Leadership Skills Guide The Scout Editor

11/21/2014 10:24 AM

By Shanlee Bratten ‘15

Leadership means a lot to Sam Pallini ’15, of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

“It’s my passion,” the Communication Public Relations and Spanish double major said. “Originally, leadership to me meant being in charge and having power. Now I see it as the ability to help someone pinpoint what they love and what they want to do and turn that into a career goal or a life goal.”

Pallini’s four years on the Hilltop have been filled with experiences practicing and observing leadership. She joined the National Society of Leadership and Success as a freshman and now serves on the NSLS executive board. She also honed skills as editor-in-chief of The Scout, Bradley’s student newspaper.

She considered her role with The Scout to be of her top college accomplishments. She was encouraged by Communication Instructor Chris Kaergard to write a few articles for the paper as a sophomore.  She joined the staff and worked her way to the top position.

“My journey speaks to how important it is to try new things to see where you fit in,” Pallini said. “College is the time to reach out to new friend groups that you wouldn’t usually, and I found that with The Scout.”

She also found new adventures during an extended study abroad stay in Spain. Pallini took classes in Madrid for May interim and moved to Pamplona for the rest of the summer as a communications intern.

 “I wanted to stay there, by myself, away from a class and just figure it out on my own,” she said. “It was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever done.”

Pallini also observed campus leaders in action as an intern for Tom Richmond, Executive Director of Enrollment Management for Admissions. She conducted in-depth research, which will prepare her for law school. 

In addition to these accomplishments and experiences, Pallini represented the campus as the 2014 Homecoming Queen and served on the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts Dean’s Student Advisory Council, Student Senate and Kappa Delta sorority’s leadership.

With this background, she one day hopes to start a nonprofit organization focused on leadership development.

“Leadership is striving to be better, but you don’t have to have a title to be a leader,” Pallini said.

“It’s about being who you are and being it well.”