At the start of my second year, my MMM Leadership Development goal was to strengthen my personal and professional skills through SLI workshops that challenged me to grow. I wanted to better understand how to lead myself, improving my time management, building healthier habits, and gaining confidence in new environments—so I could support others more effectively and contribute positively to my communities.

I attended the SLI for Time Management (Leading Self), which focused on personal time management and productivity. The workshop emphasized that traditional time-management methods don’t work for everyone and introduced a range of alternative strategies to help identify what fits best for each person. We also explored the roots of procrastination and discussed practical ways to work through it.

I attended the SLI session titled “Lifting 101 (Leading Self).” This workshop introduced the fundamentals of lifting, debunked common myths, and expanded our general gym knowledge. We covered basics like what a superset is, how to tell if you’re choosing the right exercises, and even what a hack squat involves. The session was beginner-friendly and open to all activity levels, with no prior experience needed.

I attended the Student Leadership Institute session titled “Sexual Health Jeopardy (Leading Self).” This workshop focused on educating and empowering students around all aspects of sexual health. We covered topics such as contraceptive services (including emergency contraception), available contraceptive supplies, STI testing and treatment, and maintaining healthy sexual relationships. The session was presented by Elaina Sheiman (Registered Nurse, Cayuga Health at Ithaca College), Kayla Katsman (Health Promotion Specialist, Center for Health Promotion), Michelle Goode (Director, Center for Health Promotion and IC Campus Planned Parenthood), and Mia Nardone.