Teens learn leadership, business skills at summit
The West Houston Teen Leadership Summit was filled with students from 18 area high schools ready to learn business fundamentals from some of the top leaders in Texas.
District 133 state Rep. Jim Murphy, R-Houston, created the Feb. 20 event, held at the Norris Conference Center at City Centre, to set young leaders on the road to success.
“I really applaud Jim in his initiative in respect to young Texans,” said moderator Robert Brescia, executive director of John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership-Institute.
“The type of leadership that students will learn, is very practical, able to be used anywhere, and will enable those young Texans to understand how to be successful, be able to handle those temporary failures and bumps along the way to realize their dreams, and engage in the greater good of Texas.”
The mission of the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute, according to its website, is to provide Texans an education for and about leadership, ethics and public service.
The 19 panelists chosen to speak gave advice on business, media, politics and leadership.
Speakers included Houston mayor Sylvester Turner, Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson, U.S. Ambassador to Qatar Chase Untermeyer, former Lieuten- ant Governor David Dewhurst and University of Houston president Renu Khator.
Students ages 15-17 were nominated as delegates by their schools or by community leaders.
Those chosen typically are leaders in their communities, with a focus on civic engagement.
During the day delegates received business etiquette and networking advice during breakfast, then heard from
speakers and were able to askquestions.
After lunch, the students separated into groups where they were able to talk with panelists.
“Our mission is really inspiring, training and developing the next generation of leaders,” said Mur- phy.
“Everybody needs to find a way to find that leadership role, but also realize the importance of being a follower.
“That’s how we learn from models of good leaders.”
Students gathered different takeaways from the event and were impacted with advice they said prepared themfor the future.
“I can definitely understand more and have a bigger idea of what I want to do,” said Paola Ontiveros, a sophomore at West Side HighSchool.
“The advice they give really can help me prepare for my future. I can go back to my notes when I’m stressed and don’t know where I’m going and this will help me understand what I want to achieve.”
Nicole Saldivia, another sophomore at West Side High School, was impressed by the Houston mayor’s presentation.
“Sylvester Turner’s story, what he told us about coming from nothing, hearing his story really inspired me to achieve more than I thought I could,” said Saldivia.
“I think hearing a lot of different perspectives from the Houston community made this event really important to me.”
More information
The next teen summit is proposed for the spring of 2018.
Findoutmoreat https:// www.facebook.com/JimMurphy133/