Saint Xavier held their annual Synergy Leadership Summit over the weekend, a scholars conference where students come together and learn how to become diverse and inclusive leaders.
As stated on the SXU website, Synergy is a student-led conference “with educational sessions, student panels, engaging activities, and service projects”. The goal of the conference is to have students learn leadership skills from their peers that will help them become innovative, all-embracing leaders.
This year’s keynote speaker was Natalie Page, Ed.D., SXU’s inaugural chief diversity officer, and she spoke about the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
While talking about the importance of DEI initiatives, Page made a comparison to Bob the Builder. She emphasized to attendees that if you actively make spaces more welcoming, you can help fix the problem of corporate-conforming rooms.
Following Page’s presentation, the Crisis Center for South Suburbia spoke about how to recognize red flags in relationships. They offered attendees the specific example of a young girl who came to them seeking help, who they then helped attend her prom and find a full-ride scholarship to attend college.
The Crisis Center for South Suburbia also gave attendees a service project: The Chapstick Project. The project involved students putting notes with information on where to find help inside of lipstick and chapstick containers.
Attendees then entered the break out sessions.
For the first session, attendees had four presentations to pick from. The choices were “Just Do It!” by Kyla (KT) Turner, “Recognizing Our Implicit Bias” by Blanca Correa, “Self Care for Student Leaders” by Giuliana Islas, and “Be the S.T.A.R. In Your Next Interview” by the Center for Success.
The “Self Care for Student Leaders” presentation had attendees take a stress level quiz. Islas then went on to discuss the side effects of stress and how it can impact a student’s ability to be a leader.
The second session allowed attendees to sit through a choice of four more presentations, those being “The Power of Scholarships and Internships” by Anely Lopez, “How to Find Your Passion and Pursue It” by Patrycja Zieba, “Becoming Culturally Competent” by Laikin Stella and Vincent Stella, and “The Glo Up: Building Confidence and Combating Social Anxiety” by Chantelle McKinney.
The “The Glo Up: Building Confidence and Combating Social Anxiety” presentation discussed tactics to battle social anxiety and a lack of confidence, reminding attendees that confidence is key.
Attendees of “The Glo Up: Building Confidence and Combating Social Anxiety” presentation were given “confidence jars” to put notes from themselves and from others about remaining confident and admirable traits.
The final breakout session had four more presentations. These included “Horticulture and Leadership” by Elizabeth Gomez, “Good & Bad Mental Health of Leaders” by Roan Jaber, “Leading Excellently-A Service Excellence Model” by Rola Othman, and “The Power of Purpose” by Deborah Rapacz.
Attendees of the “Horticulture and Leadership” presentation learned about leadership as a garden. As a leader, you are the gardener, and those you lead are your garden.
Attendees then regathered in the Butler Reception Room for a student panel presented by the Student Government Association (SGA) about Michelle Obama’s book, “The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times”.
Several SGA members attended Obama’s book tour, so they shared with attendees the lessons they took away from it. The overarching theme was that it is important to have a support system, and you should never dim your own light.
Synergy then concluded with a short reminder about X-Factor applications from the Associate Dean of Students, Keith O’Neil and closing remarks from the Dean of Students, Katy Thompson.
Thompson discussed the promise of the event, that attendees would learn to “strengthen their leadership toolbox”. She then continued to discuss how each tool in a toolbox serves its own purpose, just as each leader does.
Attendees left with a memento of the morning: their own miniature toolbox which they were able to personalize with stickers. The toolbox serves as a reminder for all of their own leadership skills or “tools”.