Grooming Tomorrow’s Leaders: Inspiring the Youth

The Southern University Office of the Dean of Students with Anrea’ M. Williams, Director of SU Laboratory School Mini Labs , Southern University Student Coordinator, Caldrick Slaughter, and the Baton Rouge Bar Association in  sponsorship from Chicken Shack held the “Teen Summit: Inspiring Youth Today for Tomorrow’s Challenge” for Plaquemine High and Southern Lab students on Friday in the Cotillion Ballroom.
Associate Dean of students Ryan Tucker says that with a mission to promote the development of the students, the purpose of the summit was to inspire and provide a fun yet learning experience for students of Madison Prep and Glen Oaks High School.
Beginning with strategies on how students should pursue their passions and follow there dreams, award winning journalist and author Michelle McCalope encouraged the high school students to never give up.
Next students were informed on how to dress for success during the portion titled “Suit up and dress for Success” by Southern University Senior,“Mr. Phresh” Breelin Clark . Clark explained to the students that it is important to dress the part that you want not the one you currently have.
“Branding oneself is used in every professional and social setting. Whether you want to be a pro-athlete, or an artist, you must leave your employers, peers and customers with a lasting way to remember you. You have the power to influence them just as much as they have the power to influence you. Use that power wisely.”
Giving the students more to learn, retired Baton Rouge Police Chief Jeff Leduff gave the students advice on how to protect themselves and others.
“It is important to know your surroundings,” said Leduff.
Ending his presentation Leduff mentioned to students that he hopes the students will remember his lesson and most of all find their calling.
“I hope one day you all find me as an old man and say you remember me from this summit in 2016 and that you have found your calling. Make us proud, be safe and be someone. Make your mama proud.”
SU Center for Social Research HIV/ Aids and Substance Abuse Prevention Program Coordinator, Sara Martin, enlightened the students of HIV/Aids and how it is spread and how to prevent it.
Madison Preparatory Academy Senior Cierrea Fogan said that she enjoyed the summit.
“It was fun and I received a pretty good learning experience on how to protect myself at all times and how to watch out for my surroundings. I expected something like from last time when I attended one at LSU, where we did a lot of interaction with each other but this one had a less interaction of students. However, it was more of speaker actually getting in touch with the audience.”
Glen Oaks Junior Brian Dundy said that it did not get his attention at the beginning but sure enough towards the end things changed.
“At first I thought it was boring, but as the day went on it got interesting. Leduff was my favorite because he demonstrated everything and made it fun.”