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First year students are eager to get involved on campus, but they don’t always know how to get started. If they weren’t leaders in high school, they may feel uncertain about their ability to play an active role in college. For 20 of these students, the 2009 First Year College Leadership Potential Retreat was a powerful and affirming experience. A weekend at a campground in Fort Caswell taught them about their leadership style and how that style works with others. They’re encouraged to use their leadership skills at NC State and in the community, and previous participants have become University Ambassadors, Resident Mentors in the FYC Village, and Community Assistants for Residence Life. Christine Hudson, class of 2012, learned that “it takes a strong leader to help and direct others, but it takes an even stronger, more well-rounded leader to trust and learn how to depend on others.”

First-year students in the FYC Village are nominated by their FYC adviser, Resident Director, or Resident Mentor. Kathy Ziga, FYC adviser and co-facilitator of the retreat, is looking for “diamonds in the rough,” and students are often surprised to be nominated. The retreat, now in its fourth year, takes commitment from FYC advisers and staff, University Housing, and the Center for Student Leadership, Ethics, and Public Service. This year the retreat was led by Kathy Ziga, Kari McCloud (Adviser, FYC), Tierza Watts (Associate Director, CSLEPS), and Megan Horan (Resident Director, Tucker Residence Hall).