 Peer learning provides a sense a sort of meta learning that transcends the content of the course and it just so happens I've got a course where the content directly links to peer learning because leadership is an area where People learn from one another the leader learns from the group and the group learns from the leader And that's there's a dynamic exchange along those lines the the the other piece That I think that comes out of peer learning is the ability to Engage in a learning community is something that happens in virtually any employment or organizational setting one's going to find oneself in and in that vein Students will be more comfortable Mentoring others because they've been mentored and they know what that feels like They'll also be more sophisticated about how to be a more effective protege So the one mentors take them under their wing that they're better at receiving the information They need to receive and they're better at asking for the information they need and and they're also better at developing relationships That is what I enjoyed the most. I loved going to lectures, but the breakout sessions You just you got to know people and as a leader in my opinion It's making those networks and I still see those people on campus and I'm interested in what they're doing You know that networking will help me throughout school and just The breakout sessions were great. I loved them one of things that came out of the class that I'm quite pleased with is that many of the students in there signed off with their professional Signed off and asked asked their mentor to continue to participate with them during the course of their college career So that's a very powerful Element that I think will transcend the course and move forward The the other thing is that in organizations as leaders you're always involved in in Working with colleagues and both near and far and and the interactions with the students had among themselves Create an environment that as I see they moving forward as alums of Western. They will continue to be connected Well, what's exciting is that? our Leadership club Western Washington University leadership society was just passed by the AS board What we're hoping to do is kind of leave a legacy behind and create that safe Place that I was talking about that I found in the 450 breakout group Creating a safe place for students whether or not they're in a leadership class To find how they can be leaders in their in their own lives by having a safe place in practicing that So what I want to do my hopes are just to continue that and once I graduate to break out of the university Borders and continue doing the same thing for just people throughout the community Throughout the rest of my life no matter where I am Going into it. I thought I was a good leader, but actually getting that hands-on experience like these mentors like these professionals I've learned that Every leader has areas of growth no matter what and I've been able to pick those out and pick out areas that I Can improve on Through my hands-on experience and I don't think you can do that through a lecture I don't I think you can be told something but until you experience that and experience that problem or experience that area of growth I don't think it'll become real to you and and I have each week I go to each each week I go lead this discussion session. I find probably one or two things That I can grow on and I go home and I reflect on those and I find ways to change those and I've just found that the Process has become easier and easier and I know that I'm growing as a leader And I know that I have a lot more growth to do, but I know that that will also come through more experience Through the course the students have been reinforced with the notion that leadership happens in many ways and in many places Whether it be through the peer leadership experience in the 450 class were for example they were asked to engage in activities activities as diverse as Putting together a tower made out of spaghetti and marshmallows and Being able to reflect on that and look at who in their group became a leader And how is it that people relied on that person and what what were the elements of that person brought to the table that made them successful To show and tell activities where they had to share something about their own leadership experience or in discussions where they were Encouraged to talk about what they were learning from their professionals further more With from the professionals many of their professionals had comments to them indicating that You're a leader from it from no matter what setting you're in it with one of the professionals Had had a conversation with a student that got relayed on to me that talked about leadership is also in the family So as a parent you're a leader as a older brother or older sister you're a leader So the students walked away with a very different Perspective than they thought earlier in terms of leadership is having responsibility to a group and leadership being something That's accessible at any point in your life in any setting That's a very powerful learning piece for those students, and I think it will encourage them Both at Western and beyond to be more mindful about the opportunities that present themselves and how they can contribute and add Value to the groups that they're involved with