A middle school leadership seminar was offered to 4-H leadership participants and gifted and talented students. The goal of this seminar was to enhance young people's leadership abilities and help them develop the skills necessary to become responsible community members. 

Research indicates that young people with fewer assets are more likely to engage in negative behaviors (Benson, 1997; Eccles & Gootman, 2002). Conversely, the more assets provided to youth, the more likely they are to exhibit positive behaviors. Strong leadership and decision-making skills are essential assets in helping shape a 4-H member into a responsible adult (Jones, n.d.). 

The Cooperative Extension 4-H Agent and the school's gifted and talented coordinator sponsored the day-long seminar. Thirty-eight participants engaged in identifying their leadership qualities, learning to work collaboratively as a team, and improving their personal communication skills. Over 75% of the participants reported experiencing a fear of public speaking.

One of the activities the youth completed was a "Story Circle" exercise, where students shared a story about something they lost. They were divided into smaller groups, with listening students focusing on what the storyteller lost and whether they were able to recover the item. This lesson emphasized effective listening strategies as well as the storytelling skills of the individual sharing their experience. After everyone completed the task, students took a test to recall each individual's name, the item lost, and whether it was recovered. Upon completing the activity, 98% of the participants reported that it was their favorite part of the seminar. One student remarked, "To be a good leader, you have to be able to listen." Other comments included, "Sit up when someone is talking," and "It helped to lessen social anxiety."