On Wednesday morning, November 4^th, the members of the student council underwent a core values and mission statement design training with Mrs. Mize. As a final piece of completing her Master of Ethical Leadership, Mrs. Mize designed a training session for the members of the student council that taught them the importance of values-based decision making.

The students learned the difference between values, morals, and beliefs, why leading from core values is essential, and how to put values-based decision making to use each day. The students went through several real-world examples of people living through their values as well as analyzing the potential devastating effects of compromising core values for temporary gain.

The students went through one informal values identification session with a partner, followed by a more in-depth personal reflection of core values. Students were asked to answer questions such as:

• Who is the person I respect most in life?
• If I could have one quality instantly what would it be and why?
• If I were to teach a high –school class values that would give them opportunity for success, what would they be and why?
• What values do I see being valid 100 years from now?

Following the exercise of core value identification, the students explored several different scenarios they could use their values to make decisions. Council members learned that when they use their values in their choices and in their leadership opportunities, it provides a unique sense of purpose and fulfillment as well as authenticity and self-awareness. Having core values to guide is a unique accountability compass for navigating life and for reminding one of the ideals that keep them grounded to their best self.

As a concluding exercise, the students created their own mission statement to include a guiding declaration with their core values as the cornerstone. The statement was to answer questions such as:

• How do I want to be remembered?
• If I had unlimited time and resources, what would I do?
• How can I best contribute to the world?

The training was concluded by helping the council members see the daily impact leading and choosing based off of values can have. They learned that a values training was not a one-time inoculation, but rather values-based decision making should be practiced every day and developed like a skill.