By Misti Dehart/ reporter
“Five-year plan? I don’t believe in five-year plans. I don’t even usually know what I’m having for dinner!” NBC Today weather forecaster Al Roker said Oct. 6 via a national webcast.
For a society built on ambition, planning and leadership, that might not be what most members of the NE chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success anticipated hearing, but Roker’s presentation was received with smiles. Roker’s speech, streamed live to hundreds of colleges, was the first in a four-part series by the NSLS filmed at New Jersey City University.
While the NBC weather anchor did touch on his newest book, The Storm of the Century, Roker focused on handing out what he considered practical advice for college students.
“I think what people need to realize is that they can’t use challenges as an excuse,” he said. “Everybody’s got hardships. Everybody’s got barriers.”
Roker told students how to handle stresses.
“Do you let that define you, or do you use that as an impetus to break through?” he said. “I think that if you do [the latter], that makes you much more of an individual, that much more unique.”
The webcast was interactive with its members on social media as well. Several students from across the country got to ask questions and advice of Roker by webcam, email and Twitter.
Although the NSLS has chapters at 492 colleges and universities including South Campus, it is new to NE. Cara Walker, the NE chapter NSLS adviser and student activities coordinator, was overjoyed at the turnout of both current and prospective members.
“The South Campus has been a member of the society for several years, and we were so excited to bring it to our campus,” she said.
Juan Olivera, a NE student and student development associate, described the group’s membership benefits.
“There are so many scholarship opportunities available out there exclusively for our members,” he said. “This is the nation’s largest leadership honor society. Acceptance is somewhat selective. It’s based on leadership potential as well as academic performance.”
A student must have a minimum of 12 semester hours and a minimum 3.0 overall GPA for consideration, Olivera said.
NE student activities will host three more similar live webcasts between now and winter break. For more information about these upcoming broadcasts or the NSLS, contact Walker at cara.walker@tccd.edu.
