By India Wilcox
Macon, Ga. – Some people have a role model that they look up too. Some may have a model figure in their life to teach them how to lead and for others, they are in the search to find a leader within themselves. Located in room 261 in the Student Life Center on the Macon campus, the answer to what it takes to be a leader will be found.
Coordinator Rafael Villamil has been with the student leadership program for a year and is now granting insight to new student leaders.
“The Student Leadership Programs aren’t really an organization, they’re a college program. The difference is the student organization is run by students,” said Villamil.
According to Villamil, The program is run by the Center for Career and Leadership also known as the CCLD.
The student leadership program has been around for four years, the program provided students with the tools needed to build themselves into leaders.
Some known alumni such as A’daysia Bivins, Kierra Miller, Brielle Gainer and Telera Whicker made their way to the student leadership hall of fame and are now taking what they learned in the program and applying it to their lives. The program prepares students to become leaders, but what type of leader will they develop? Is it a more critical thinking leader who wants to take on mind boggling challenges? Or a leader that wants to help others reach their fullest potential?
According to Villamil there are three different programs. Each have the same purpose or goal but are slightly different
Two out of three programs consist of Knights lead and Emerging Leaders. Knights leads focused more on freshman and can be considered more complex because it teaches students the building blocks that are essential to becoming future leaders.
While Knights lead is taking the competencies of what is needed to be a future leader, the Emerging leaders take the tools of the mind to become a leader. Villamil said it is geared towards upperclassman and they use a social change model for leadership development.
With a philosophical mind with a mix of proficient skills, students can lead the way, the Middle Georgia State Way.
The Statement at MGA 