119 aspiring student leaders made their way to the Nelson Andrews Leadership Center at Camp Widjiwagan on Nov. 12 for the annual Pulse Getaway & Student Leadership Advance, presented by the Belmont Office of Leadership Development (BOLD).
PULSE gives students opportunities to learn and practice the leadership behaviors outlined in “Encourage the Heart” from The Student Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner. Bruin leaders dove into learning ways to show appreciation, respect boundaries, and create a sense of community for all.
PULSE began with Dr. Mona Ivey- Soto, Associate Professor in the College of Education, sharing a powerful Leadership Lately talk about the power of trauma-informed, resiliency focused leadership and the importance of leading with love. Participants engaged in breakout sessions facilitated by BOLD and graduate students in the Graduate Opportunities in Leadership Development (GOLD) program. Campus partners from Residence Life, Fitness & Recreation, Bruin Recruiters, New Student Orientation, Belmont Ambassadors, and the Office of Student Engagement each recruited for leadership positions in their areas. Ninety-five percent of students agreed that they will use the tools and skills they learned at PULSE in their pursuit of leadership and service. This character forming leadership retreat continues to make a positive impact on students.
BOLD student leaders connected with their peers while enjoying board games, karaoke, relay races, indoor and outdoor campfires, and the giant swing. This was a time for students to getaway and be fully present with their peers.
To close out the experience, undergraduate students shared their leadership journeys during Tower Talks. These inspiring stories brought many students to tears as they reflected on their leadership development over the last several years at Belmont.
PULSE is leaving a lasting impression on the whole Belmont community. Ninety-four percent of students agreed that “Encourage the Heart” sessions introduced them to new leadership behaviors, skills, and commitments that they can put into practice now. Along with that ninety-one percent of students agreed that PULSE helped them become more confident in their leadership abilities. BOLD ensures diverse and inclusive leadership development opportunities for ALL Belmont students. Check out pictures from Pulse here.
BOLD Connectors will be the final BOLD event being offered this semester. Nov. 28 through Dec. 2 student leaders will review their leadership progress to continue working toward earning their co-curricular certificate in leadership. Click here to learn more about BOLD and GOLD experiences being offered next Spring.
