WHAT THE EXPERIENCE INVOLVED: My sophomore year, I was a pace leader for the course, business foundations. As a pace leader, my responsibilities included leading a breakout class of about 50 students. Half of the students had me as their pace leader and the rest had a different pace leader. It was my job to split them into three groups and lead each group through an innovative project that their professor required them to finish by the end of the semester. I had to make sure they came up with an idea that was creative and had potential to make profit. I checked in on each group continuously each week to make sure they were staying on track and understood each part of the project that had to be done. Aside from the project, my responsibilities also included grading their participation in the class and their portfolio assignment. I made sure I was available to answer any of their questions throughout the semester as well.
WHAT I LEARNED: I took business foundations myself freshmen year. However, being a pace leader rather than a student this time has made me realize that doing and understanding are two different things. Guiding students through an innovative project helped me understand the course much better than I did as a student and as well enhanced my skills while I taught the material to the students. I learned that this realization can help me be successful in the future since I will understand first before I do anything which is crucial in anything one sets their mind on.
HOW HAS IT IMPACTED ME: My experience as a pace leader has formed me into being a leader with confidence. I never thought I would ever be capable of teaching, let alone having a responsibility of guiding other students to success. I am glad I had the opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and be someone with a voice that mattered and was listened to. I have come to know several new, wonderful people through my journey of being a pace leader and this experience definitely had left a positive mark in my life.
Below represents the logos that my students came up with for their projects and symbolizes the hard work and dedication they put into creating them.