RYLA Student Emily Thompson

Kathy Starodub introduced RYLA student Emily Thompson a Parkside High School graduate and second year student at both Wilfrid Laurier University where she is taking business and at Waterloo University where she is taking mathematics. Emily, along with James Gould were last year's club sponsored Rotary Youth Leadership Award recipients.

Emily began by thanking the club for its sponsorship and then gave an overview of the weeklong program at the State University of New York Fredonia campus. Fifty RYLArians learned their leadership styles (Emily is technical), took part in daily speak up sessions explaining their "defining moments", worked through a variety of trust games that built teamwork, and set personal goals.

They learned of family dynamics and how to problem solve through compromise, avoidance, collaboration and accommodation. Each student was involved in committee work to plan such things as the daily newspaper, special sessions and the Rotarian dinner. During the dinner they surprised the audience with a flash mob.



Emily indicated she wanted to join the Rotaract club at Waterloo, had built close connections with 50 RYLARians who were strangers, and is able to talk in front of people with more confidence. She said the experience was great and that the group continues to network through Facebook.