, encouraging and supporting through that journey, because I think I like many others, particularly women, take ourselves out of the running, because we haven't seen somebody go into that kind of an authority position before that look like us or are like us. So it was really people telling me, you know, don't you think it's your duty, you know, to offer to serve in that capacity, you know, why take yourself out of the running, if the Air Force thinks you're the right person at the right time, and you're willing to, then it's your duty to put your name in. And, and that was really the thinking that drew me to apply. And I'm really glad to have had that opportunity, not just for one term, but for to, and to see that, you know, there's more behind me that are more, you know, diverse, that is really good for our Academy. Naviere Walkewicz 13:36 I'm glad you brought that up, because I actually struggled in asking that question for the similar reasons of saying first female to do something and at the same time, having been walking in those paths, understanding that sometimes people need to see people who have walked in those shoes that look like them, etc. So I'm glad that you kind of talked about the importance of recognizing those things, even though at the same time we see ourselves as I'm the qualified person to be doing this. So I appreciate you showing that. Gen. Dana Born 14:01 It's hard to do though, too, because, you know, if you think about the generation of the first several classes to go through the academy, it was really a token time. I mean, I think we had 8.4% women that came in in our class. And so we didn't want to be seen as anything other than fitting in. And so it is hard for us also. And I remember when General Desjardins and I were serving together as the comm and the dean, right the first time you had two females in those two roles. And we had to kind of get over that. We had many conversations to say, hey, if the current population is wanting to have conversations, you know about women in the military, we need to have those conversations. Those are, you know, part of what we bring and it was and we had to listen a lot, right, because there was so much we didn't know about how the experience is similar and we're different for the now cadet, right, while we were in those positions. Naviere Walkewicz 15:03 And that was actually one of the questions I had, from your experiences as a cadet, the highs and lows. And then what did that look like for you in the role then if dean, how did that change your perspective? Or, you know, looking at how you improved things, or made a difference? Gen. Dana Born 15:17 I'm gonna go back to the highs and low question because the high was clearly meeting some of the most amazing, talented, diverse people that I had been exposed to, if you think about coming out of this small town, to the cadet wing that was twice the size, much more diverse representing countries around the world. I was, I was so in awe of look at who I'm here with, I was also very scared because we all got that, you know, warning that look left look, right, one, one or two of you aren't going to be there, right, at graduation. So it was a little, a little bit of a fire, right to say I better stay giving it my best, but I really think that's a high. And to this day, that's and even as the dean, it was always a wow moment to look around and see the incredible people that we got to be in the kind of common cause with and gave me great hope always for the future, both while I was a cadet and as the dean and now serving, you know, with the Air Force Academy Foundation, it's really inspiring and elevating, and provides hope during times that, you know, can be very daunting. The low, I would just want to get that out of the way, right? The low is always hard to talk about. But I think one of my low points, but it didn't last long. Because I I really had a love of flying, and a love of the air, I lost my pilot qualification probably because I was not studying properly. And, you know, my flashlight under my covers trying to pass that "EE" test or something. And so I did not have the opportunity to fly upon graduation. And that was hard. Because one the culture, you know, we're so oriented towards, "What you're, you're not going to fly?" And I couldn't, it was just not an option for me. And so I really just had to pivot in terms of what are the other needs and ways that I might be able to serve. But that that was a hard time to do that. And it was actually right before commitment. And so people were asking, you know, are you still gonna stay? And I thought, "Well, why wouldn't I am sure the Air Force has other, you know, ways to serve." So, but that was that was kind of a low. And I think another I don't know is if it's a low, but it might be one that I look back on. I was intercollegiate for 12 seasons. And so I had a whole lot of depth of really athletics, and really close friendships because of that, and a lot of travel to places I've never traveled to. But I also then think I didn't get as much breadth of experience of because time was so precious and trying to keep up academically. You know, and I think as I look back, you know, I had participated in theater when I was in high school, but I didn't have time for you know, Blue Bards or anything outside of really athletics and some of the military work that we got to do and keep up with academics and, you know, try to do well there and in my major. Naviere Walkewicz 18:50 So ma'am you mentioned something about the pivot you had to make and you know, some of the disappointment that came with that. How did you kind of get to that positive headspace when your plan changed so dramatically. Gen. Dana Born 19:02 It's hard for me to go back and put myself in what did it there. But I can think of examples like right now what comes to mind for me is the iRobot or the I don't know what how you refer to it, but those, you know, round circular vacuums that if yes, if they get up against a wall, they know that they're there to clean the floor, and they just find a redirect and they keep going. And that's sort of what I think it's been for me, you know, when you kind of stay oriented on your purpose and what you are passionate about. It's easy to not give up but to find another way. And that happened to me when I was fortunate enough to be in a PhD program sponsored by the Air Force Academy in the Air Force to go to Penn State University and right after my second year, the Air Force was downsizing and trying to provide opportunity for people to not have a commitment to school and to be able to basically give up that commitment and not come into the Air Force. And I got that letter that said, "Hey, you can you know, we're sorry. But right now we have an option if you'd like to, you know, get out of the Air Force, you can." And I remember thinking like, you've invested in me to be here for this PhD program. And, you know, I'm hopeful that there's something with this I can do for my Air Force. And so no, I don't want to get out. And so it was kind of like that same iRobot response of I'm here to do this. And so I'm going to figure out a pivot to be able to stay and contribute in a way that might be valuable. Naviere Walkewicz 20:44 That is a great analogy, ma'am. That's fantastic. Well, I know this is not new to you, ma'am. Because with you're hosting other podcasts on leadership, there's questions that you know, our listeners love to learn about, that you're very familiar with. So I'd like to start with one that you ask often about leaders being born versus made. And I know your thoughts on this, that they are both born and made. But I'm hoping you might be able to share a little bit more about what led you to that perspective. Gen. Dana Born 21:12 I think it's through mentorship and wise counsel, in early days, actually, and magnified through the time at the Air Force Academy, that that character is paramount in terms of us being effective humans. And it's also not enough, because you want to be a person of strong character that also has leadership, qualities that help influence for good. And I remember, during my time, even as the dean when we were developing the character and leadership center, and talking about do we call it the in because it used to be the Center for Character Development? Or do we call it the Center for Leadership Development? And are they the same, and I was fascinated with those conversations, because we really got to a point where it is both and and we need to call out character and leadership. Because we can have great, or I won't say great, but we can have leadership where people are able to influence but maybe not for good. And we can have character, but have people of great character that aren't able to mobilize the influence. And so I have just been, I guess, embracing that character and leadership aspect of our mission, primarily, from the time at the Air Force Academy to present day research and investment in teaching and working with executives, graduate students, undergraduates and boards. Naviere Walkewicz 22:50 Was it would you say at the Air Force Academy is when you knew yourself to be a leader? Or, when did you have the desire to lead? Gen. Dana Born 22:59 Interestingly enough, I think about that back at my small town of Penn Yan, New York, and some of that, I have to attribute to the fact that we didn't have many people. I mean, my school had 1,000 people but bused in from 20, or 30 miles in every different direction. And so the because the town wasn't that big, so we had a chance. Matter of fact, I was like, I was Miss Flying Club, you know, for the parade. I was, you know, the head of women's athletics for my school, I got to be on Student Council and be a treasure for my class, and, you know, captain of the cross country team and the track team, it really did stretch me into places that I might not have sought out myself. But people kind of put me in those positions, and then helped me to learn through those positions. But I must say, most of my learning was when things didn't go so well, you know, how come you know, people aren't buying into this, you know, motto. And, you know, what is the dynamic that's happening? You know, we're, we're fractured as a team, you know, how can we fix this? And so it was really through some of those friction moments that I probably learned the most and really loved the opportunity have an input and an influence? Naviere Walkewicz 24:19 Can you share some of those because I think some of our listeners are certainly in parts of their leadership journeys, where they're, they may be facing some of those, you know, friction moments or their early parts of their leadership lessons. You know, what were some of the early lessons that you took on that you might share with them if they experience something like that? Gen. Dana Born 24:38 I think what came to mind for me, more recent examples, clearly, because they're still pretty fresh. But what came to me when you were talking about maybe early years, was I think we're I may be let myself downs nd we're I didn't feel as though I did well enough to be considered a leader. Right? You have to, you know, it's the hero's journey. And I think that I've learned over the years that you don't need to be perfect as a leader. Quite the contrary, right people can relate and, and really be on their own development journey more when we are human and imperfect. And that took me a long time to really embrace because there is that pressure, right, that we feel like we have to be perfect. And we have to know so much, and do so well. And I think that that's, that's not people know that humans aren't perfect, right? So if you're coming across perfect, right? People look for the chinks in the armor. And the higher you are, the higher you fall. So I think that I had that experience at the Air Force Academy, I shared recently in a Sabre Society, talk that, you know, I had been a commander during 9/11, at Bolling, Air Force Base. And it really, I was so proud of how my unit did, and the people that were recognized for just excellence, and we were prepared, and we were responsive. And it was really exciting. And I chose to stay in and ended up at the Air Force Academy as a department chair. And I brought my same self and my same, you know, you know, command energy and I failed miserably in the first, you know, several months, we were going through the sexual assault and sexual harassment crisis, and I was being fairly directive, which worked well with the population I was leading in Washington, DC during 9/11 did not work as well, when you have a very small but mature, you know, mostly PhDs, professional faculty, that I needed to listen to more and not be directive, and it took not long, you know, for what we call it, the Air Force Academy, the blanket party for quite respectable people to come in and say, ma'am, this isn't working and to swallow that humility pill, and, and realize, okay, we need to, I need to adapt here, not lose myself, but adapt to this new environment and situation, Naviere Walkewicz 27:11 Maybe you can share some of the best attributes that you've you've come across in leaders, because, you know, everyone leading from the authentic selves, brings it forward in their own ways. But what are some of the ones that you see time and true, and again, that are really spoken with you as best attributes? Gen. Dana Born 27:27 I think what I have grown to really value is people who probably listen well, and who are curious, and, and I've, I've, I've also found people who see the individual in each person, like, what makes Naviere tick, what is it that's important to you personally, and professionally? You know, what are the ways that you are at your best, and that I think is, is really helpful. I also, I don't know why it just came to me, but I'm kind of led to share it is, I heard some great advice. When I was a younger officer, and for where people were not performing to expectations, instead of blaming the individual or feeling as though you know, they're no good, we need to their poor performer label and move them on. It's really better when we asked three questions, when somebody's not meeting, a standard, you know, have I been as a person, you know, leading? Have I been clear in the expectations? And if I have, then the next question is, have I prepared them? Or given them the right training? Or, you know, opportunity to be good at what I'm asking them to do? And then the third is, if the answer to the first two is I have, I did, then what else is happening in their lives that for whatever reason, they're not meeting, you know, the expectations or standards. And if there's nothing there, then you start the performance plan. But, that was, I think, when people are like giving you space to learn and grow and taking kind of a co collaborative ownership of performance. I've, I've, I've thrived in those situations more than and I hope people in my leadership have thrived in those situations more as well, because it is more of a approach that is a shared approach to getting the mission accomplished and taking care of people. Naviere Walkewicz 29:38 That's an amazing nugget that you shared. I mean, I'm just I can think back throughout my career and times when I probably should have leveraged something like that, and I might have been more effective. Thinking about what pieces have I not maybe done as well or have I done those things, as you said, kind of do a reflective piece from a leadership perspective, to be able then to collaborate in a you know, a better way forward. That's awesome, ma'am. Thank you. Gen. Dana Born 30:02 Yeah, I had a couple of terrible times of moral discernment, I would say, in decision making when those situations came up, particularly when, you know, you're having to make a decision where somebody's going to be incarcerated. And, you know, I, I had one of those situations where, you know, I was actually eight months pregnant, and the individual was a failure to show up for he was an honor guardsman failure to show for several funerals. And his, his wife was eight months pregnant. And here I was sitting, as you know, the summary court official having to decide if I'm going to throw, you know, him in a situation where he's absent from his family, and, you know, and what kind of financial, leeway will I have in order to help the family but still hold him accountable. And that was very, very difficult because of my own, you know, situation and empathy. But at the same time, it hit me during that decision that there are a lot of airmen who are not there for the birth of their kids or for special events and are deployed in harm's way. And they're doing the mission, not A.W.O.L.. And so I ultimately decided to, you know, incarcerate him for his failure to go and being A.W.O.L. and also try to protect with some leniency, his family situation. Naviere Walkewicz 31:39 Leading with compassion, but always being accountable, ma'am, that's, it's tough. And I think, you know, we have many listeners that find themselves in those situations. And I've often been asked, you know, I'm a mom, how can I advance my career professionally, I have to do all these other things as well. And so maybe a question that I might tie to that a little bit. You know, how do you how did you balance, that compassion side of leadership and still be able to make some those difficult decisions in the moment? And you know, what would you share with others and how they might do that and think through things when it maybe feels a little bit too hard or too daunting? Gen. Dana Born 32:15 It is very hard and is daunting. And you use the term balance, and I, I love the word balance. You know, I'm a middle child, and I'm a Libran. You know, I like balanced, but I have found balance to be very difficult. There's a term called. "balance is bunk." And I like that because it's anytime I feel like I've had anything in balance, it's about ready to go on tilt. And so I try to change out the word balance with the word integrate, that works better for me or Harmonize How do I bring together those things and the Airforce in the time that I was working at the in the Chief of Staff's personnel office came up with a motto, "People First in Mission Always," and it can be, "Mission First." And people always, but it's sort of like the chicken and the egg, they both actually go together. And they're very important. And so I think there's that keeping the both and in the integration of that is what helped me in some of those tough decisions. I mean, I remember having to take a security clearance away from a lieutenant colonel, for all the right reasons, but trying, you know, that person then was going to lose their position in the Air Force, because it required a security clearance. And, and it wasn't a situation that I put that person in, right, they put themselves in that position, but what I didn't want to do was deliver the news in a way that then the individual would feel like they have nothing left right to or would ultimately, you know, take their life, right, that always was present to say, uh, don't want this person to go away with anything other than, you know, your life is not over. But you know, this is a very serious trajectory that you have to decide how you're going to go forward from this point. And that was hard, very hard, but it's both people and mission that I think we have to embrace in the way that we carry on what we're responsible for, for our nation. Naviere Walkewicz 34:25 Well, I think about you know, some of those stories that you shared and some of the experiences you had, I mean, you probably had to go home and, and your your network at home, your family was there with you through all of the journey. How has your family influenced you as a leader and maybe what role do they play in that? Gen. Dana Born 34:40 I talked a lot with my family, like the time around the dinner table was really sort of transparency. And that bothered my children because I started to hear things back that I thought they shouldn't have to be hearing some of this, and so I also kind of drew inward and decided that that I, "Who can I talk with," right, because I don't want to bring work home, so to speak, that weighs down the family. I want to focus on them. And so I went through a period where I suffered in silence. And I think many leaders and many people, as particularly when you have, you know, security issues that you can't talk about certain things with others. I think we need to find a way and I ultimately did find someone that I could go to and say, I need some advice. And that was monumental, because it helped me understand that I had not been doing that with with great mentors. And I thought about it. And it shocked me that I was not asking for advice. And I thought, How do I feel like if Naviere or someone comes to me and ask for advice, I feel like, wow, if they think I have, yeah, exactly. They're including me, I have something to offer. They care about what I have to say. And so I really had an epiphany that said, I need to do that more. And I started to reach out. And in one case, I reached out to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, you know, having talked with the superintendent first. And it was phenomenal. Because I had such a different perspective on something I was ruminating over. And I thought Why did I wait so long? Naviere Walkewicz 36:26 What advice would you give to some that are suffering in silence, and maybe can't see that next step? And to doing that what actually helped you to go seek help and ask for help or ask for guidance and mentorship? Gen. Dana Born 36:39 I think recognizing, well, in some cases, vulnerability is a strength. And, you know, Brene Brown, who I really do love her work. And her, her, her YouTube or, you know, Netflix, a lot of great science and also practice, but she said, What makes you vulnerable, makes you beautiful. And I think that that is part of it is to recognize that, you know, we're all vulnerable, or we're all broken in maybe different places, right to quote some history. And so I think it connects us and builds trust when we are willing to be vulnerable. And I think it takes courage as well, to let ourselves be seen for all, you know, we have a saying that's warts and all. And, you know, to let ourselves be really fully seen, Naviere Walkewicz 37:33 That resonates with so many people. I think a lot of times people when they're listening to podcasts, and they're, they're just trying to learn and get better in their professional career in their personal lives. Just a can take one little thing that someone really resonates with. And I think you sharing that bit about being reflective and not necessarily suffering in silence, but but looking for helping others I think is going to be really powerful for some. So thank you for sharing some of that. Gen. Dana Born 37:56 I think the key takeaway is, is just building on what we just talked about, like if I had a foot-stomper, right from our Air Force Academy days, that's like, if you're starting to fall asleep, right? I use that at Harvard. And I'm like, "Does anybody know what foot stamper actually means?" It means, you know, this, is it pay attention. And I'm, I'm really motivated by the John F. Kennedy quote, "Leadership, well, learning and leadership are indispensable from each other." I think that if I were to say there's two really important takeaways, those for me have been, be curious, be more curious. And that is just really asking a lot of questions. Leaning into not judgment, but leaning into really digging into and trying to understand. And that gets us, I think, in a whole different place. That is a good place. And so I haven't always done that. Well, curiosity is like a growth mindset. And I think that is something that I really would recommend to our listeners, be more curious. And I think that's being helped by Chat GPT and Generative AI because it's all about the questions you ask. And, and then it kind of gets at what answers you get. And I think that's maybe training us to be, you know, more curious and careful in how we're asking and being curious. The other is courage. And you brought this up earlier, but I think courage, you know, the root word of courage is heart. And I think leading with your heart and leading with, like the recognition that things that are hard, make your heart rate go up. Courage, you know, our heart rate goes up when we're in danger physically, morally, psychologically. And I think leaning into that to where our heart rate goes up a little bit is how we learn and grow and how we basically can make positive change. So, those two things together, curiosity and courage, under the umbrella of learning and leading go, you know, they're indispensable to each other is the takeaway. I thought you might ask me like, you talked about purpose earlier. What is your purpose? What is it that gets you out of bed in the morning? And what is it that keeps you going through the tough times? And what is it at the end of your, you know, last breath that will have been your dash in your life, your purpose, your why, and mine actually is a simple phrase to myself. I use the term, "kick chocks", and "kick chocks" is, you know, the bricks in front of the wheel of the airplane, and when you're ready to go, you gotta get, gotta get rid of them, or you can't take off. But sometimes you have to kind of have the chocks there, to pause and to, you know, refuel and to do things. So kick chocks, to me has sort of been a way that I am channeled. Some call it your true north, or your Polaris, your compass, and it speaks to me because I can, I can go, go, go, go and never put chocks in front. I also can keep chocks in front of myself and, and limit myself and, and I'm passionate about what is it that somebody needs to have a break? You know? And when is it when somebody has got something in the way or team or organization that's holding them back? And how do I help identify that and kick chocks with them so we can take off. So, it speaks to me. But yeah, the purpose I think, purpose and passion and the individualization of that, so because everybody is so different comes from our life stories, and I love learning about people's purpose. Naviere Walkewicz 41:51 General born, might you share with us, you know, maybe what you're reading, watching or listening to that's helped you develop your leadership skills. Gen. Dana Born 41:59 I love to listen to everything. I mean, I am a listener, you know, we all know how we we learn best, I'm really auditory. So podcasts I pick up, I really do a lot with the Council on Foreign Relations. I do listen also to a lot of leadership podcasts, because I just find the whole topic of leadership fascinating for so many different approaches to what we think we're all talking about the same, it just really is expansive of my understanding. And I also now there are so many ways that you can have, you know, auditory books, and or listen to even academic journal articles. So usually, it's a treadmill thing to listen. And I just, I think that is my approach. I also I do like to read, and I think my favorite leadership book is going to shock you. But it's it's sort of got a nautical theme, I think, not an Air Force theme, but its endurance about Shackleton and Antarctica. And there's so many leadership lessons in that book, endurance is one of my favorites. And another one of my favorites is and they're both kind of historical, is Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, written in 1946. I've read that so many times, and he wrote it in nine days, but it's because he wrote it while he was a prisoner in the Nazi prison camp. And then he rewrote it after it was burned. And he was liberated. And it's just an amazing, timeless evergreen read about life and about leadership, about purpose about meaning. And then most recently, for a current one is True North, and that is emerging leaders by Bill George and Zack Clayton. And I just think that that is a great pedagogy of thinking about ourselves. Put our own oxygen mask on first so that we can better care for the mission and the people that are entrusted to us and the change we want to see in the world. So, that's a current reader TrueNorth for emerging leaders. Naviere Walkewicz 44:24 It's been amazing. Thank you so much for taking the time, ma'am. It's been a pleasure and an honor. Gen. Dana Born 44:28 It's a pleasure and an honor. And I thank all our listeners for listening in and we wish you well. KEYWORDS Air Force Academy, leadership, people, Air Force, talk, family, dean, work, leader, serve, flew, cadet, Academy, Coast Guard Academy, recognized, years, terms, leading, long, podcasts The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation
Clementine Moss is a rock drummer and author of the book From Bonham to Buddha and Back. She is also a spiritual counselor and a nondenominational Minister at The Foundation for the Sacred Stream. Using the modalities of Depth Hypnosis, Applied Shamanism, Energy Medicine, Sound Healing, and Morphic Awakening techniques, Clem has an active healing practice. She is certified in Contemplative Psychotherapy and Conflict Resolution. A Vipassana meditator for over thirty years, her study and personal practice spans many traditions. Clem lives in San Francisco with music manager and musician Tim Moss and Henry the Pug. Her writing has appeared in Modern Drummer Magazine, Memoir Magazine, and other online publications. Listen & Subscribe on: iTunes / Stitcher / Podbean / Overcast / Spotify Contact Info Website: www.clemthegreat.com Book: From Bonham To Buddha and Back: The Slow Enlightenment of The Hard Rock Drummer by Clementine Moss Most Influential Person S. N. Guenka (Meditation Teacher) Effect On Emotions I have that observer within me that watches things rising and falling out falling now for a while. For many years in my life, I thought that mindfulness was so that we didn't have to feel our emotions anymore. We didn't have to be in that, I realized, is an ignorance within us. We're supposed to feel fully. But if I feel sorrow fully, but I don't say I am a sad person. It's two different things. Do I identify with the emotions? Or do I allow myself to feel it fully? Thoughts On Breathing Breathing is the great gift. The deep breath, the holding of the breath, the holding the bottom of the breath; all of those are wonderful techniques for us to turn on our parasympathetic nervous system to quiet the mind to let the body know it's safe. So the thoughts of fear that are constantly rising from our physicality, quiet down, and we can access that awareness underneath all the thoughts. Bullying Story I was bullied in junior high school, I grew very quickly. I was five feet eight inches tall in junior high school. And I was the tallest student and was taller than some of my teachers. I was gawky and had goofy hair. So I came from an elementary school where I was the president of the Student Council was kind of this celebrated person. And then I got into junior high school and got bullied by other girls. It was very painful and a big shock to me that people were cruel that way. And I retreated into myself and so, you know, that stays with you. It's fear, right? Fear of judgment. I think around that time that internal negative voice became a megaphone within me. And it's been something I've fought and tried to understand through my whole life. Now, do I see a benefit of that experience? Quite a bit. It drove me to understanding myself in psychology and spiritual practice. When you can feel another's pain, you can't bully them. And, and when you're bullied, you can see I can look at those girls, and I can see what they were afraid of. I can see where it was coming from. it. It opens empathy. It's only compassion that problems would solve. Suggested Resources Books: Anything by Alan Watts and Robert Thurman Book: Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A. C. Bhaktivedanta App: Audible – Lectures by Alan Watts App: Bob Thurman Podcast – Buddhas Have More Fun Related Episodes Music and Creativity; Vinnie Stergin Music for Mindfulness; Dave Combs Unshakable Trauma Survival; Wen Peetes Are you experiencing anxiety & stress? I'm Bruce Langford, a practicing coach, and hypnotist helping fast-track people just like you to shed their inner bully and move forward with confidence. Book a Free Coaching Session to get you on the road to a more satisfying life, feeling grounded and focused. Email me at bruce@mindfulnessmode.com with ‘I Am Determined' in the subject line. We'll schedule a call to discuss how you can move forward to a better life.
In Episode 133, Chey and Pav talk about how they have set up a unique student council this school year at the school where they teach. Leveraging student leadership and initiative, the council space is more than an avenue for fundraising and expressing school joy - it's also a space allow students to lead the way in creating a school culture that goes beyond what student council has done in years past. From Reading Buddies to Minecraft Camp to Coding Club - the vibrant groups is running it all. Give the episode a listen to hear what Chey and Pav have learned along this new and exciting journey. Oh, and there are many interesting twists and turns in the conversation along the way. They weave from Wizard of Oz to the term "alpha" while still discussing the school environment throughout this thought-provoking episode. Chey and Pav are always open and willing to engage in meaningful chatter about educational topics. Check out all their content at cheyandpav.com. The Chey and Pav Show! A rich discussion with several a-ha! moments throughout. Tune into this great chat, and as always, be a part of it by tagging @CheyandPav #CheyandPav on X (formerly Twitter)! Tell us what you think, interact, and give us your feedback and reflections. Check out all the podcast episodes, recent and upcoming presentations, the Chey and Pav Blog, and all the other amazing things they are up to at CheyandPav.com! If you're looking for dynamic presenters for professional development, or a seminar or keynote address for a conference, please reach out to us at info@cheyandpav.com. Chey and Pav Educational Services, Inc.