Earlier this month, Woodland Joint Unified School District high school students honed their leadership abilities at the district’s High School Strengths-Based Institute, an engaging two-day workshop held at the district office.

According to a WJUSD press release, the workshop was held on Jan. 10 and 16 with an aim to help high school students discover and develop their individual strengths while learning to appreciate and value the unique talents of their peers.

“I learned that everyone is not a ‘well-rounded’ person,” WJUSD student Lanaya James stated. “Everyone has that one thing that they are very good at.”

The institute also supports implementing the “Woodland Community Call to Action: Our United Aspiration for Youth,” a communitywide guide to better support Woodland youth. The district, city of Woodland, educational partners and students collaborated to create the Call to Action in 2023 with a unified focus on ensuring that all young people throughout Woodland have the support and opportunities to thrive.

During the two-day workshop, students learned about their strengths and explored how their natural abilities can positively impact their leadership and interpersonal skills. They also examined the constructive and challenging ways their strengths can emerge and be perceived by others, giving them a deeper understanding of how to lead effectively and inclusively.

“The program was very interesting and productive,” said student Jillian Tang. “It allowed me to practice being interviewed and talking to people I didn’t know well. As a person who loves personality tests and understanding people, this was amazing. I was surprised by how fun and productive the day was. I didn’t know we could go so in-depth.”

Student Josselyn Bibriesca said, “I would say this experience was inspiring to the point where I am eager to learn more of my strengths.”

The workshop emphasized collaboration and personal growth, creating an environment where students could confidently explore their individual strengths and leadership potential.

“I got to learn a lot about myself and others’ experiences,” said student Noor Haider. “We all come from different backgrounds which created a significant effect on all of our points of view.”

Student Grant Wyson added, “I enjoyed learning how my talents work and realizing how they apply to my character.”

WJUSD Superintendent Elodia Ortega-Lampkin joined students throughout the institute and highlighted the importance of workshops like this to help develop the next generation of leaders.

“This workshop reflects WJUSD’s ongoing commitment to our goal of providing engagement and leadership opportunities for youth,” Ortega-Lampkin said. “We look forward to seeing these students continue to thrive and lead within their schools and the broader community.”