I am involved in a Jewish Leadership Cohort on campus. Lee Cohen, our Israel fellow, has put together an amazing program to help inspire and encourage leadership within the Jewish community. She serves as a guide and mentor to a group of about ten. Our group has a very special connection because most of us went on Birthright this past January, where we met and became very close.
Lee guides and mentors us while we spread our wings and start shaping up to be great leaders. We meet every two weeks to discuss and learn for about ninety minutes. Every person or pair has chosen a leadership role to take-on. While we were in Israel, our trip visited an elementary school in Ashkelon; two students have decided to take leadership and start a pen-pal friendship with our two schools. Another leadership role a few people have started working on is planning the celebration of Israeli Independence Day on campus.
Personally, I have learned how much effort and planning goes into being a leader. Leadership is not just about setting an example or being a role model. Leadership is about having a passion and spreading said passion. I have learned that being a leader is not just distributing jobs to people and being in charge, leadership is teamwork. Working on my leadership project I feel very excited knowing that because of my hard work something amazing will come of it.
—Lianna Reisman
