ASPIRE - Colorado College

ASPIRE

Vision:

To create a structure through which individuals interested in service and leadership can evaluate their personal growth in a leadership role over the course of participating in various service acts through the Center for Service and Learning. All avenues of service are open to participants who will judge their own progress and ability through reflection and introspection. The program culminates in a certificate of completion given to participants at a reflection in their honor. In this way, the ASPIRE program will support service leaders at Colorado College and provide them various resources for growth and increased effectiveness in their role.

Goals:

• To provide support and information to student leaders at Colorado College.
  
• To teach valuable aspects of leadership and encourage growth
  
• To establish a community of dedicated peers who will work together toward a greater understanding of self.
  
• To create circumstances in which student leadership potential can be realized better realized and tracked.
  
• To enable student service leaders through reflection and introspection and increase the overall effectiveness and potential of the already strong leaders of Colorado College.

Why:

In teaching leadership skills and establishing circumstances for which progress and evolution can be self evaluated by student service leaders, we believe that both the individuals involved in the program and the campus on the whole will benefit. Knowing oneself, one’s leadership style and one’s strengths and weaknesses can contribute to improvement in leadership and in life. Colorado College is lucky to possess driven and dedicated service leaders who already play a critical role in the campus community through their hard work and example. The ASPIRE program will assist these individuals in taking their work a step further so they can achieve the self discovery and growth that is only possible through true introspective critical reflections.

How:

• Participants are asked to participate in one service experience as a participant to evaluate and learn from their leader. Appetencies are approached and self selected to participate in the program. Those who are interested fill out a leadership action plan and a personal leadership statement to show their interest in the program.

• The program begins for apprentices during 1st block and continues for a full year.

• Apprentices are asked to engage in 2 leadership experiences as a participant in order to evaluate and learn from their leader.

• Apprentices are asked to lead or co-lead 3 leadership experiences from which they will evaluate their leadership style and abilities through reflective questionnaires.

• Each apprentice will be guided in their growth and experiences through resources provided by ASPIRE and by a Guide who will be a student graduate of the program. Meetings once a block and weekly goals will ensure that apprentices are on track and are experiencing valuable growth.
  

Results:

Participants in the ASPIRE program will gain increased efficiency, confidence and insight into themselves. The skill sets provided for student leaders will translate into various circumstances and will be applicable to numerous leadership roles that students will participate in outside ASPIRE and in their futures beyond Colorado College. The certification received upon completion of the program will prove testament to each participant’s dedication and hard work as well as their progression toward becoming a more well-rounded and self-aware leader. Completion of ASPIRE will be a mark of distinction among student service leaders who have devoted themselves to self-improvement and greater achievements in leadership.

Potential Topics:

Blockly meetings often have presenters from across campus come to talk about their own leadership experiences and valuable leadership skills. Modules can change depending on the needs and experience of the apprentices. Overall the modules include multi-media leadership illustrations, readings, exercises and reflection activities to be worked through independently and discussed within guide and apprentice small groups.

• Finding Your Voice
• Conflict Resolution
• Team Building
• Personal networks
• Balance and wellness
• Multiculturism
• CHANGE

What Aspire can do for You

What ASPIRE can do for you….

• Apprentices in the ASPIRE program will gain increased efficiency,
  confidence and insight into themselves.

• Apprentices, through the ASPIRE program will build a personal network for continued service and leadership.

• The skill sets provided for student leaders will translate into various
  circumstances and will be applicable to numerous leadership roles that students will participate in outside ASPIRE and in their futures beyond Colorado College.

• The certification received upon completion of the program will prove testament to each apprentice’s dedication and hard work as well as their progression toward becoming a more well-rounded and self-aware leader.

• Completion of ASPIRE will be a mark of distinction among student service leaders who have devoted themselves to self-improvement and greater achievements in leadership.