Members of the Leadership class along with ASB commissioners and class officers attended the Youth Leadership Program at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort from Jan. 29 to Feb. 1.

Activities director Rebeca Marshburn planned the trip with the intention of having the 31 students learn and brainstorm ways to improve events at SHS.

“[The trip] is a unique leadership experience that focuses on the student body and class officers,” Marshburn said. “Our Leadership students [had] the opportunity to learn and participate in various techniques and skills.”

She also organized the trip due to the “rewarding experiences” had by the students who attended last year. During the trip this year, students from schools in Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada shared ideas, collaborated and had team-building sessions.

According to Marshburn, with help from the Disneyland Resort, students had the chance “to learn how a dreamer built his ideas into an entertainment empire by simply following a vision.”

Students received training from Phil Boyte, a motivational speaker who is part of Learning for Living, a program designed to help schools transform their school culture and climate. According to ASB head commissioner senior Anshika Maheshwari, Boyte taught them how to “keep the entire school environment happy, get to know others and engage in conversation.”

The students had the opportunity to share ideas on how they can give back to their community through school spirit, teacher appreciation and other activities.

“The other students from different schools really inspired me, but I think what drove me even more was seeing Saratoga students taking so much initiative,” sophomore class vice president Mitali Shanbhag said. “When all the students were divided into groups and a representative from each table was asked to come forward, it was incredible to see that 90 percent of the students who stood up were from Saratoga.”

Many of the students who attended the trip enjoyed the experience and the chance to meet student leaders from across the country. Being able to spend three days in Disneyland together helped unite the student leaders and created a trip they will cherish for years to come.

“Our school is full of so many passionate and inspiring leaders, and this trip allowed each of us to connect with one another on a level way higher than just a classroom scenario,” Shanbhag said.

Aside from forming stronger bonds with their peers, the students learned the real meaning of leadership and how they could apply what they’ve learned to improve the school.  

“Leadership is not necessarily about showing others the way, but more about walking alongside them,” Shanbhag said.