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- BLI announces a new Access Opportunity
- Barger Leadership Institute is moving!
- BLI Announces New Partnership with The London Idea
- Former Jet Blue CEO donates $10 million to Barger Leadership Institute
- BLI Hires a New Assistant Director
- BLI to Co-Host ‘Extreme by Design’ Film Screening, Discussion
- BLI awards Small Grant for Halfway Hijabi event
- BLI Launches New Capstone Experience
- BLI Launches New Fellows Program Structure
- Keep Calm and Lead On
- BLI Fellow Wins Wolverine Tank Pitch Contest
- BLI Congratulates Mya Haynes
- BLI Alumni Receive 2015-2016 Fulbright Honor
- The 2018 London Ideas Project is Announced
- Congrats to BLI partner Sandra Levitsky for being awarded the Golden Apple!
- Congrats to BLI Fellow and Peer Facilitator Elisabeth Benham
- Tales of Leadership: The Advanced Fellows Journey
- Welcome to the 2018 Capstone Cohort!
- BLI welcomes new director!
- BLI Across the Pond
- BLI Hosts Voting Guru Nancy Thomas
- Ram Mahalingam's award winning film to be screened at two film festivals.
- The Capstone Experience with the Migrant Education Initiative
- The Mindful Leader - Becoming an Engaged Leader
- A Weekend of Mindful Leadership
- Introducing the 2019 Capstone Teams
- The Peer Facilitator Experience
- Dinners with...
- BLI Students Start Small and Dream Big in Detroit
- From Freshman to Senior Year -- Four Years of Leadership Learning
- BLI Speaker Series: Food For Thought
- BLI Director, Ram Mahalingam featured in the Record
- Capstone Bootcamp 2019
- In a Distracted World, Solitude is Practice for Tomorrow’s Leaders
- A Conversation on Mindfulness, Bias and Racial Justice — a podcast with Ram Mahalingam
- The Mindful Leaders Retreat — Laying a Foundation
- Being a good leader is knowing when to practice gratitude
- Channeling Mindfulness
- Compassionate Leadership: Creating a Just, Inclusive and Mindful Society with Mirabai Bush
- Dinners With...
- Announcing Capstone 2020 Teams!
- Meet our 2020 Leadership Lab Teams!
- Leading Mindfully
- A Senior's Reflection on Peer Facilitating
- Expect Challenges
- Reflecting Back and Looking Forward
- From Leadership Lab, to Peer Facilitator, to Program Assistant
- Project Healthy Schools Global
- Learning to be an Effective Leader
- Leading Life with Dignity: A Challenge of Our Time
- Pause, Reflect, and Create
- What's Happening in the Lab?
- Capstone 3D Virtual Gallery
- Announcing the Break Away Podcast!
- BLI Advanced Fellow featured in M-LEAD's Leadership Lens Series!
- Two BLI Advanced Fellows Receive the Renowned MLK Spirit Award
- Stand Against Asian Violence
- BLI Hosts Alumni Panel
- Announcing the BLI's 2021 Capstone Cohort
- BLI Offers COVID-19 Hardship Grants
- ALA 175: Foundations in Leadership
- The Peer Facilitator Leadership Experience
- What's Happening in the Lab
- Capstone Boot Camp 2021
- Mindful Leader Reflection
- Learning to Lead with Compassion: A Mindful Leadership Retreat
- Okanagan Charter
- Foundations in Leadership, a Peer Facilitator Perspective
- Heart-Centered Leadership with Rebecca Irby
- Announcing the 2022 Leadership Certificate Cohort!
- Welcome the 2021-22 Mindful Leader Fellowship cohort!
- BLI Peace Leadership Retreat in Detroit
- BLI director awarded the Harold R. Johnson Diversity Service Award
- Seithur Sanitation Initiative receives the MLK Spirit Award
- The Michigan Difference Student Leadership Awards
- Feedback is Love
- Deepening the Foundations for Equity and Renewal
- Creating Leaders – Being a Peer Facilitator at the BLI
- M-LEAD Leadership Lens Feature: Kaitlyn Colyer
- M-LEAD Leadership Lens Feature: Mya Harris
- What's Happening in the Lab
- The Leadership Certificate at the University of Michigan: Cohort 1
- Color of Care Reflection
- Mindful Leader Retreat Recap
- Social Transformation, a Passionate Community of Scholars
- The Michigan Difference Student Leadership Awards
- Break Away Podcast
- BLI Weekend in Detroit
- Leadership Lens with Olivia O'Connell
- Leadership Lens with Becky Woolf
- Leadership Philosophy Reflection
- Senior Reflection, Renuka Murthi
- Dignity and Well-being in the Workplace: A French Perspective
- BLI – Year One
- Teaching Leadership, a Senior Reflection
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After five semesters of being a Peer Facilitator at the Barger Leadership Institute, I can confidently say that every iteration of our class has taught me something new. In my first year at the BLI, I remember hearing the phrase “Feedback is Love” a lot. As student staff, we had several check-ins with our Program Manager and were able to share our experiences on the job. I remember sharing that we should have an extended version of our one-credit mini-course where students could dive deeper into their project and explore the foundations of leadership through an action-based learning concept. This semester, I was able to be a part of our first ever 3-credit course doing exactly that.
Over 16 weeks, I was able to work with students on projects ranging from food insecurity to mentorship programs. While most of our teaching concepts in this iteration of ALA 175 were similar, we were able to spend a lot more time in our groups to Pause and Reflect. First, we clarified our assumptions of target audiences using stakeholder interviews and techniques such as 5 whys. I was able to see groups take their time with their approach and really analyze the root of each problem. Teams also had the opportunity to learn from each other in cross-functional teams across the semester and build community value. Most importantly, as a Peer Facilitator, I was able to develop deeper relationships with our class. If there’s anything I have learned about leadership, it is that it cannot be done effectively without vulnerability. Students were able to take some time to reflect on the intersection of their personal experiences and their project. Through case studies and guest speakers, I had the opportunity to learn about several leadership styles and how uniquely effective they can be. Even though I was in the position of being a peer facilitator, I often found myself in the seats of a student - taking notes, listening, and observing.
After a remote year due to COVID-19, this semester’s three-credit class was a truly humbling experience. I frequently asked myself: What do I have to set aside in order to be a hundred percent present today? And this includes acknowledging the fact that you cannot be at your most present and engaged every single time. Sharing that with my peers is vulnerability. And my fellow peer facilitators supporting me, is leadership.
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Rashi Watwani is a senior majoring in Organizational Studies and a minor in Business. She has had previous experience in data analysis, research, and mentorship via various roles at the UCC, Newnan Advising, and UROP. Previously, Rashi has been involved in the BLI Capstone Experience and currently serves as the lead Peer Facilitator for ALA 175. Some of her passions include finance, podcasts, and trying out new foods!