The Leader Games: Leadership Development through Peer Mentoring with Incoming Freshman
Presentation Format
Individual Presentation
Intended Audience
Administrators
Presentation Description
Peer mentoring is a growing trend in leadership development. This is helpful to both the students and the advisor for growth and development. Upperclassmen students gain valuable leadership through leading discussions, activities, and small group service projects. Incoming freshman gain contact, culture, and assistance regarding the program from an upperclassman that guides the new members through the first semester and beyond. The goal for the presentation is to provide examples of what worked for Southern Leaders’ Leader Games. I will guide the presentation through phases of implementing a peer mentor group at respective universities. The phases are: selection of mentors, culture with the incoming students, necessity of service and learning, and the desire to grow and change to best fit the needs of the group.
Selection of mentors is a vital aspect in order to keep the heartbeat of the program running. Students who participate heavily within the organization are not necessarily the best choice. Rather a student’s will to pursue and develop is more important. We found that students who are sophomores (assuming freshman are the target group) provide the best culture, as they themselves recently finished the mentoring aspect as a mentored student. Sophomores also have an eagerness to participate, and there is a lull within Southern Leaders between freshman mentored students and Junior students who normally attain a position on the Advisory Council or other leadership position on campus. Giving sophomores a leadership position gives a better sense of ownership in the organization, and better participation.
Culture with the incoming freshman is the main purpose that Southern Leaders developed peer mentoring. We wanted to give incoming freshman a sense of ownership and belonging to the organization. This is accomplished through: development and bonding activities, group service, competition style theme, and individual attention.
Necessity of service and learning was a small aspect, and now is growing to be a major focal point. Giving the incoming students a sense of community within the larger university and (in our case) Statesboro community brings pride and ownership to lead a better self for the sake of the area. This can be accomplished through learning about the city and surrounding area, participating in service projects, and developing a servant leader through group activities.
Lastly, the desire to grow and change has allowed Southern Leaders to develop a better and more flexible plan for incoming students. We have learned through two years of developing that we still have room to grow, but I want to share the insights that we, Southern Leaders, have gained over the years.
Participants will be encouraged to discuss and openly ask questions or comments. There are other peer mentor groups in the country, and our one insight is the end-all, be-all of leadership development. However, the sharing of ideas and collaboration can make this one idea a stronger, more effective means of bringing incoming students learn the culture and provide greater participation across the board in any organization.
Location
Room - 217
Start Date
4-14-2016 9:15 AM
End Date
4-14-2016 10:30 AM
Recommended Citation
Lakhani, Andrew C., "The Leader Games: Leadership Development through Peer Mentoring with Incoming Freshman" (2016). Gulf South Summit on Service-Learning 2016. 65.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gss/2016/2016/65
The Leader Games: Leadership Development through Peer Mentoring with Incoming Freshman
Room - 217
Peer mentoring is a growing trend in leadership development. This is helpful to both the students and the advisor for growth and development. Upperclassmen students gain valuable leadership through leading discussions, activities, and small group service projects. Incoming freshman gain contact, culture, and assistance regarding the program from an upperclassman that guides the new members through the first semester and beyond. The goal for the presentation is to provide examples of what worked for Southern Leaders’ Leader Games. I will guide the presentation through phases of implementing a peer mentor group at respective universities. The phases are: selection of mentors, culture with the incoming students, necessity of service and learning, and the desire to grow and change to best fit the needs of the group.
Selection of mentors is a vital aspect in order to keep the heartbeat of the program running. Students who participate heavily within the organization are not necessarily the best choice. Rather a student’s will to pursue and develop is more important. We found that students who are sophomores (assuming freshman are the target group) provide the best culture, as they themselves recently finished the mentoring aspect as a mentored student. Sophomores also have an eagerness to participate, and there is a lull within Southern Leaders between freshman mentored students and Junior students who normally attain a position on the Advisory Council or other leadership position on campus. Giving sophomores a leadership position gives a better sense of ownership in the organization, and better participation.
Culture with the incoming freshman is the main purpose that Southern Leaders developed peer mentoring. We wanted to give incoming freshman a sense of ownership and belonging to the organization. This is accomplished through: development and bonding activities, group service, competition style theme, and individual attention.
Necessity of service and learning was a small aspect, and now is growing to be a major focal point. Giving the incoming students a sense of community within the larger university and (in our case) Statesboro community brings pride and ownership to lead a better self for the sake of the area. This can be accomplished through learning about the city and surrounding area, participating in service projects, and developing a servant leader through group activities.
Lastly, the desire to grow and change has allowed Southern Leaders to develop a better and more flexible plan for incoming students. We have learned through two years of developing that we still have room to grow, but I want to share the insights that we, Southern Leaders, have gained over the years.
Participants will be encouraged to discuss and openly ask questions or comments. There are other peer mentor groups in the country, and our one insight is the end-all, be-all of leadership development. However, the sharing of ideas and collaboration can make this one idea a stronger, more effective means of bringing incoming students learn the culture and provide greater participation across the board in any organization.
Program Abstract
Peer mentoring serves to increase participation from upperclassmen, while developing culture, participation, and excitement through the first semester students of a leadership development program. Learn from our trials and tribulations as I discuss what we have done to be successful and not so successful in the two years of implementation. May the leadership be ever in your favor.