The King's Connection Magazine Volume 23 Number 4//Fall 2013 | Page 20

FEATURED ARTICLE

In Their LEADERSHIP:
Own
Words

“To Serve is to Live”

“

by Sandra Thiessen

F

rom July 20 to 23 I had the unique opportunity to attend
The Hesselbein Student Leadership Summit in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. This is an annual event put on by The
Hesselbein Global Academy for Student Leadership and Civic
Engagement that takes place at the University of Pittsburgh.
The academy and the summit were founded upon the legacy
of Frances Hesselbein, a highly committed, motived and
determined servant leader focused on diversity and inclusion
for leadership. Her motto says it all and perfectly describes
her character, “To Serve is to Live.”
The summit gives student leaders from around the world
the opportunity to interact and learn together alongside
distinguished mentors. Students are provided with the
resources and skills to excel as effective, ethical and
innovative global leaders.
One aspect of the summit was getting to listen to
presentations from our mentors; another aspect of the
summit was our civic engagement projects. Prior to
the summit, participants were placed into mentorship
communities, based upon their interests, which consisted
of five students and one mentor. My mentor was Tamara
Woodbury, CEO of Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council,
Inc. Each mentorship community was tasked with assisting
a community organization in some way. My mentorship
community assisted the Southwestern Pennsylvania chapter
of the American Red Cross in organizing and retaining their
volunteers through further developing a program recently
implemented, Volunteer Connection. The civic engagement
project allowed us to put into action the skills and expertise
we acquired throughout the rest of the summit.

This was an experience I will never forget. I met 40 of the
world’s most exemplary student leaders and young “world
changers” along with 14 dedicated mentors. The Academy
radically impacted my perspective on leadership. The
Academy follows through on its vision “to produce a cadre
of experienced, ethical leaders equipped to address critical
issues throughout the world.”
I came out of the summit ready to take on more than ever
before. There was an undeniable and extremely positive
atmosphere of leadership that gave me a great deal of
confidence and motivation in terms of continuing on the
journey of leadership.
Going into my final year of studies at King’s it also means that
this will be my last year serving on the Student Life team. I
look forward to sharing what I learned during my time at The
Hesselbein Global Academy for Student Leadership and Civic
Engagement Student Leadership Summit. ?

“

Participating in The Hesselbein Student Leadership Summit
reinforced my belief that leadership is a way of life, a process,
a never-ending journey. Frances Hesselbein said something
about leadership that I couldn’t agree more with: “Today
you and I are fellow travellers on the journey to leadership.
Leadership is not a destination but a journey.”
I am fortunate enough to say that my leadership journey has
already begun at a young age and I anticipate where it has yet
to bring me.

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