SWEA Leaders Pass Along Skills: Teens Learn From the Pros

By Anne Waukau

WEAC Public Relations Consultant

Nicole Cisler, 21, and Darcy Luoma, 25, have a lot common — both want to be teachers and both have faith in the next generation. And Luoma is a former Student WEA president who passed the baton of the 2,274-member organization to Cisler, a senior at UW-Eau Claire, on June 1.

Cisler and Luoma said they have confidence in the future of our country, especially after participating over the summer in the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Leadership Institute for middle to high school age students. The goal of the program is to foster human development in participants.

"These kids are just great," Cisler said, adding, "Too many people don't give this generation a chance.

In good hands

"From what I see here, I can tell the future is in good hands. I have a lot of confidence in this generation."

Luoma, a recent graduate from the UW-Eau Claire, agreed.

"If these students are representative of the students graduating from the high schools in the U.S., then our country is in good hands," she said.

Over the summer, 127 students from Minnesota, Arkansas and Wisconsin took part in three separate five-day sessions at Eau Claire. Another 21 students participated in a session at the University of Minnesota. They don't have to meet any requirements to attend, said Luoma, the program assistant.

"It makes more of a statement that we have students from all walks of life and all diversities, and they are doing great. That says a lot for our future," she said.

Three phases

The program has three phases, according to Doug Hallatt, who has been the director since its inception in 1989. Hallatt is also professor of leadership studies and education at UW-Eau Claire.

First, participants begin with self-determination, which includes creativity and proactivity to heighten self-assurance and motivation, Hallatt said.

Then, they work on tools they can apply to life. These include personal effectiveness, which involves concepts like writing a mission statement, learning to set goals and time management.

Finally, the youths work on team building and trust so they can develop interpersonal relationships, he said.

"We give them self-esteem and self-confidence. Through that, all these other traits tend to fall in place," Luoma said. "They realize it's fun to be involved, that activities are very nonthreatening.

"Some check in with the attitude that they don't trust anybody — that they don't want to be involved," she said. "But by the end of the week they develop self confidence to do things they normally wouldn't do.

"It may seem minor, but by the last night, kids who wouldn't have dreamed of doing it end up singing on a karaoke machine. It happens time and time again," she said.

In fact, some youths who did not want to come to the institute eventually praised the program.

Just ask Jeral Dennis, 16, of Appleton.

"I really didn't want to come. It just didn't sound like something I wanted to do," Dennis said.

"As time progressed I met a lot of nice people, and I'm learning a lot about leadership and about myself."

He praised the facilitators, especially Luoma who is the coordinator for the program.

"She's hard-working. She's a good friend to everybody. She's generous and always gives of her time," Dennis said.

Youths find the program 'awesome'

The Leadership Institute has received rave reviews from the youths who attended the program.

"This is awesome," said a giddy 16-year-old Andrea Olsher, of Black River Falls, who had egg all over her face — literally — after participating in the Leadership Olympics' egg tossing contest.

"I really love it here. I've made a lot of new friends."

"I love it," said Amanda Smith, 17, of Osceola, Arkansas. "I've been having the best time of my life here. I've never felt so good about myself. It's wonderful. The best part is meeting everybody and feeling comfortable around them."

"I just like everything," said Youa Yang, 17, of Wausau.

"I've never been to anything like this," said 16-year-old Juan Wison, of Milwaukee. "The first day everyone makes a fool of themselves to build trust. I can tell these people anything."

Students discover their similarities

In fact, Hallatt said many of the students come to realize that students from different backgrounds, cultures or geographic areas are pretty much the same.

"I don't know if we have all the answers, but the model we have works," Hallatt said. "We help them deal with peer pressure and tell them it's OK to be you.

"You get these kids together and let them get to know each other and by the end of the week they realize that they are the same."

The key to the program's success, Hallatt said, is the facilitators, including Luoma, Cisler and five others.

"I think Darcy and Nicole are well equipped to deal with issues in education and society in the 21st century.

"They are going to be very good teachers," he said. "There's no question about it."

Luoma and Cisler credit the Student WEA, WEAC, and the NEA with providing valuable experiences that helped them grow and develop as future teachers.

And the Leadership Institute also played a major role in their development.

"One year I was a facilitator and Nicole was a participant," Luoma said. "She walked into the office and asked me about Student WEA.

"We went to breakfast and I explained it to her. And now she's president," Luoma said. "It's a neat twist of fate."

Posted August 26, 1996