A Reflection about Emerging Public Leaders 2011 by Nina

I had no idea what to expect when I arrived at Furman University a few days ago...My parents dropped me off and I began EPL with a Ropes Course that made me feel comfortable with all of the other participants that are now known as my friends :) Everyday has been interesting and enlightening. Day one began a little early in the morning  but we all woke up pretty quickly. The first day we focused on both local and national government. All of us left every session more aware of how local and state governments work as well as how the United States government operates. Ms. Dorianne Norwood spoke to us about the components of our national government and led a group discussion. My group then went on to downtown Greenville and spent some time with two very motivated members of the City Council of Greenville. It was a wonderful learning experience for all of us. The second day, yesterday, was very entertaining and humbling. We went and visited a number of under-privileged children at the Frazee Dream Center. We read to the children and played with them. The game "Simon Says" was definitely a crowd pleaser. The kids were so energetic and willing to try new things. Afterwards we attended a session led by Dr. Ching and we discussed when the maldistribution of money began. After the session, we went on to visit a very giving ministry located in Downtown Greenville. The pastor who gave us the tour was very inspiring and intelligent. Today we have focused on both ethics and becoming a leader. Former Secretary of Education under Bill Clinton, Mr. Secretary Riley spoke to us and gave us wonderful advice. He was both informative and relaxed. We all shared some laughs which made the luncheon very enjoyable. The advisers are also both great and helpful. From teaching us the intense game of "Mafia" to chasing us in a very intense game of tag, they have been more than fun! So far, my week at EPL has been awesome!