“Honestly, I don’t like to lead,” says 21-year-old Alliyah Jackson, a final-year communications studies student in the Faculty of Humanities and Education. “I like to be in the background. But sometimes you look around and realise nothing is being done and you have to be the one to take up the responsibility.”
It’s this conscientiousness, this willingness to lead for the collective good - not personal ambition - that makes Alliyah standout. She stands out so much, in fact, that in July 2019 she was given the rare opportunity to join a select group of young people from across the globe to take part in the Hesselbein Student Leadership Summit. From July 20 to 23, Alliyah stayed at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania on scholarship for what the summit organisers call “an intensive four-day experience”.
“Delegates participate in interactive workshops, receive mentorship from government and business leaders, and take part in hands-on problem solving sessions,” a statement from the Hesselbein Global Academy for Student Leadership and Engagement states.
The academy, “aims to produce a cadre of experienced, ethical leaders equipped to address critical issues throughout the world.” They want “the student leaders of today (to) become the business, community, and government leaders of tomorrow.”
Alliyah calls the experience, “a defining moment for the rest of my life”, and recounts how shocked she was to be selected. “I didn’t think I would be accepted because they only approve 50 students.” She was however encouraged by the support of Guild Administrative Office Manager Ms Amanda Best-Noel, who first brought the Hesselbein Summit to her attention.
“She was an outstanding student leader and she has phenomenal ideas,” says Best-Noel, who worked withAlliyah calls the experience, “a defining moment for the rest of my life”, and recounts how shocked she was to be selected. “I didn’t think I would be accepted because they only approve 50 students.”
Alliyah when the student was the Guild Publications Committee Chairperson in the 2018/2019 Student Guild Council. “She came up with the branding manual for the Guild. In addition, she ran her own business on the side. Best-Noel says she wants to “change the landscape of student leadership on campus” and is presently working with Alliyah on a project called “UWI Mentors” towards that goal.
Alliyah, who comes from Arima, credits her church for the sense of personal and collective responsibility that drives her. “We have a strong youth leadership programme.”
The Hesselbein Summit has strengthened that drive even further. Her packed days began at 8am and ended close to 10pm every night. They included numerous presentations from mentors from academia, industry and even the military. One of the most rewarding activities of the trip for Alliyah was working with non-governmental organisations.
The students worked with the renowned NGO Rise Against Hunger, and carried out an assignment for the Pittsburgh-based refugee support NGO Hello Neighbor. They also found time for sightseeing, entertainment and making friendships that have lasted well after the summit’s completion.
Alliyah and the others were also able to have a video conference with Frances Hesselbein herself, “one of the most highly respected experts in the field of contemporary leadership development”, former CEO of the Girl Scouts of America and the winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the US. “She told us leadership is not a matter of how to do,” Alliyah said. “It is a matter of how to be.” With her experiences at UWI and her inclination to improve society, this final year student clearly has some of that know-how.
