Aug 12, 20212 min read

WIT Young Leaders Learn About Creating Values and Goals

On August 7, 2021, Marci Webster, PhD, a faculty member at the Center for Leadership Development, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, facilitated a seminar on “Values and the Power of Reflection” for high school young women in the WIT Leadership Development Circle. The workshop was held at the Midtown YMCA in Montgomery, Alabama. Webster presents an extended version of this interactive workshop for senior officials in the U.S. government.

The WIT Young Leaders were actively engaged in the 90-minute seminar. Webster led a discussion on the importance of values in a society. Together, the facilitator and WIT Young Leaders identified the following as sources of a person’s values:

Parents and Family
School and Friends
Culture
Religion
Social Media and Television Commercials

Some values the WIT Young Leaders identified as important to them are as follows:

1. Achievement

2. Compassion

3. Curiosity

4. Dignity

5. Inclusion

“Stand in your truth!” was a desirable value offered by Khadidah Stone, WIT Youth Development Director.

Makaya McDonald, one of the WIT Young Leaders identified “Self-Care” as a value that is important in her life.

Webster and the WIT Young Leaders also discussed the benefits of self-reflection. Some benefits suggested by the young women include the following:

“Self-Reflection allows me to grow and it also helps me to learn about my past mistakes,” Esther Shon said.

“Cailin White added: “Self-reflection helps me to understand why I do the things I do.

Webster shared two important self-reflection strategies:

Schedule time on a daily, weekly, month and annual basis to self-reflect.

“During your menstrual cycle is a good time to reflect each month,” Webster advised. “We always think of New Year’s Day as a good time for annual reflections; however, I would suggest that our birthday is a good time for personal self-reflection and to make goals for the next year, five years and ten years.”