Author: Wade Raymer
Planning Unit: Webster County CES
Major Program: Leadership
Plan of Work: Life Skills for Everyone
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
Leadership education builds several important assets in Kentucky youth and provides critical elements of youth development (Search Institute, 2004; Pittman, Irby & Ferber, 2001.) Youth who participate in leadership development opportunities are exposed to a variety of opportunities for personal development. Leadership activities help youth:
-develop confidence in their leadership potential and their own sense of identity
-improve their self-esteem
-enhance their communication skills in sharing, reflecting, and discussing
-understand the importance of diversity and improve their ability to relate to others
-learn effective decision-making methods and experience problem-solving situations
-learn group social skills (Unlock Your Leadership Potential: A Leadership Project Guide, University of Florida, October 2009.)
4-H offers high school students a variety of settings to help them develop their leadership and life skills. The UK Cooperative Extension 4-H programs from Hancock, Webster, Ohio, Union, Hopkins, McLean, Daviess, and Henderson Counties partnered to offer a 4-H Teen Leadership Academy (TLA) for 8th-12th grade members. Thirty-two youth participated in the 2023-2024 program. The Academy met monthly throughout the school year in various locations and counties and focused on developing leadership, social, communication, and life skills.
The post-evaluation results showed have consistently showed an overall increase of knowledge, skills, and aspirations. Results show the teens:
*are more confident in their increased leadership skills as a result of TLA
*believe TLA had a positive impact on their self-confidence
*increased their communication skills
*completed a resume and mock job interview
*are more confident working as a team to accomplish tasks.
* able to put their new leadership skills to use
Monthly Leadership Academy sessions prepared them for county, district, and state leadership opportunities in 4-H and at school that will benefit them in post-secondary education and in the workforce. 4 Past TLA graduates serve as 4-H Camp Leaders, and two past TLA Graduates are planning on starting a 4-H Podcast. All say their TLA experience helped them gain the leadership skills and confidence to serve in these roles.
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