Conference shows new ways to lead

When I was asked to attend the National Conference on Student Leadership in Washington DC last weekend, I knew going in there was going to be a lot I wasn't going to like. I'm pretty cynical by nature, and the thought of four days of people spouting a lot of mega-positive "You're awesome, I'm awesome, we're all awesome" affirmations in my face usually leaves me more nauseated than motivated.

Sure enough, the weekend was full of embarrassing ice-breaking games, cute little slogans, over-dramatized anecdotes and, of course, meetings. Lots and lots of meetings. By two days in I was already tired of hearing how I needed to be the change I wanted to see in the world and was looking for any excuse I could find to go find a place to get a beer.

But that all changed when I met Madeleine.

Madeleine is a student body president and president of a Jewish student organization from a college in Pennsylvania. I met her when she became my partner in one of the many "getting to know you"-style team-building exercises during an evening motivational session.

For this exercise, each partner told the other what his or her life's dream is. I learned Madeleine's is to work with children with learning disabilities. I also learned this was not a foreign subject to her, as she had to overcome a serious learning disorder not only to become class president or succeed in college, but to even graduate high school.

For some reason, her story connected with me in a way so many contrived speeches don't. She had already had to go through so much just to even be here, she was forced to take charge of her own success, and it showed. She was genuinely excited to be at the conference, participate in everything she could, meet as many people as she could and soak it all in. If ever there was someone born to lead by example, it was Madeleine.

After that, I started to open up. I met dozens of new friends (including my Texas A&M University-Commerce SGA traveling companions, who all turned out to be amazing people) and had a legitimately good time for the rest of my time in DC. Heck, I even started to like the meetings.

By the end of the trip, I started to reflect on what being a leader truly is. I knew pretty clearly it had nothing to do with following loud people with microphones telling you to act like a gorilla (don't ask), but somehow I did feel charged up with a new sense of purpose to make a difference. My mind naturally drifted back to Madeleine. To me, being a leader is being so genuinely excited about what you are doing that people cannot help but be drawn in to join you.

Maybe the things I learned that weekend will turn into something good and lasting, and maybe they won't. Maybe time will pass and all I'll have left are a few pictures and some faint memories. But I hope the inspiration of the time I spent getting to know Madeleine will stick with me for as long as I live. The world is a better place with people like her in it.