Leadership students at Merritt Secondary School (MSS) are undergoing a transformation, as they learn to step outside their comfort zones and make their community a better place.

Teacher Shannon Dunn’s Student Leadership class has 25 students this year ranging from Grade 10 to 12. The class is open to all grades at MSS.

Dunn described the class as one where students learn to affect a positive climate in the school and raise dollars for charity. Students also learn leadership skills by organizing events in the school such as dances and pep rallies. On Oct. 29, students in the leadership class were in top form as they helped with a Halloween dance at the Merritt Civic Centre.

Recently, six young ladies were selected at random from the class to attend the B.C. Student Leadership Conference, which took place in Kelowna this year. The conference lasted from Oct. 22 to 25 and attracted approximately 600 students and teachers from across B.C.

Dunn described it as “four days with 20 hours of sleep”.

Student Janelle Reid said it was “four days of fun!”

The cost per student was $350, and came from P.A.C., dance fundraising, and students.

The six students who attended the conference were McKenzie Gabara, Nicole Bonneteau, Samantha Fox, Janelle Reid, Thelma Chillihitzia and Sammreeta Kandola.

“They listened to four incredible speeches,” said Dunn.

Ian Tyson spoke about ‘finding your inner hero’, which was the theme of the conference. Students were encouraged to step out of their comfort zone and to connect with other people.

Mark Scharenbroich spoke about making connections within your school. Hannah Taylor, a 13-year-old from Winnipeg who founded the Lady Bug Foundation at age eight, also spoke to students. She spoke on how you’re never too young to make a difference.

David Garibaldi inspired students to follow their passions and dreams with conviction.

Outside of large pep rallies and speeches, students attended smaller workshops on a number of themes.

Students also went out to spend time working at a variety of different locations including homeless shelters, soup kitchens, the Salvation Army, an equestrian centre and more, where they learned the importance of giving back to their community.

Each day was packed with activity. Students woke up at 6 a.m., ate breakfast at 6:30 a.m. and came back to their hotel rooms at 11 p.m.

The six students described “lots of cheering” at the conference. Energy levels were off the charts as hundreds of pumped secondary leadership students gathered in one place.

“It’s definitely exhausting, but it’s so worth while,” said Dunn.

Each of the young women who attended the leadership conference had good things to say about their class at MSS.

“I took it because I like being involved in the school,” said Bonneteau.

“I took leadership because I like to be involved and know everything that’s going on. I like to be involved,” said Fox.

“I want to open my door to stepping out into the world,” explained Reid. “Leadership teaches you more than just school stuff. I would recommend this course for sure.”

Chillihitzia added her voice. “To be honest, the first time I took this class it was because I had no other class to go to. Then it was to be more involved with the school. This year it’s just awesome.”

Gabara agreed. “It will help me in the real world. It really made me come out of my comfort zone and get me involved in the school.”

MSS can look forward to more fun events organized by the leadership class in the following months. Dunn’s students aim to learn and pass on the philosophies of everyday life they are learning to both their school and the community as a whole.