Day 213 & 214 - 1/15/11 & 1/16/11

Well here I am...back to blogging...apparently I was in a cupboard under the stairs. Thinking about it now, I can understand Harry Potter's pain. I just got back from my weekend retreat to Rosaryville with the Leading Edge program. It was quite the weekend. Imagine yourself getting on a bus with 40 other kids you don't know going to a place you've never heard of and the only instructions you have is to learn about leadership and meet people. Strange list, huh? But with a good attitude and an open mind anything is possible. Honestly, I wish stuff like this happened more often. As a mentor who's main job was to help facilitate, it was quick to see how easy it was for everyone to gel and connect. I can promise you that those 40 aren't strangers to each other anymore. The weekend consisted of us participating in icebreakers aimed to learning about each other, learning about the importance of leadership, and identifying mentors. Part of my job as a peer mentor is to provide my experience and knowledge about LSU to the "Leading Edgers." As I have told my small group countless of times already, I owe so much to all the people who mentored me and I feel the ultimate way to repay all of them is to share my skills with someone else. To be a mentor is to learn a trade unlike any other. Now speaking of my small group...

Here is photo #2

Meet the Free Edgers. These six are my assigned mentees. My other buddy Millie and I are the peer mentors for this group. Unfortunately, Millie was out of town this weekend and couldn't attend the retreat but I think she will be in for a treat when she meets them on Thursday. So...let me tell you about my group. First off, they are AWESOME. Most likely you guys will be reading this so let me repeat again...YOU ARE AWESOME. I feel each person provides a unique quality to our group. We have some artsy people (judging by our soccer-quality crest). We have some very extroverted people. We have people who enjoy really getting to the heart of the subject. What I like most is how from the very beginning each person was very approachable and open to express their thoughts on leadership and success. From the very first moment, it seemed that everyone meshed. The next 11 weeks are going to a blast with them and I hope they are ready.

-R.D.