Top students join to train for leadership
by KC Jones, ne news editor

    Future leaders sharpened their skills at the Phi Theta Kappa Texas Region’s Annual Leadership Conference last month at the University of North Texas in Denton.

    Twenty chapters in the district were invited to participate, including all four TCC chapters.

    The conference training centered on Stephen Covey’s books Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and Principle-Centered Leadership.

    Advisors from various chapters conducted the classroom workshops, which explored one of the seven habits.

    Larry Polk, advisor from Richland College, discussed the first habit, explaining the need to be proactive. Rather than reacting to situations, the successful person pauses and plans his/her response carefully, Polk said.

    Polk is also a professional counselor who has advice for people who want to make changes in their lives.

    “If people want to change their behavior, they must first change what they believe. And, they won’t really know what they believe until their beliefs are challenged,” he said.

    Polk explained that beliefs, attitudes and values influence our actions.

    “Put simply, when you change what you think and feel, you will modify your conduct to console your conscience,” he said.

    A major part of learning how to be successful is determining how to set priorities. To do that, a person must know what is important to him/her.

    Covey suggests each person should create his own mission statement to answer important questions like: What do I believe in? What in life is important to me?

    After a person knows what he is trying to accomplish, he must keep the goal in mind. Daily distractions and unimportant urgent requests demand precious time. The successful person puts first things first and uses principles of personal management, according to Covey.

    Alesha Vardeman, advisor from McLennan Community College, tested students during her workshop to find out who had an Urgency Addiction.

    Many students found their lives were dominated by problems or crises that were urgent but not important. The result is a high level of stress in their life with little time to care for essential tasks.

    “You will stay the same until the pain of staying the same out-weighs the pain of change,” she said.

    Many students were also asked if they ever said things such as, “I need more time. There is too much to do and it’s all good. How do I choose?”

    Covey’s solution involves identifying roles, selecting goals, scheduling, delegating and adapting daily.

    By identifying one’s roles like mother, student and employee, balance should be attained among all. Some people may find they are trying to juggle too many roles to be efficient. They should consider eliminating some to be more effective.

    “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least,” Vardeman said while quoting Goethe.

    Much of the information discussed at the conference is available through the Human Relations course offered on TCC campuses.

    Dr. Velma Walker, NE professor of psychology, refers to Covey in the textbook she authored, Becoming Aware. Human Relations can fulfill one of the core social science requirements.

    Dr. Don Newbury, one of the speakers to address the conference, was director of communications for TCJC during the 80s. Now he is an honorary Phi Theta Kappa member who has experienced leadership personalities throughout his life.

    “I have found many of the givers, leaders, the corner posts of society were Phi Theta Kappa. They are special. They hold more than their load,” he said.

    Newbury, former president of Hardin Simmons, admits leadership can be a thankless job.

    “Time is the currency from which we pay our dues,” he said.
    After addressing the Sept. 11 World Trade Center disaster, Newbury called for visionaries to promote a new spirit and a new hope as a result of the tragedy.

    “No one escapes when freedom fails. It’s time for freedom lovers to claim a new spirit. Like a spirit that engages our heart, it’s best thinking and true patriotism,” he said.