I was in my first year at SFU when I heard about Passport to Leadership 1 (P2L 1). Although I had previously taken a leadership class in high school, I wanted to get involved at SFU and see what new skills and knowledge I could gain. I was initially drawn to this program because it allowed me to explore my interests and only required a commitment of six in-person sessions. 

Since I had previous leadership experience, I was familiar with some of the topics that were discussed, which included: effective communication strategies, the influence of stereotypes, the importance of self-awareness, and goal-setting. However, speaking openly about my experiences in relation to these themes and listening to other people’s opinions allowed me to expand my way of thinking and to apply the knowledge I had gained. I also loved the diversity of my cohort. We had a mix of people from different cultural backgrounds, undergraduate programs, and years of study who all shared their individual experiences which greatly enriched my first-year experience at SFU. It is an inclusive program that will teach you many things and I can guarantee you that every participant will find at least one piece of insight that will resonate with them in this program! 

So even if you don’t think you have the qualities to be leader, you will soon realize that the definition of a leader is ever-changing and can be applied to anyone! I recommend P2L 1 for anyone who wants to explore their leadership potential while gaining practical skills that they can use throughout their university career. Some people may find that P2L 1 is all they need, while others, like me, were eager to continue onto the next level of Passport to Leadership.