Student’s Leadership Outward Bound

Auckland Boys Grammar student Vaughan Somerville is aiming to put into practice the skills he learnt while attending an Outward Bound School Leaders Programme this summer.

Vaughan, who has just been appointed as a prefect at his college, was one of 28 students who took part in the Programme aimed at preparing them for upcoming leadership roles.

Outward Bound Chief Executive Officer, Trevor Taylor, said the students participating in the Programme had been recognized by their schools as potential leaders.

Outward Bound created the School Leaders Programme five years ago as a way of helping schools better prepare students.

“We identified an opportunity to help schools better prepare peer leaders, by unlocking their potential through experiential activities in the great outdoors.”

The 21 day course was developed specifically so that schools could bring their potential leaders to an outdoor environment where they could increase their knowledge of team dynamics and leadership.

“Outdoor team experiences are the perfect place to learn about team dynamics and leadership,” Trevor said.

“The main goal of the Programme is to return students to their schools with superior leadership skills so that they can inspire others to reach their full potential.”

For Vaughan the School Leaders Programme has taught him that anything is possible.

“The main thing I learnt from Outward Bound is that there is nothing that can’t be achieved if you put your mind to it.”

While on the course, participants were encouraged to reflect on their team and leadership experiences and review them against basic leadership models, team roles and behaviours. Everyone attended a presentation on leadership and were given a book highlighting principles that they could apply to their school roles and personal lives

“This is what makes Outward Bound unique - the memorable experiences and compelling lessons learnt that can be used throughout life.”

For Vaughan, the Programme has given him a new outlook on life.

“When you do a programme like this, your whole outlook on things and the effort you put in changes remarkably. It gives you moments to look back on and to spur you on further whenever the going gets tough.”

Vaughan said the main thing he will draw on from the Programme is listening and order.

“Listening to other people’s ideas to gain a different perspective of tasks in order to achieve a more effective outcome is something I will definitely put to great use going forward.”

Vaughan hopes to study and specialise in sports medicine when he leaves school.

He said his newly developed skills can help him meet his goals and he intends to use them whenever he can, particularly in his role as a prefect, whether it is helping someone overcome a fear, leading from in front or encouraging peers to step forward.

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