North H.S. seniors teach leadership techniques

Students at North High School participated last month in a half-day of training and activities designed to hone their leadership skills with exercises that demand clear communication, encourage critical thinking about ethics and promote brainstorming.

The activities on Oct. 8 kicked off the annual Leadership Academy, now in its seventh year. The program meets several times throughout the year.

Students from various leadership positions, including team captains and officers of school clubs and organizations, practiced effective communication and explored topics like how to be role models and how to demonstrate courage in the face of adversity.

Seniors who completed the program in past years ran the exercises, which included cup and rubber band challenges that required clear articulation of instructions, role-playing workshops, discussions about doing the right thing in the face of adversity, guessing words based on others’ descriptions and brainstorming sessions.

Nicole Evangelista was one of the senior leaders. She is president of the Career and Technical Education Honor Society, a member of the National Honor Society and Science Honor Society, captain of the varsity volleyball team and a member of the varsity lacrosse and varsity basketball teams. She said that the skills taught by the exercises can be applied successfully by anyone.

“The effective communication exercises make you see that what you say really does affect other people,” Evangelista said, adding that the program has had a lasting impact on her. “It showed me how a leader is supposed to be, and I was able to change for the better. You can be a leader no matter what – you don’t have to be a captain, but can be a leader in the classroom and in everyday life.”

Leadership Academy advisors Vanessa Coppeto and Jennifer DiMaio coordinated the day’s activities.

“The students learned to be better communicators and to demonstrate positive leadership qualities,” Coppeto said. “They understand how to react in difficult scenarios.”

A future meeting will be led by Principal James Bolen and will concentrate on personality aspects.