Former student disburses leadership advice at Brookhaven
Jareb Parker
Issue date: 10/26/09 Section: News
Jesse Saldana, former Brookhaven College Student Government president for 2001-2002, spoke to students about being an effective leader Oct. 7 in a dialogue hosted by Student Leadership Institute.
The youngest of nine siblings and the first in his family to earn a college degree, Saldana now works for the Dallas Independent School District and helps bring new money to the area. He pushes the goals of the district, hosting events to open doors to new businesses.
Saldana emphasized to students that one key to developing effective leadership skills is establishing connections. The main thing is being available, he said.
"It's my experiences at BHC that made me who I am," Saldana said.
He stressed networking skills and acquiring them through participation in organizations such as SLI and student government.
"I went through experiences as president that really defined me as an individual," he said. "My major doesn't match what I do now. It was connections and learning from being involved that got me where I am."
Saldana said he paid for school primarily with scholarships. He said it was a challenge at times finding them, but "you have to want to know what's going on," he said. He said the same skills he used to find scholarships are those that make a great leader.
"To be a leader you must be present," he said. "You have to network and show your face."
Beyond that, students need knowledge and have to be relentless in what they want to achieve, Saldana said.
He spoke of leadership and establishing connections.
"I'm not going to be successful if the people around me aren't successful," Saldana said. "Find that support that holds you together and latch onto it."
He said the biggest thing is being consistent and having great support.
"You need someone to support you and push you," he said.
Joy Arndt, director of the Office of Student Life, said students should take advantage of the opportunities they have at Brookhaven.
"If I'm hiring or giving scholarships away, I want to see someone who is engaged," she said.
She said having extracurricular activities on a résumé shows an individual can be a leader and is involved. Networking skills come from practice, Arndt said.
"The more you do it, the better you get at it, and it's a basic skill used in everything," she said.
The youngest of nine siblings and the first in his family to earn a college degree, Saldana now works for the Dallas Independent School District and helps bring new money to the area. He pushes the goals of the district, hosting events to open doors to new businesses.
Saldana emphasized to students that one key to developing effective leadership skills is establishing connections. The main thing is being available, he said.
"It's my experiences at BHC that made me who I am," Saldana said.
He stressed networking skills and acquiring them through participation in organizations such as SLI and student government.
"I went through experiences as president that really defined me as an individual," he said. "My major doesn't match what I do now. It was connections and learning from being involved that got me where I am."
Saldana said he paid for school primarily with scholarships. He said it was a challenge at times finding them, but "you have to want to know what's going on," he said. He said the same skills he used to find scholarships are those that make a great leader.
"To be a leader you must be present," he said. "You have to network and show your face."
Beyond that, students need knowledge and have to be relentless in what they want to achieve, Saldana said.
He spoke of leadership and establishing connections.
"I'm not going to be successful if the people around me aren't successful," Saldana said. "Find that support that holds you together and latch onto it."
He said the biggest thing is being consistent and having great support.
"You need someone to support you and push you," he said.
Joy Arndt, director of the Office of Student Life, said students should take advantage of the opportunities they have at Brookhaven.
"If I'm hiring or giving scholarships away, I want to see someone who is engaged," she said.
She said having extracurricular activities on a résumé shows an individual can be a leader and is involved. Networking skills come from practice, Arndt said.
"The more you do it, the better you get at it, and it's a basic skill used in everything," she said.
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