As freshman Abigale Standefer walks into Teen Leadership, she sits in her assigned airplane seat and begins to talk with her fellow peers while waiting for Mrs. Dena Schimming to prepare the class for take off.

“It’s a class where kids get to learn who they are, where they come from and how to embrace that to be a quality leader,” Mrs. Schimming said.

Teen Leadership teaches different types of skills that will help students to be their own person and become leaders in life. The class participates in team work lessons, trust activities, community service and other activities designed to build character and leadership skills.

“We do activities to better our character and are given a different perspective on life,” sophomore Daniel Drzycimski said.

Trust activities include falling backwards into someone else’s arms and trusting they will catch the other person and not let their partner fall. Students also participate in an activity in which a leader helps their blindfolded partner walk around and directs them so they do not hit a wall or get hurt.

“I’ve learned to trust others and to accept others because Mrs. Schimming teaches us not to judge,” freshman Callie Browning said.

Teen Leadership also travels on a day trip to Camp Thurman. The spring trip takes place on March 22. Students will play games, do team activities, a ropes course and zip line. The day revolves around working as a team and cheering on one another through obstacles.

“I’m excited to go because I’ve never been to Camp Thurman, and the people in our class are energetic and enjoyable to be around,” Standefer said.

After taking Teen Leadership I, students have the opportunity to board the plane again and continue flying by taking Teen Leadership II.

“I love being in Teen II because we serve not only our school, but our community also,” senior Brianna Rojas said. “We come together to better our community.”

Teen Leadership II helps students to prepare for college. They do big projects such as planning and coordinating events like Pink Fest and Luck Week.

“In Teen II you are expected to know your strengths and with those be the best leader you can be,” senior Maddie Schimming said.

Teen II takes part in a big learning experience on disability day. Participants are assigned two disabilities for a whole school day to help them understand how people who have real disabilities live on a daily basis.

“They start out loving it and being enthusiastic about it, but by the end of the day they hate it because they don’t realize how difficult it is,” Mrs. Schimming said.

Maddie lived the life of a leg amputee and a mute for disability day.

“For anyone who knows me, I like to talk. Being mute and not being able to get up and get a paper during class was very difficult,” Maddie said. “It made me realize how I’ve taken my abilities for granted.”