With Emerging Leaders Facilitator applications out now, this week we feature one of our program facilitators from last year, Sara Sabulsky. After completing the year as a facilitator she said she could easily say it was one of her favorite experiences at Missouri State so far.  As a facilitator she joined a team of eight other upperclassman students to plan and facilitate the entire Emerging Leaders experience for two separate groups of underclassman. She decided to become a facilitator after going through the program as a participant her sophomore year. It’s an eye opening experience that allows leaders to grow themselves and help other younger students grow as well. For anyone interested in being a facilitator you can apply online right now until October 1st, at www.missouristate.edu/studentengagement/leadership/CBEL.

Being involved in Emerging Leaders isn’t all that Sara has done during her time at Missouri State.  She is an active member of Delta Zeta sorority serving as the ritual chair this semester and president her sophomore year.  Sara is also currently serving as the Vice President of Regular Tours for University Ambassadors (you know, the people who give tours backwards on campus) through the Spring semester. She also completed the Distinction in Public Affairs Program.

But the biggest thing that Sara has going on right now is her role as the Co-Director for Homecoming 2014.  She will serve as the co-leader of the 2014 Missouri State Homecoming Committee that will plan all of the great events and competitions during homecoming week this year.  Sara says this year “will be the best Homecoming Week yet!” Be sure to go check out all the awesome things going on October 12-18th.

Her top strengths that help her in all her leadership roles are: Competition, Relator, Futuristic, Consistency, and Deliberative.

When asked what about our programs impacted her the most she replied,

“Having gone through Emerging Leaders as both a participant and a facilitator, I have been able to see both sides of the program and make close friendships both years. As a participant, I learned so much about the techniques, skills, and strengths that different leaders have, but as a facilitator I think I learned more. I applied what I had learned the year before and I could make better connections and see how I use those skills and strengths in my leadership roles. Both Emerging Leaders and Distinction in Public Affairs helped me make the Missouri State University Public Affairs Mission my own. Even though we learn about the mission statement in our general education classes, but until I put it into practice through these programs, I didn’t know what it meant to me. Now I am proud to tell others about the Public Affairs Mission and how we live it out at Missouri State.”

Her advice to younger students:

“To younger students, my advice is to find what you are really passionate about and make it yours. This might mean that you have try a wide variety of organizations, or even majors, but sooner or later you will find something that makes you excited to be a part of it. It’s within that organization that you will find people who share your passion and could become your best friends. Be open to trying new things and meeting new people, you never know who you might meet! I have met some of my best friends from just joining different organizations, it didn’t happen overnight, but going into my senior year I can see how my friendships have grown over the past three years and I know we will stay close after graduation next year.”