Nearly 100 boys from 21 middle schools throughout New Jersey arrived at Prep last Wednesday, April 18 for “Leading Self, Leading Others,” an all-day leadership workshop run by members of the Class of 2023 in partnership with representatives from Saint Dominic Academy.
The visiting students arrived from All Saints Catholic Academy; Corpus Christi School; Dr. Lena Edwards Academic Charter School; Elysian Charter School; Good Shepherd Academy; Hamilton Park Montessori School; Hoboken Charter School; HoLa Hoboken Dual Language Charter School; Jersey City Community Charter School; Jersey City Global Charter School; Lacordaire Academy; Learning Community Charter School; Notre Dame Academy; Our Lady of Sorrows School; Queen of Peace; Robert Treat Academy Charter School; Sacred Heart School; Saint Francis Academy; Saint Joseph School; Saint Thomas the Apostle School; and The Ethical Community Charter School
After a morning of talks, reflections, and activities, the students were then joined by 84 girls from New Jersey middle schools for lunch and several keynote speeches.
The day began in Prep’s Siperstein Library with a welcome by Director of Admissions Mr. John Irvine, ‘83, P ‘11 before attendees moved to the gym for ice breakers and small group introductions. They then returned to the library for talks on leadership facilitated by Prep students, covering topics like leading by example, taking initiative, and conflict resolution.
Throughout the day, participants split into small groups to discuss and reflect on what they had learned and how they might apply those learnings to their own lives as young leaders, culminating in an exercise of writing letters to oneself.
The morning concluded with a full panel Q&A session with the members of the Class of 2023, during which they discussed their own decisions to attend Prep and the opportunities available at Prep’s Higher Achievement Program (HAP), which has provided an unforgettable summer experience for some 7,500 young men from Jersey City and Hudson County in the months between their seventh and eighth grades.
“Leading Self, Leading Others” continued in the O’Keefe Commons, where representatives from Saint Dominic Academy joined for video remarks from President Dr. Michael Gomez, ‘91.
Student keynote speakers Teddy McCarthy, ‘23 and Julia Mickiewicz of Saint Dominic Academy then shared their own thoughts on the leaders who have inspired them and how they themselves strive to uphold those values as young men and women.
As the workshop ended, all the attendees received a certificate of completion as they adjourned, newly energized to apply what they learned at Prep that day.
