Student Leadership Institute Weekend Getaway

The Shaw University student leaders were treated to a fun, challenging but educative getaway in Black Mountain, NC. The Student Leadership Institute was organized by the Student Affairs director, Ms. Ebony Johnson and attended by the Student Government Association  (S. G. A), amongst other student leaders at the University.  Whether effective or not, colleges, and universities have composed a group of students usually lead by and advisor to oversee the events, activities and programs given to the students throughout the school year.

The founder of Taoism Lao Tzu once said "To Lead, One Must Follow". This quote is one that Ms. Johnson has instilled in the student leaders and is expecting to share with the rest of the student body. The various groups of students form what is called the Student Government Association. The main priority of the S. G. A is to hear, voice, support, and advocate the needs to the entire student body.

            The advisor of the student government association Ms Ebony Johnson has realized the potential in the elected student leaders that service Shaw University's campus and has set in place a weekend getaway to Student Leadership Institute in black Mountain, NC to foster our deep seeded treasures.  The weekend getaway consisted of various team-building activities, and seminar's that were geared to helping the students to break out their shells, engage with others, and teach the students how to effectively deal, and work with different types of people. Many mini tests were given to groups of students with similar character traits, helping them to get a better understanding of themselves and their actions.

            At the start of the weekend the students were asked to group themselves with three other students they did not know, which they were unaware that the other three students would become their roommates for the remainder of the weekend. Next, the students were engaged in an opening seminar with a Team- Building specialist named Ebony Ramsey. Ramsey, who is also the student government association's director at Winston Salem State University, gave the students tips, and advice on "How to successfully run an Executive Meeting", which was followed by a bonfire where the students learned interesting facts about one another.

            Throughout the process, and the entire weekend there were many lessons to be learned about effective leadership, and also leading by example. The students were awarded for their hard work, and diligence throughout the weekend by being initiated into the student leaders family at the end of the trip with a pinning ceremony, and being given the official student leaders t-shirt. Student leader, and participant Tanya Marshall said" I came to Black Mountain, with one mindset and left feeling like a completely renewed woman, I have learned and experienced things over this short weekend that I will never forget".