Leadership Training - Student's Stories

By her own admission, Jessica Chilcott used to give up far too easily. The 16 year-old was bright and academically able, but lacked confidence and motivation. “I used to think that many of life’s challenges were unattainable and there was no point in trying because I would fail,” she says.“Now, I feel quite empowered and able to help others. I’m not afraid to try new things and am no longer scared of failure.”

Students like Jessica were amazed by what they learned. “It’s not exaggeration to say that it was one of the most memorable few days of my life,” she said. “It changed completely the way I think about things like public speaking and I feel more inclined to get involved with activities at the school, such as peer mentoring. Now I have responsibility for mentoring Year 7s. I know what it is like to be new to the school, but it also gives me an opportunity to draw on my new skills.”

Jessica’s classmate, Anjali Parshotam, was chosen by teachers as one of the pupils considered to be ‘natural leaders’. “The problem was that I might have been a bit overpowering in the way I approached things,” she admits, “so the programme taught be how to be a positive leader.”

Anjali, 15, was already involved in the school council and is also a member of the school’s Youth and Philanthropy Initiative, an international programme aimed at developing community leaders for the future. “It’s given me more confidence in everything I do, and I am not far more inclined to get involved in some activities,” she admits.

The transformation in the two students is typical of the experiences of most young people involved in the programme.

For Huguette Bukasa, a student at Holland Park School, in West London, involvement in the Student Leadership Programme has meant having responsibilities beyond her own school. Huguette, 14, has worked as a peer facilitator, helping to train pupils from schools in the neighbouring authorities of Brent and Hackney.

At first, she encountered some reluctance in getting some of the young people to participate. “They did not want to make friends and didn’t want to do anything. We had to persevere and persist in talking to them about this being a learning experience and that they had nothing to lose by joining in,” she says.

Huguette said the course had taught her not to settle in her comfort zone but to challenge herself. “I have learned to express my opinions, and that they have the same value as other people’s and I shouldn’t be afraid to say them,” she says. “I have changed the way I think and the way I talk to people. I’m not prejudiced or judgemental now.”