Student Leadership Extends Across Borders

TCU Students at the Plaza de Mayo (from left to right: Neha Chugani, Lynda Tang, Dan Paret, Ayla Landry, Traci Clayton, Dani Hauf and Kathleen Perley)

Fort Worth, TX

12/1/2009

by Danielle Hauf, Schieffer School of Journalism student

Significant elements of the collegiate experience are the programs and opportunities that students participate in to prepare for their professional careers. Texas Christian University has no shortage of these experiences. Studying abroad is one way students learn about themselves and their leadership style, which has an enduring impact on their lives.

This semester, to uphold the TCU mission statement “to educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community,” 28 eager Horned Frogs traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina, gaining insight about leadership on a global scale.

The journey to Argentina was offered by the TCU Leadership Center designed primarily as the senior capstone experience of the Chancellor’s Leadership Program. It was later extended to include student leaders throughout Student Development Services. The Austral Group, a company specializing in educational travel and immersion trips, scheduled and organized the trip to include various meetings and activities about leadership and cultural immersion.

“Physically and mentally removing ourselves from our routines, responsibilities, and the expectations of others, enabled us to open our minds and appreciate another culture and its traditions,” said Wardah Haseeb, a senior finance student from Burleson, Texas, and also a Neeley Fellow.

“The leadership trip to Buenos Aires provided not only a platform to see different aspects of leadership in Argentina, but it also gave us an opportunity to explore the city and immerse ourselves in the food, music and traditions of that country.”

Students were immediately immersed in the history, culture and beauty of the South American cosmopolitan city. The first day’s activity included a city scavenger hunt. Students were divided into teams – aptly named Riff, Ram, Bah and Zoo – to discover various cultural sites of the city. Using their leadership skills, along with strategic plans to cover the most ground, the teams visited sites including the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace, Recoleta Cemetery (the oldest cemetery in Buenos Aires), Madero Port, Plaza de Mayo and more. This activity provided the means to visit a wide variety of sites while learning how to navigate a foreign city and talk to locals about their knowledge of the city.

Sarah Reed, a graphic design major from Austin, TX, said, “The city of Buenos Aires is nothing like I imagined it to be; its European influences, mixed cultures and variety of landscapes were refreshing and fascinating.”
The following day began with a visit to the United States Embassy. Through a connection built by one of the students participating in the capstone experience, Dan Paret, a senior finance major from San Juan, Puerto Rico, the group had the opportunity to meet with the U.S. Ambassador to Argentina, Ambassador Vilma Martinez. Ambassador Martinez spoke about the importance of setting out to do things that are important to you, and that study abroad opportunities are one way to do this.

 This presentation was followed by a meeting with Argentine social enterprise leaders who spoke about the evolution of the non-governmental organization (NGO) in Argentina. This meeting set the tone for a majority of the remaining meetings; the differences in NGOs, implementation, the issues of trusting the government and the overall importance of impacting other’s lives through service.  

Then the group was introduced to the historical culture of Argentina similar to that of Fort Worth – cowboys. Estancia La Candelaria used to be a ranch but now is a historical estate that includes gaucho demonstrations and traditional Argentine barbecue!

Following the journey to the Estancia, students met a former naval commander, Juan Martin Poggi, who shared his perspective about the style of leadership in the military. The following day was also aquatically focused with a boat tour of the Tigre River to witness the diversity of the landscape and culture of Argentina.

Service leadership was another important portion of the trip so students could make contributions as global leaders. Students participated in a service learning project at a local school in Las Tunas, an impoverished neighborhood in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, to help improve the appearance of the school. This experience proved to be rewarding because many of the local students and community members were there to share their experiences and perspective, along with some traditional empanadas!

The final day of the trip was focused on environmental and corporate leadership. Claudio Avruj, the liaison between the Argentine government and the country’s NGOs, emphasized the task of gaining support for non-profit initiatives in the political arena. Representatives from Water and Youth, a non-profit panel that works across the globe to improve water quality, also spoke about the impact their organization has made all around the globe. Cecilia Campbell, a real estate agent in Argentina, told TCU students about how imperative it is to focus on your goals and work hard to get ahead in your career.  

Throughout the experience, TCU students had the opportunity to meet new people.  Sarah Reed said, “My favorite aspect of the trip was getting to know the Argentineans. They were helpful, genuine and interesting because of their perspectives of Americans and other people.” Exposure to new cultures was a significant element of the travel experience because learning about new perspectives of leadership can have a reoccurring impact. When these students reflect on what they witnessed and learned, they can continue to develop their personal leadership styles.  

The Chancellor’s Leadership Program is a four-year-application based program where students have the opportunity to commit to a program that develops their leadership skills. The program, through activities and experiences like this one, teaches students how to become positive change agents in their local community and on a global scale. Since its inception in 2004, students have also developed Senior Legacy Projects designed to make an impact either in the TCU community or in the Fort Worth area. Experiences like the trip to Argentina support all of these objectives and the overall leadership development of TCU students to live the university mission statement.

Kay Higgins, associate dean of student development, said, “The most exciting and impressive part of the trip were the students. With each visit, the students were focused and attentive. I was so very proud to be traveling with seniors, soon-to-graduate from TCU, who really believe in their hearts that they can change the world!  The positivity of each one gives me great hope for the future.”
•    You can read about the Argentina trip in students’ blogs at http://tculeadership.blogspot.com
•    For information about the TCU Leadership Center and for the opportunity to get involved in trips like this visit their Web site at www.leadership.tcu.edu
•    To submit an application for the Chancellor’s Leadership Program, visit their Web site at www.clp.tcu.edu