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Not everyone can be born a Jennifer Lawrence, a Michelle Obama, or a Malala Yousafzai no matter how much she wishes. However, even these strong leaders had to start somewhere. English Department staff members Ms. Megan Piernicky and Ms. Susie Sisson set out to establish that starting point here at Marian.

For the past six years, Piernicky and Sisson have offered free leadership training workshops to Marian students. They hope to see students walk out of this building confident in their unique abilities.

“The skills that we are teaching students … are the skills that are going to en- able them to be successful regardless of whatever career path or vocation you girls are choosing,” Piernicky said. “Those are skills that you can transfer to not only leadership positions that you girls are in but to anything out in the rest of the world.”

The first session, “Discover My Strengths,” took place on Oct. 21 in the Marian cafeteria.  Students took a personality inventory before this session, which assigned them to one of four colors–blue, green, gold, or orange–that corresponded with their personality types. “It helped me to learn my weaknesses and strengths, so I can improve upon my weaknesses,” sophomore Caroline Lahey said.

Ms. Sabrina Schalley, a licensed mental health practitioner, guided the girls through their personality results and offered an outside voice on the importance of acknowledging one’s strengths and weaknesses.

Schalley described spe- cific situations and how each personality color would react. The room erupted into gig- gles as each girl recognized how accurately Ms. Schalley could predict their reactions.

“My favorite thing was learning not only your colors, but the colors of those around you and how true they really are,” sophomore Courtney Kilroy said.

The next two sessions, which will focus on personal values and community contri- butions, take place on Nov. 19 and Feb. 3 in the Marian cafeteria.

The second session will include visits from Dr. Joe Ecklund and Mrs. Michelle Morrison, two Creighton University staff members who lead Emotionally Intelligent Leadership workshops.

During the third session, students will learn how to use their strengths and values to contribute positively to their communities. “We hope it gets them thinking about themselves and their own abilities in a way they’ve never thought about that before,” Sisson said.

The leadership workshops also offer two unique opportunities for seniors.

In the past, seniors have only been fa- cilitators of small groups. The seniors are now invited to participate in the work- shops as well as offer specific leadership stories to the freshmen.

Beginning on Nov. 23, freshmen will have their own specialized workshops, which will focus on communication, organization, and interpersonal relations. Seniors will lead small groups and offer personal stories about leadership.

“This year is all about making leadership tangible for the student body. It’s not this floating idea in the sky, it’s something that we can all participate in,” Piernicky said.To cap off the workshops, there will be an all-school assembly in March.  A diverse panel of inspiring women will speak to the entire student body, displaying a variety of leadership roles in the world.

With this training and experience under their belts, Marian students can take on the world confidently, knowing that their unique differences will make the world a better place.

“Even though some of us are natural born leaders,” Piernicky said, “we all have the instinct to lead inside of us, and we all lead in different ways, which is part of what makes it so beautiful.”