5. Leadership opportunities abound |
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| Leadership opportunities are available in many realms of academic, social, and community life. Dana '03 (left) served as president of College Government in 2002-03. Meredith '05 (middle) has assumed leadership roles in residential life. As a sophomore DormNet consultant, she helped students in her residence hall with computer-related issues, and this year is a first-year mentor. Kristina '04 (right) initiated a "get-to-know-you" sushi lunch with art faculty, coordinated a community service project, whereby students donated their hair to "Locks of Love," an organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children with medical hair loss. Currently she is president of College Government. | ||
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Women hold all student leadership positions on campus, whether on College Government or one of the 160 student organizations. Wellesley also offers enormous opportunities in research and internship experience. Wellesley students are intellectually curious, motivated, and adventurous. They are also bold, inspiring, and fun. At Wellesley you have extraordinary opportunities to participate in nearly every level of decision making through student government. In addition, student representatives sit on important College committees and are actively involved in making decisions. Among these committees are the Board of Trustees, the Board of Admission, Financial Aid Committee, the Committee on Curriculum and Instruction, and the Committee on Budget and Finance. After graduation, many assume leadership roles in business, science, philanthropy, government, education, medicine, and law. For many, the character and skill needed to carry out these roles are honed and expanded while at Wellesley. |
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All students are welcome to attend Class Council meetings, which meet every other week. Pictured above are members of the 2004 Class Council Executive Board. |
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| "On
so many levels Wellesley empowers. I was shy in high school. My heart
would start pounding if I had to give a presentation. But at Wellesley
you're encouraged to speak out; almost immediately you're pushed out
in front. There is an expectation that you will be a leader. Wellesley
is all about its students - not the endowment or trustees and alumnae.
Students are there to remind everyone about what's important. I soon
learned that student voice is a necessary part of college. If there's
a difficult problem, we do something about it. We can effect change."
Hanna '03 |
| "I
think it's pretty unique to Wellesley that I could get elected secretary-treasure
of College Government as a first-year student. It's also unusual that
I had the confidence to do that. Wellesley has turned me into a different
person. Wellesley is bringing out the joiner and leader in me, and
it's giving me a chance to follow my dream. I want to grow up and
go into politics, and probably go to law school first. I'm really
interested in the world that goes on around me. I also love to debate
the issues. When I am looking to debate, there is always someone knowledgeable
to discuss the issue. I had friends in high school and most of them
did not want to discuss, for example, what was happening in the Middle
East. Going to college is like a brand new start." Sarah '05 |
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| Leadership opportunities extend throughout and beyond campus.In the above left photo, students gather on campus at Harambee House, the cultural center for students of African descent. In the above right photo Wellesley volunteers assist at a school in Costa Rica. | ||
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"As
a first-year mentor, I meet weekly with a small group of first-year
students to address topics that span the spectrum from serious to
frivolous. For example, in the fall we organize a three-hour discussion
with faculty so students can ask any questions they want. We discuss
what the Honor Code means and help students choose their academic
advisors. In addition, we're open to any topic - including the location
of the best ice cream in Boston or how to meet guys. During the
fall semester each mentor group has weekly meetings for questions
and information that is helpful for first years. So, some first-year
mentors watch "Friends" together with their mentor group
every Thursday night. I hold "office hours" at Cafe Hoop
each week. (Having a budget for snacks is great!). I've enjoyed
the responsibility of this leadership position and hope to do it
again next year." |
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"I didn't think I needed female environment. I felt empowered enough. But Wellesley does make you acutely aware of what you take for granted. In many schools you're likely to see males as presidents and in many leadership positions. Here women run the college government, the labs, radio stations, dorms, organizations . . . everything. "Professors
say 'she,' not 'he.' There's something in the way Wellesley women
carry themselves. They are direct; they stand up and have a take
charge attitude. When I was at a Native American and Black History
conference at Dartmouth, someone made a controversial comment. A
woman grabbed the mike and responded articulately and convincingly.
I was convinced she was a Wellesley woman, and she was." |
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Abigail '06 (pictured above on the Academic Quad and with friends) is a political activist on Middle Eastern issues. As a first-year student she founded and served as a board member of Wellesley Friends of Israel. This leadership role forces her to confront sensitive issues all the time. For example, should a person with a controversial point of view be allowed to address the student body? And if so, how does one ensure that nobody takes offense or gets the impression that the College is endorsing divisive views? |
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"By
coming to Wellesley I gained a lot of independence. I think I've
changed a lot as a person, and I think this time will form a great
basis for my life."
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| "Wellesley
gives you the 'place' to put your ideas to use. Students have a lot
of control and can make their own way in the College. I'm involved
in chamber music, and typically we had only end-of-the-year recitals.
I started the Performance Club, where we perform in Jewett Auditorium
on Sunday nights. You feel comfortable trying out new things in an
informal atmosphere. If it doesn't work out it doesn't matter. I had
a difficult piece with fast runs but kept performing there before
the final concert. It made a huge difference. I do much better when
I'm acclimated. That Wellesley is an all women's school makes you
have faith in yourself. It gives you a lot of strength. You say, 'What's
to stop me?'" Alexandra '03 |
| "Wellesley has been a huge influence in molding my 'mission.' I have received tremendous amounts of financial and institutional support from the College, which made it possible to have the multitude of enriching curricular and extracurricular experiences that I have had. I really feel that I am emerging after four years having grown intellectually, personally, and in spirit. I would like to thank Wellesley for the major role she played in making me realize and develop my personal and professional aspirations, as well as equipping me with the passion, conscientiousness, and confidence with which to achieve them." Neo '02 |
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Athletics at Wellesley offers numerous opportunities to develop lifelong leadership skills. In addition to traditional leadership positions in varsity and club sports, Wellesley also provides an Emerging Leaders Program, the Student-Athlete Advisory Group, and Captains' Council. In one captains' workshop, a group of students was asked to brainstorm and identify the most important attributes of an effective team captain. A second group was asked to brainstorm and identify the most important attributes of an effective CEO. When the groups merged to discuss the results, they found that their two lists of attributes were nearly identical. |
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Office
of Admission admission@wellesley.edu
Created by: Jane Kyricos jkyricos@wellesley.edu Page Created: February 24, 2004 Page Expires: December 30, 2004 |
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Wellesley College's WZLY, the longest running independent U.S. women's radio station, is committed to promoting diverse and independent music. It is among the student organizations on campus that provides the opportunity for students to pursue a specific interest or talent and, at the same time, develop leadership skills. Categories of student organizations include: academic, art/cinema, College Government, cultural/national, environmental, literary/journalism, performance, political, professional, religious, sports, and volunteer/social advocacy clubs and organizations. |
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| Above: Student leaders in Residential Life engage in some team-building/body-rolling exercises. Below, they prepare for a sail on the lake. | ||||||||||
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| "On
this campus, almost every woman sees herself as hardworking and
committed to furthering her future. True leaders, however, are not
necessarily the loudest, but are the women who inspire others to
challenge themselves." Genevieve '99 |
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| "What
I think is most remarkable is the tremendous resources for activities
and organizations- social, sport, whatever. People here are passionate
about what they do. No matter what area, people support you."
Morgan '03 |
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