Leadership Conference 2016
SEV Leadership Conference, an annual activity for students of SEV American high schools, was hosted by ACI this year on October 20-22, 2016. The three-day conference brought together the student councils of SAC, UAA, TAC and ACI. Students who were introduced and shared a conversation during dinner continued their interaction to “Get Out of the Room” later in the evening, in a exciting game putting to use team work, problem solving and group dynamics. They later left with the ACI families hosting them for the event. Everyone was in agreement that this environment really helped break the ice between students who have not met before. Students who has their breakfast together at the school were divided into four groups, listening to the presentation by Sercan Çelebi, a Yale graduate who is one of the founders of the “Oy ve Ötesi Association”, a non-profit for the monitoring of the ballot counting process at the general elections. The very nature of his professional background facilitated the discussion of very important questions, such as the meaning of being an active citizen, and how does one become an active citizen, and its importance in leadership. The first part of the discussion was 45 minutes. In the second part, some current global and social problems were identified through various activities, and the students tried to bring rational and workable solutions to them, being close witnesses to how an individual can lead. Following lunch, they watched presentations of each school, telling about their activities and leading community service activities. Another aim of the Leadership Conference was to help inspire each student council about new practices and to learn from one another. By the end of the day, the student leaders have learned many new things about active individuals and social problems they can lead to resolve. The third day of the conference was dedicated to a cultural trip to Alaçatı / Çeşme where students got to know more about each other, as well as the beautiful seaside towns of İzmir. The closing of the event was at school, with the students wishing to meet at other joint school events.