Coaches’ Corner: Shoneca Kent
How long have you been a GLSLP coach? 3 years.
What inspired you to become a GLSLP coach? I knew several other coaches who had been part of the program for several years. They mentioned so many wonderful aspects of the program, including it being an opportunity for students in rural areas to engage in leadership development. I previously had the opportunity to serve as a mentor and supervisor to college students and found the experience to be very rewarding. I wanted to continue to be a part of helping students develop into great leaders.
What learning objective or activity utilized at conferences (i.e. DAC, Values Explorer, etc.) do you think is most beneficial to the scholars?
I think the Values Explorer activity during conferences is most beneficial to the scholars because their values are their motivations that will guide them through their lives and careers. Being able to name your values is crucial in developing what you seek in a career, in the people you surround yourself with, in deciding what boards to serve, and other important moments of your lives.
What is something you may have learned at conferences that has been particularly useful in your day-to-day life? Something I have learned at the conferences that has been particularly useful in my day-to-day life is the importance of communication. When initially meeting first-year scholars at the January conference, it is important to communicate my expectations of them as scholars and their expectations of me as a coach. This is important in day-to-day life as well because I always have opportunities to meet new people who I may integrate into my work. It is important that we communicate our expectations of one another sooner rather than later.
Where do you hope to see the scholars in your coaching group five years from now? Years from now, I hope to see my scholars thriving in their chosen professions or attending their preferred graduate or professional school. I hope to see them living their dreams and all of their hard work in school, internships, and development programs paying off in the most positive returns. I hope we are still in touch with each other, providing updates on life and assisting with developing our goals into reality.
