Five Atlantic City High School students presented what they learned during a two-week journey to South African last month.
They shared their experiences via livestream from City Council Chambers last week.
“A Leadership Journey” tasked the students with keeping record of their experiences to share, and included a social justice issue they were to research.
Mayor Marty Small said the five teens made the city proud.
“As a mayor who has made taking care of our youth a priority of his administration, this journey meant as much to me as I know it meant for them, and I look forward to seeing what these young people are going to do in the future," he said. "They were the perfect representation of our great city in South Africa.”
The learning is ongoing, said Atlantic City Youth Services Director Christina Noble, who accompanied the students.
“We all pushed ourselves to have deep, meaningful conversations throughout this experience, which is what allowed us to grow as people and, one day, change the world," she said. "Every student on this trip added something unique and special, and we enjoyed this life-changing experience as one.”
Akeem Lloyd, founder of “A Leadership Journey,” credited the city with moving quickly to get the group together after a chance meeting between the city native and Small.
“Our mission is to challenge, encourage and inspire young people to see themselves not just as U.S. citizens, but also global citizens with a global perspective, so they can understand, in this case, what’s happening in Atlantic City is also happening elsewhere,” he said.
Lloyd and Atlantic City Youth Services Specialist Elizabeth Trigg also accompanied the students on the trip.
VIEW THE FULL PRESENTATION HERE:
Incoming Senior at Atlantic City High School
Research Subject: Struggle with Drugs and Alcohol Abuse
Ubuntu Moment/Interpretation: Losing a special bracelet and a friend he met in South Africa went above and beyond to find and return it to him.
Leadership Experience: Communicating with South Africa school kids through sports and teaching those kids kickball, which they were not familiar with.
Mental Health: Learned to understand it’s fine to feel certain emotions and seek help when needed.
My “A Leadership Journey” was: “It’s a life changing experience. It’s a never-ending journey. I’m still in my A Leadership Journey, I’m still learning. Every step that I took in A Leadership Journey changed my life and changed who I am today. A Leadership Journey is what no text book can ever teach.”
Incoming Senior at Atlantic City High School
Research Subject: School Systems
Ubuntu Moment/Interpretation: Recognizing everyone has something to contribute and developing such close friendships in just two weeks.
Leadership Experience: Discovering there are many different ways to be a leader.
Mental Health: Learned the importance of taking care of yourself and discovered the positive impacts of meditation for the first time.
My “A Leadership Journey” was: “During this trip, the activities and assignments we had made me become a better person, and I feel like I can come back to my city (Atlantic City) and make an impact.”
"I felt so strong"
Incoming Senior at Atlantic County Institute of Technology
Research Subject: Sexism
Ubuntu Moment/Interpretation: Consider yourself and everyone around you as an extension of yourself. You are considerate of others’ needs as well as being aware of yours. I am what I am because of who we all are.
Leadership Experience: Working alongside a new friend to run a painting session with 50 kids. Being able to trust yourself to head something and know it’ll be great.
Mental Health: Was never scared on this trip because she trusted herself and everyone around her.
My “A Leadership Journey” was: “Now I feel like I can tackle anything. I learned the true feeling of being grateful by seeing how happy the kids can be even with what little some of them had. It ignited a passion for taking care of our youth and community. Seeing all the kids there wanting to do better in life, I know they’ll do great things and I want that for our community too.”
Incoming Junior at Atlantic County Institute of Technology
Research Subject: Sexism and Gender Roles
Ubuntu Moment/Interpretation: It’s a connection built where people recognize they’re both human and a person is a person through other people.
Leadership Experience: Seeing I can help youth by influencing and guiding them, and leading by example.
Mental Health: Learned mental health is important and you should always put yourself first. This journey allowed me to open up and vocalize my feelings.
My “A Leadership Journey” was: “This was life-changing, enlightening, peaceful, educational, free flowing, wholesome, fun and intellectual. I participated in different cultural activities, applied myself and engaged in intellectual conversations about society’s standards in South Africa.”
Incoming Senior at Atlantic City High School
Research Subject: Classism
Ubuntu Moment/Interpretation: Seeing school children who may be struggling in life perform and dance and be happy.
Leadership Experience: Leadership is the art of inspiring others to follow your vision, even when they can’t see it.
Mental Health: Learned mental health is just as important as physical health. Learned to set goals for himself at the start of each day.
My “A Leadership Journey” was: “Not just a journey but the start of the real journey which is life. I learned what I need to do to keep pushing on my life journey. My Leadership Journey is not over.”
