A key point in the Tabor education is to learn the skills of being a good leader. The Women’s Leadership Program and the annual Leadership Symposium demonstrate this commitment. Another group, the Athletic Team Captains, spend one day a week working on becoming better leaders. Captains are recognized as leaders of their respective teams, but behind the scenes they are working together to share their experiences and improve their leadership skills.
Assistant Athletic Director Kelly Walker has been in charge of this program, and recently instituted weekly meetings. Before practice at the start of each week, the captains gather to discuss the highs and lows of their most recent week of practices and competition. Although different teams face different challenges, the captains can often relate to the difficulties that other teams face. This meeting period is one of preparation and of reflection in which the student-leaders try to plan ahead on how to improve their team’s performance and morale, but they also sort through the effective components of their leadership.
The fall captains have been working since preseason on personal and team goals that they have for the season with their coaches and co-captains. The meetings will continue with the group of captains for each of the remaining seasons.
The initiative shown by the student-leaders and faculty within the Tabor community to improve leadership is one that will certainly be essential to future success.
By Julia O’Rourke
