HDF 190: FLITE (FIRST-YEAR LEADERS INSPIRED TO EXCELLENCE)

URI MINOR IN LEADERSHIP STUDIES, CENTER FOR STUDENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

CORE REQUIREMENT FOR THE LEADERSHIP MINOR

LEARNING CONTRACT

Goal: To identify and utilize my Strengths in an organizational/interpersonal setting that

aligns with the mission, vision, values and sponsored programs and activities of URI’s
Center for Student Leadership Development.

Activity: DRIVE Multicultural Overnight Host

Evidence: Photo of me with my host student, Grace

Annotation: The DRIVE (Diversifying. Recruiting. Inspiring. Volunteering. Educating.)

Multicultural Overnight Program was one of the most enriching experiences that I have
had at the University of Rhode Island thus far. The program ran the night prior to
welcome days for out-of-state multicultural students, so that they could get a first hand
view of college life. The prospective students were able to spend the whole day on
campus in order to get hands on experiences in a mock class, the dining hall and a
residence hall to see if the University of Rhode Island was the right fit for them.
At first, I only signed up to host a student overnight for the first weekend.
However, after having such a great experience the first weekend, I decided to host
another student the following weekend. Both of my prospective students were science
majors which made it easy for me to relate to them and give them advice for classes. In
addition, if you ask anyone, I love URI. I could talk for hours about the perks about
coming to such a great university. However, one of my top VIA values is honesty, so I
would answer every question that they asked me honestly. For example, one of my
students asked me my three least favorite things about URI. Although it did take me a
minute to answer because its not a very common question, I was able to answer her
honestly for her to grasp a better understanding of URI. Through this experience I was
able to apply my strengths and values in so many different ways. My WOO strength was
definitely highlighted as I made it a goal to become friends with my student and all of the
other students. My positivity strength was seen throughout the day in activities that some
of the students may have thought weren’t fun. For example, we had to create a 45 second
dance to a song and perform it in of the whole group. A lot of the students were not
excited but I did my best to keep them all positive and excited to perform. I am so happy
to say that one of my students committed to URI and it makes me so happy that I could
have had even. The slightest impact on any of the prospective students.