Student Story – Laura Reece
My first experience with the Higdon Student Leadership Center was as a Dance Marathon participant freshman year. At the time I had no idea what the Leadership Center was nor did I think that it would become such a huge part of my life at College of Charleston. When I joined the Dance Marathon Executive Board as a sophomore I became more acquainted with the Leadership Center and all of the programs it had to offer. I attended the Fall Leadership Conference, learned about all the opportunities of Leadership CofC, and met many other student leaders on campus. I began to form close bonds with the other members of the Dance Marathon Executive Board and soon came to learn my own strengths and weaknesses as a part of a team. During Junior year I became more involved with the programs offered by the Leadership Center and found myself taking on greater responsibilities with Dance Marathon. As the Assistant Director for the organization I quickly began to develop my leadership skills building on the strengths from the previous year and learning from the weaknesses.
Now, as a senior at College of Charleston and director of the 2011 Dance Marathon, I could never imagine my life without the Leadership Center. Through Fall Leadership Conferences, Leadership CofC, Leadershape, and Dance Marathon I have come to define the type of leader I want to be. Everyday at the Higdon Student Leadership Center I am given the opportunity to become that leader. The skills and lessons I have learned are invaluable. The friends I have made and the family I have gained mean more to me than any grade I have ever received. I walk into the Leadership Center every day (usually multiple times a day) not because I have to but because I want to.