SLIDE 10 2016 Dyson Summer Leadership Institute Mutual Expectations
Office of Student Success Student Support Center Phone: 845-569-3176 | Fax: 845-569-3558 | E-mail: oss@msmc.edu Dear Future Mount Saint Mary College Student, Congratulations on your acceptance! My name is Victoria Laiso and I’m finishing up my freshman year at The
- Mount. I know first-hand how overwhelming and scary the idea of starting college can be. I wanted to talk to you about
the Dyson Summer Leadership Institute, an opportunity that I took advantage of before beginning my first year here, and how it helped to ease a lot of my anxiety and really shape the student and person I am now. The Dyson Summer Leadership Institute, created to enhance the young new leaders of Mount Saint Mary College, has brought out the best in not only me, but every student involved in the program. Our experience with The Dyson Summer Leadership Institute has made a huge impact on our lives on campus, and our lives back home. I cannot describe the energy brought to the room every single day by my peers and advisors, or how comfortable everyone was with one another. Between the eleven participants and the two amazing student leaders, we created not only a bond, but we also formed a family and a home away from home. What happened that week was incredible and every moment serves as a reminder for the Dyson students that anything is possible, and to be a leader you must not only listen to one another but understand one another. You will be astonished by the efforts the staff puts into helping you embrace the true leader you were born to be. One big advantage of this program was an easy transition from being a high school student to a college student. Stepping foot onto campus as a freshman can be overwhelming because you don’t really know what to expect. For all freshman, this is the first time we are really seen as adults, taking on the many responsibilities that come with that new
- role. Our advisors taught us skills that would help us be successful students, including time management, study skills and
- vercoming test anxiety. We took tours and learned the ins and outs of every building on campus. This helped us guide
- thers on their first days of classes. We also got introduced to a lot of the faculty and staff on campus, helping you ease
comfortably into your new environment at school. Those program participants who were living on campus during the year were able to move into their permanent rooms ahead of the rest of the freshmen class. Those who were going to be commuters, like me, were given a chance to experience life on campus, free of charge, for the week of the program! Leadership requires great amounts of teamwork. During Dyson our teamwork together was challenged, ranging from a community service project that taught us about the needs of the Newburgh community, to obstacle courses that tested our trust in one another. Although they were very different tasks, they all had the same amount of impact. We found that encouraging each other helped conquer the hurdles that were placed in our way. We relied on each other for help and guidance, which ultimately lead us to triumph. In the Dyson program, we believe in being interactive and hands
- n. We participated in an all-day outdoor ropes course, team-building activities, scavenger hunts and built our
- rganization and time management skills prior to starting classes.
If I decided not to invest my time into Dyson, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. That one week changed my entire life for the better. In fact, it changed all of us. We bonded, learned about one another’s lives and we woke up every day wanting to make ourselves and our families proud. A certain strength grew inside all of us and it is something we will carry with us forever. To me, a leader is someone that creates an inspiring vision for the future and motivates and inspires others to engage in their visions. I assure you this program will lead you, and everyone around you, towards their true purpose in life and ultimately set you up for success in your college career. Sincerely, Victoria Laiso and the Dyson Family, Class of 2019
