Leadership Conference at Chicago

Alana Barahona

From January 30th all through February 5th, of this year, high school students from STUCO, NHS, and NJHS were invited to participate in the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Leadership Conference in Chicago, Illinois. 23 AST students were in attendance at this conference. During this trip students were able to make connections with people from all over the world, learn new ways to become better leaders, visit important universities in the United States and overall have a great time getting to know a new city. 

The conference in itself took place from January 31st through February 2nd in the Sheraton Hotel. During this conference, students were able to attend general sessions, where every student who attended the conference would be in the same ballroom, and be able to experience some guest speakers like Sharon McMahon and Kahlil Green. Students were also able to attend smaller sessions where teachers, other students, and some new guest speakers gave smaller, more intimate conferences in different rooms throughout the hotel. These conferences spanned many different types of topics like leadership, creativity, scholastic achievement, and projects that have been done in other schools for the well being of different communities. Lastly, during this conference students participated in icebreaker activities, where people from all of the different schools were separated into different groups, in order that people from different parts of the world attending the conference could speak with one another and make connections. 

Once the conference was over, students were also able to visit some very important universities within the United States. First, they visited Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. In this university, current AST students were able to meet up with former AST students, who now study at this prestigious institution. In this university students were able to to receive an in depth tour as well as watch a video which showcases some of the great highlights of Notre Dame. Also, students were able to visit UChicago and also receive an in depth tour of their installations while hearing about their history and traditions. 

And finally, students were obviously able to tour the windy city of Chicago and get to know some of their most famous landmarks. These include Willis Tower, Magnificent Mile, Holy Name Cathedral, Trump Tower, Navy Pier, and of course the famous Bean. Students were able to capture moments and create magnificent memories during this trip, as well as represent AST and bring back some amazing new skills and ideas which they wish to implement in the school in the future. All students on the trip came back from Chicago with a stronger bond with one another as well as with lifted spirits for the remainder of the school year.