National Youth Leadership Training: Experience of a Lifetime!

NYLT…WOW! What an experience!

Aside from the wonderfulness that is Minnesota, there are so many different things that I learned at the 2012 National Youth Leadership Training and will always cherish. NYLT taught me so much, not only about the achievement gap and service-learning, but also about myself as a member of society and a leader.

From the rough 24 hours that was so wonderfully called Immersion, to the diversity workshops, to the many games that we all became so good at by the end of the week, I absolutely had a blast. Immersion was one of those things that you reflect on and love, but you aren’t so fond of while experiencing it. I mean who wants to be dropped off in the middle of nowhere not knowing what is to come? But really, Immersion helped to strengthen my leadership skills and really was a crucial part of my NYLT experience.

Aside from the jokes that we would be camping out for the ENTIRE week, or that we were going to have to bathe in the lake, immersion was that time to get you out of your comfort zone and experience discomfort. Every activity that I participated in during those 24 hours helped to strengthen my teambuilding skills, which have become beneficial during the orchestration of my Service-Learning Action Plan project.

Aside from the whole vibe of the camp, learning about the achievement gap was one of those big — as Oprah would say — “AHA” moments. NYLT was such an important experience for me because it brought an awareness to me about some issues I hadn’t known about. Learning about this helped me to realize that this gap causes disadvantages, which often leads to a cycle of continual shortcomings that in turn creates a probable chance for failing.

Because of NYLT, I have made friendships and connections with people I never would have, and now with the Generator School Network we have an opportunity to stay connected and support each other and our Service-Learning Action Plan projects from afar. My biggest takeaway from NYLT was the leadership skills I gained and the enlightenment I received that I will use in my future. NYLT will forever be an experience that I will look back on and view as a defining time in my life!

Haley Holliday attended the National Youth Leadership Training in 2012, and now serves as an NYLC Youth Advisory Council member. To donate to NYLC on Give to the Max Day, November 15, visit www.givemn.com/nylc.