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WINTER 2014
21st Century Leaders
Let Youth Voices Be Heard
The mission of 21st Century Leaders is to inspire the next generation of Georgia leaders by empowering high school students with essential business and community leadership skills through programs connecting a diverse group of enthusiastic peers and passionate professionals. The Youth Leadership Council strives to bring awareness to 21st Century Leaders through community service and outreach, while enhancing our leadership and interpersonal skills. Our goal is to establish a large foundation that cultivates future generations of leaders who can further expand our accomplishments. The newsletter is just one medium that we plan to use to achieve our goals for this year. We hope you find it as entertaining and informative as we do.
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Meet the Staff
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TED Talks: The Innovative New Way to Learn
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SPSU vs. KSU To Merge or Not to Merge
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The Truth about the SATs
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HOPE for the Future
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We Remember: Nelson Mandela
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Alumni Spotlight: Ana Bravo
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The Status and Future of Female Leaders in America
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Meet the Staff
JenĂŠshia Hughes Editor-in-Chief
Christy Jones Writer
Alex Winter Writer
Silvana Bravo Writer
Chandler Phillips Writer Vanessa Chen Writer
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TED Talks: The Innovative New Way to Learn By Alex Winter TED Talks is inspiring and a great as, and insight can spark something in way to show the next generation how young minds. The 21st century has to create and implement their ideas. leaders with incredible potential and TED stands for Technology, Education, these TED Talks can push them into and Design. TED Talks is a worldwide striving to be the best they can be. Simon Sinek, the author of “Start group of conferences owned by Sapling Foundation, a private non-profit. With Why” which is a synopsis of his Their slogan is “ideas worth sharing.” theory about teaching others how to They spread innovative ways of think- become effective leaders and inspire necessary change, ing across the was a speaker on globe. These TED TED Talks. He Talks influence shows how crucial men, women, and action is when trying the next generato be a great leader. tion. It is a way of Many more TED improving minds Talks focus on leadand a way of life ership, such as Sherfor all its viewers. Salman Khan, founder of The Khan yl Sandberg. Sheryl It’s a platform Academy, talks about his goals to use vidspeaks about how where the best of eo to reinvent education. women get in their the best- scientists, business leaders, designers, inventors, own way when it comes to becoming a and economists. All these speakers en- great leader. She shows women how to courage viewers to think in a different overcome these obstacles and roadblocks that are in front of them. Check way and to change the way they see them out at: www.ted.com/talks things. These twenty minute videos impact our world and especially our future generation in an essential way. The current leaders have so much to offer the youth of today; their thoughts, ide-
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To Merge or Not to Merge By Jenéshia Hughes A few months ago, two of the fastest-growing university systems in the metroAtlanta area, Kennesaw State University and Southern Polytechnic State University, announced that they would undergo a merger over the course of the next several years. Upon hearing the news, which was covered in depth by plethora of Atlanta news outlets, the public offered mixed reviews on the idea. The sentiment ranged from sunny optimism from many KSU benefactors to unrestrained rage from the SPSU camp. The firestorm that ensued offered few answers about the actual merger, but the spirited response the event garnered serves as evidence that the move is of a top concern for many. Both institutions were established more than fifty years ago and have made steady strides toward prominence since their origination. In the nineties both schools were renamed as state universities and have been called home by thousands of students young and old. Kennesaw State’s rapid growth during the past several years and has helped the university to gain notoriety as a top-notch university. But the school shares a sense of pride on its acceptance of nontraditional college students such as adults or technical workers. Tensions and feuding between institutions continued to grow considering the rabid response of many SPSU alumni. While the completion of the merge is still far off, it’s clear that it will be stricken by indecision and bitter invective. It might take some modification, perhaps a shift towards a more engineering and technology centered curriculum, but the merge will consolidate the growing Kennesaw State University and could offer students from both schools a wider variety and larger volume of courses, making the merged schools more of a contender in students’ college preferences. The new and improved KSU has endless potential, perhaps even the potential to replace UGA as Georgia’s favorite. Class of 2015, be on the lookout for exciting programs and opportunities to be offered.
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Students from SPSU Protest on Campus Marietta Daily Journal 2013
Most of he opposition is coming from SPSU students. A student is pictured here signing a petition sign
SPSU and KSU board of trustees held an impromptu Q/A session on the steps of the Joe Mack Student Center
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The Truth about the SATs By Chandler Phillips
When entering any high school, the word college is sure to start a buzz. Students stress about where they should apply, how they will pay for it, and most importantly if they will get in. Almost every wonders if their SAT/ACT scores will get them into their dream school. While some kids have excelled on these standardized tests others have not achieved the score they were reaching for. What happens to those students who just did not do too well? The truth is the SATs and ACTs are not everything! Almost every college website has a section for students who are applying, explaining what it is they look for in their prospective students. Although standardized testing is a component, it is not the only one they see. Colleges seek well-rounded students. These are the ones who get involved in their communities through volunteer work and extracurricular activities and take initiatives such as seeking out leadership positions. The classes leading up to college applications are not useless. They are evidence of how hard you are willing to work and push yourself in your classes. These are used as predictors of how well you will work at their institution. While the SATs and ACTs are very important tests, they are not the only tests. College admissions counselors look at the entire package. Just because you may not have received the score you wanted, it does not mean you will not achieve great things. They understand that there is more to a student than just that score. While some people may get in for scoring off the charts, others will get in for their charisma, creativeness, athletics, or their passion. There are a lot of ways to get into a dream school, it is just a matter of how you decide to do it.
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Upcoming SAT Dates
Upcoming ACT Dates
March 8, 2014
February 8, 2014
May 3, 2014
April 12, 2014
June 7, 2014
June 14, 2014
Get a good night’s sleep, of at least 8 hours. Also make sure you set your alarm clock if you are late you will not be allowed to test.
Eat a hearty breakfast. That means a bowl of cereal won’t cut it. You need proteins and the nutrients you can only get from fruits and vegetables to rev up your metabolism.
During the test, chew some minty gum. Peppermint scent increases a person's alertness, motivation. It also lowers fatigue, anxiety and frustration, helping you to focus better.
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HOPE for the Future By Jenéshia Hughes
This time of year, many high program is the HOPE Grant. This school seniors are a step closer to grant is available to Georgia resifulfilling their dreams, as they dents who enroll in the Technical open up acceptance letters to pres- College System of Georgia tigious colleges and universities. (TCSG), regardless of high school Then there are GPA or graduathose who have tion date. Tuition, yet to apply to HOPE-approved any schools, remandatory fees, alizing that they and a book allowhave no idea ance of up to what their future $100 per quarter entails after are covered by the graduation. If grant. "Starting at this is you, don’t a two year techlet finances be nical school is a the reason why great option. It’s college isn’t Governor Nathan Deal addresses an much cheaper your first priori- audience about the HOPE Grant in than a four year February 2013 ty after high university, plus school. Our state your classes can literally gives HOPE to every one transfer into a four year school latof its students so each of us has a er. It’s a tremendous opportunity fair chance to attend university. If to start over," said Betsy Alpert, you attend a public university in Marietta High School counselor. your home state of Georgia, HOPE covers about 67 percent of the tuition for students who have a 3.0 grade point average (GPA), however the newest addition to the
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Eligibility
GA Technical Schools
Signing Up
GA resident for a minimum of 12 consecutive months Be a legal U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen Be in compliance with the Drug Awareness Act and the Selective Service requirements No GPA minimum, but must maintain a postsecondary 2.0 GPA Chattahoochee Technical College Atlanta Technical College Athens Technical College Georgia Northwestern Technical College Savannah Technical College Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Use your GACollege411 account to access the FAFSA application. An applicant must apply by the last day of the semester if they expect to receive HOPE funds for the upcoming Fall semester.
Still interested in attending a The are 27 credit hours guaranteed to four year college? transfer to any of the four year colleges in Georgia. The four year colleges will look only at your GPA from the technical school you attended. Questions?
Contact GA College 411 at GAcollege411@gsfc.org (770) 724-9000 Or 1-800-505-GSFC
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We Remember: Nelson Mandela By Christy Jones
“It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.” - Nelson Mandela On December 4, 2013, the world lost one of its greatest change agents, former South African President Nelson www.fineartsamerica.org Mandela. From President Mandela, we learned the importance of advocating on behalf of others by being the change we wanted to see in the world. President Mandela was a brilliant individual because of his humble approach to effective leadership. The key to Mandela’s effective leadership was his conflict resolution tactics and his commitment to a spirit of excellence and perseverance. Mandela is a conflict resolution expert because he exerted power through positive influence. Even from behind bars during his astonishing 27 years of incarceration, he encouraged others to remain peaceful. From Mandela’s amazing leadership journey we can all learn that effective change can occur without a title. We can each make a difference by taking small steps to make any possible change in our community. By leading from behind and putting others at the forefront, we can make a difference.
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From Mandela, we can also learn the importance of maintaining a spirit of excellence through adverse situations. Often as leaders, we encounter intense circumstances and may have a hard time managing them. Mandela could certainly attest to that. While serving his first term as president of South Africa, he was charged with the task of ending apartheid. Imagine being responsible for ending a movement that not only lasted for more than 40 years, but also was the cause of your unconstitutional imprisonment. Despite his adverse predicament, Mandela’s spirit of excellence and perseverance influenced others to continue to commit themselves to the works of change in their communities and beyond. Overall, Mandela will always be remembered for his genuine spirit and his commitment to solving conflict through peaceful resolution tactics. From Mandela, each of us can learn the importance of being both selfless and effective while rallying for those whose voices cannot be heard.
Mandela and his Wife, Winnie, after his Release from Prison www. guardian.com
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Alumni Spotlight: Ana Bravo By Silvana Bravo
Ana Bravo is an alumni of 21st Century Leaders who is grateful to the fulfilling opportunities that the program has made available for her and to the inspiring individuals she was able to meet through the organization. She is a sophomore at Oglethorpe University in the International Studies program. She was born in Mexico and moved to Georgia in 2004. Ana attended the 21st Century Leaders EarthCare Challenge in 2009. Following EarthCare, Ana sought leadership positions everywhere she could find them. She became her school’s Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) chapter president during her senior year, where she was able to create different opportunities for club members to take part in community service. Ana also introduced many others to marketing and networking opportunities. One of Ana's current leadership positions is PanHellenic Council President at Oglethorpe University. As PanHellenic president she holds an ultimate leadership position over Pan-Hellenic Greek life at the university. Ana has been able to use the skills she obtained at EarthCare continuously throughout the last several years. 21st Century Leaders has helped her develop her talent in leadership and she likes seeing how the organization can reach thousands of students around Georgia. Ana recalls that camp was the first time she "had to network"
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and personality to make connections with people instead of just making friends." She appreciates these experiences now that she is in college and these skills give her a head start when competing for a position or simply communicating with professors. She believes networking and personal branding "are skills that at some point in our lives we need to learn" as youth. She acknowledges that 21st Century Leaders introduces high school students to how to effectively carry themselves in professional settings, and she believes that "the sooner you expose yourself, the better you'll be able to market yourself. In the end this will be your first channel to success." Ana likes the fact that 21st Century Leaders provides a camp experience and a learning experience simultaneously. She recalls that camp was the first time she stayed at a college campus. She enjoyed this because it gave her an opportunity to see what her future "was going to look like." EarthCare takes place at the beautiful campus of Berry College, a school that Ana greatly considered when looking at where she would like to pursue higher education. When looking back at her favorite parts about her 21st Century Leaders experience Ana says that she loved being able to "get a taste of the college experience." Ana is grateful to 21st Century Leaders for the skills she was able to obtain. She states that now "whenever I communicate with adults and whenever I’m commended for the way I carry myself I see that the experiences that I had in high school made a valuable difference." 21st Century Leaders has empowered Ana to use her communication skills to further herself through her life, and she wants this organization to help all students in Georgia so they can also feel empowered.
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The Status and Future of Female Leaders in America By Vanessa Chen
Gender equality is still a controversial issue in almost every industry and sector in the United States. A study by the Catalyst Knowledge Center demonstrates that women's representation in Fortune 500 companies has stagnated at about 14.6 percent in recent years. Although statistically, women tend to reach a higher degree in education than men, their representation in most leadership positions is still low. It is not that women are not as accomplished leaders as men are. An article by Forbes even maintains that in a study asked to rate leaders by leadership competency women outscored men in 15 out of 16 categories. So why, one might ask, are women not fulfilling positions with high responsibility? This is a question with many answers. A possible reason is that women tend to focus on doing their best in the position that they are in. Unlike men, women seem not to be focused on strategic advancement in companies. In a competitive work environment this can be detrimental because promotions are hard to come by and in the current economy, companies are still reluctant to expend much capital. There is also a certain workplace culture left over from the past. A few generations ago, most women were secretaries, teachers and worked in other support positions. A man is simply more likely to hire another man. This may be because he believes that men are more likely to need to support a family or that men are usually the breadwinners in a family.
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It is important to remember that the stigmatization against female leaders and their abilities is receding. As young women who are ambitious and competent become involved in the corporate environment, advancement becomes inevitable. Forty years ago, working was seen as distasteful for women and times are dramatically different now. The capabilities of women cannot be underestimated.
www.huffingtonpost.com
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January 31 through February 1 2014
Goizueta Youth Leadership Summit
February 27, 2014
6th Annual Georgia Youth Leadership Awards
Open through March 10, 2014
Summer Youth Leadership Applications