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Project LEAD: Seaver College Students Use Spring Break to Learn Lessons of Leadership

The first week of March is spring break for Seaver College students, and while some will lay on the beach all week, one group will be embarking on a road trip to learn more about what it takes to be a leader. As part of Project LEAD, Seaver students will travel through cities on the east coast including Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston, to meet with local leaders and engage in service projects.  

As a student trip, the participants are expected to steer its direction and planning process. The group has been broken up into pairs and each pair assigned a city to plan an itinerary for over two days of the trip. Sophomore Danica Frye and her partner are in charge of planning the group's time in Washington, D.C., where they will do service work in under-served elementary schools.

"Last year I just went home for spring break and had a fun time, but I wanted to get more out of the time we have off from school," says Frye. "Project LEAD is fulfilling for everyone involved, especially the children at the schools we will be visiting during our trip. It's something greater than ourselves, and that's why I think it's a great thing to do with our spring break."

Junior Christine Fischer had similar sentiments. " I have the rest of my life to lie on the beach," she says. "With Project LEAD, we are entering high schools and encouraging our future leaders to realize now what leadership potential they pose. Not only are we stimulating leadership, but we are emphasizing the importance of staying in school so everyone is allowed to rise to their full potential. "

Another spring break learning opportunity has debuted this year at Seaver College called Project e(X). In this program, students will do "externships" during Spring Break, completing two to three days of job shadowing, gaining experience and exposure at the workplace of a Pepperdine alumnus. Destinations include Washington, D.C.; Miami, Florida; local Los Angeles, and many more.

Sponsored by the Seaver College Career Center, staff members match the students' desired industry and city with the best-suited alumnus. As an extern, students will get a glimpse of the real world and have a chance to learn what skills are necessary to be successful in a particular industry. They may have the chance to attend meetings and presentations, meet staff members, and most importantly, make connections with professionals in their field of interest.

Learn more about service and leadership opportunities at Pepperdine University at the Waves of Service Web site.