Texas A&M International University students have the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills with a program few students have heard about. Leadership TAMIU is a one year program specifically designed for qualified students to learn how to be successful after college. Each summer, juniors and seniors with a G.P.A. at or above 3.2 are offered the opportunity to join Leadership TAMIU. Miguel Trevino, the Associate Director of Student Activities and Leadership, says, “Leadership TAMIU is a process of learning more about yourself, what it means to be a both a leader and a follower, helping others around you… to find solutions, [and] resolving conflicts,” Trevino goes on to say, “…is just a way of conducting yourself to get through situations through life and being successful.”
In this program, students meet every two weeks on Fridays. In the meetings, students evaluate themselves, and they learn about their personal skills. Through the program these skills are enhanced. Practical theories are seen from real life situations to learn how to be successful through life. Students also have the opportunity to meet several speakers that are considered leaders. For instance, this year students will be able to meet Steve Reifenberg, the author of Santiago’s Children.
One of the most interesting things about the program is that it provides a retreat where students meet physical and mental challenges. “The retreat was a lot of fun actually,” says TAMIU student, Carolina Rodriguez, who was part of the 2010-2011 year program and entered again this year. “I got to meet a lot of new people…it was an experience that made us realize that we had the ability to become leaders,” added Carolina.
The activities students do through the entire year help them with their future. Miguel Trevino says that the purpose of the program is, “to be able to have self confidence, be able to speak with any individual, provide them with networking opportunities because we realize there is a tough job market out there… so when they are going to their big interview, they [will be] ready and confident.” Carolina Rodriguez agrees that Leadership TAMIU has helped prepare her for the future. Carolina went on to say, “It really has been a wonderful experience for me because I have learned a lot of things, not only useful for school, but I know that they will be very useful when I start working.”
To be better prepared for the future students who qualify should consider applying for next summer. For students with a G.P.A. below 3.2, now is the time to work on raising it in order to qualify to be part of the program that enhances students leadership skills.
Remember as Vince Lombardi said, “Leaders are not born, they are made.” Leadership TAMIU can help make students into leaders.
(For more information contact Ana K. Gamboa and Arlene L. Faz at kristelita_g@dusty.tamiu.edu; arlene_faz@dusty.tamiu.edu)