Youth Leadership Summit: 

Michael Garret '28

Earlier this school year a few of our students, myself included, were given the amazing opportunity to take part in the East End Youth Leadership Summit at Suffolk County Community College in Riverhead. This conference is hosted every year and includes schools from across the two forks. It is an opportunity to learn about the issues that up-and-coming leaders will face and how to present them to their own communities, but it was also a social event and an opportunity to meet some youth leaders from neighboring towns.

The meeting started with breakfast and the Keynote speaker. The speakers discussed how having support systems helped people stay away from harmful influences, and how important it was for people to have a multitude of things to form their defence, like family, friends, and teachers, but also organized clubs, sports, and hobbies. They relayed this to the audience in engaging ways by using volunteers and having people move around. Many of the ideas used can themselves be used for leadership, along with what the speakers said. These skills are particularly useful when applying for the National Honor Society.

As we continue through the year, the time for honor society inductions fast approaches, and many of these skills would be beneficial to anyone trying to become a leader. Students have 3 chances to apply, once in each of their sophomore, junior, and senior years. The application places a large focus on leadership, with it being 1 of the 4 pillars of the club and the main focus of the personal statement. The four pillars are scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Learning leadership skills will prove to be one of the most important things for all students to learn. For all our team captains, club presidents, and student council officials, good luck to all the future leaders in our school.