Students and staff gathered at TR Campus for the semester’s first Leadership Unscripted discussion Sept. 18.
It’s part of a series of events designed to explore leadership throughout different aspects of life. The kickoff meeting, titled “Firm as a Gummy Bear,” used gummy bears as a metaphor for proper leadership – approachable yet firm.
The event was led by TR instructional aide Karla Bustos, who facilitates leadership programs while majoring in criminal justice at UT Arlington. Bustos said that gummy bears struck her as the perfect image to be the theme of this conversation.
“It was friendly,” Bustos said. “It was welcoming.”
Leadership Unscripted started fall 2023 with three meetings held per semester. Attendance was modest with five students and three staff members. Students were able to speak with peers one-on-one or in small groups leading to a variety of open discussions.
“This is the first one of the semester, and they tend to grow throughout the semester because students will return, or word will continue to spread,” said Carlin Johnston, a TR Student Activities coordinator and swim coach helping facilitate the events.
Participants introduced themselves by sharing their majors and favorite gummy bear flavors. The variety of answers highlighted the diversity of the attendees. From there, the group dove into the importance of five leadership traits: honesty, empathy, respect, patience and service.
“A big one is empathy,” said an attendee and TCC student, Landis Hinesly, who works in the financial aid department. “You get a lot of students coming in that are stressed out about their money.”
The session’s focus on assertiveness versus aggression clarified ways for the next generation of leaders to respectfully stand up for themselves.
“You state clearly what you need, what you are seeking,” Bustos explained. “Don’t always be good cop and don’t always be bad cop.”
Cards placed on each table prompted further conversation amongst students and staff about using these skills in their personal lives. Johnston was asked about the similarities of leading people on campus versus in the swimming pool.
“Pretty much everything, except for anything that’s specific to diving or doing the backstroke,” she said.
The next Leadership Unscripted topic is “Escape the Couch” on Oct. 16, a discussion on physically finding social spaces in an increasingly reclusive digital age.
