Before you read: On March 17, the Student Athlete Leadership Book Club discussed “The Team Captain’s Leadership Manual,” which they have been reading for the past semester. Through these monthly meetings with guest speakers and guided conversations, students learn to be responsible, vocal leaders on and off the field.
GROWING OPPORTUNITIES | Joining the Student Athlete Leadership Book Club, George Lada, who plays soccer and basketball, hopes to learn and become a better leader for his teammates. The Student Athlete Leadership Book Club helps students learn more about themselves and how to be more confident team players to lead in the future. “I saw it as a good opportunity to gain some valuable knowledge about leading,” Lada said.
FOLLOWING FOOTSTEPS | A member of North’s synchronized swimming, tennis and cross country teams, junior Isabella Valdez finds that being given the chance to be in the presence of past sports leaders helps her to grow in learning leadership. “This Leadership Book Club helps me become a better leader because I get to see examples of other adults who were in my footsteps,” Valdez said.
LEARNING THROUGH TIME | After playing baseball for 13 years, junior Deshawn Edwards has dedicated lots of time to his sport. Edwards has found that through his sport he has created many memories and friendships but through this he has learned how to communicate with others and found why he would be a good leader in his sport. “I want to lead in my sport because I think I know how to talk to people that I really don’t know and I'm really social,” Edwards said.
NO I IN TEAM | Former college softball player at Wayne State, librarian Amanda Pata understands the dynamic of having good team chemistry, which can stem from the leadership on the team. Having team chemistry creates a sense of confidence in yourself. “I think that being part of a team, on a team sport, makes you more confident,” Pata said. “It helps you to see how other people react to adversity and I think that helps you react to adversity, which makes you a better leader.”
SHARED GOALS | Through her experience in basketball, soccer and track during high school, counselor Jessica Turner offered advice to student athletes during the meeting. She finds that being a leader is much more than just being a good player, but being a good team player. “I would say to have clear goals for yourself and an understanding of the team's goals, to have open communication and to be comfortable having conversations with your teammates and your coaches,” Turner said.
LEADING BY MOTIVATING | The multi-talented athlete, junior Liliana Ivanaj does swim, dance, cross country and track and field for North. With all that she wants to learn further to be a leader for her teammates in ways that will inspire them. “The Student Athlete Leadership Book Club helps me be a better leader by teaching me how to lead a team without seeming overpowering but also teaches me how to use constructive criticism in a way that is more motivational than bashful,” Ivanaj said.
REFLECTING LEADERSHIP | Playing for North’s football and baseball teams, junior Caleb Butler wants to be a role model for others which is why this club contributes to learning leadership. “Being a person the underclassmen can look up to and just being a leader is pretty good,” Butler said. “I joined because I got an invite and I just wanted to be around people that reflected my image of being a leader and being a good person.”