Story 43 - LDP Lincoln High
Founded in 1978 and originally called LDP, this Lincoln school has a long history with NHRI.
Excerpt taken from the 1978-79 Annual Report:
Leadership Development Project (LDP) is a new project modeled after Lakeview Project and works with sophomores from Lincoln High School who have been selected as leaders. The main goal of the Leadership Development Project is to try to help the counselees pinpoint and use the strengths and potential they have to begin facilitating helpful relationships with other students in Lincoln High.
To complement this project, a class was introduced at Lincoln High for the selected sophomore students so that the philosophies of the Foundation could be understood by the counselees, their peers and hence produce a ripple effect throughout the school.
The project's first main activity was a family picnic where the counselees, their families and the counselors got to know each other through sharing strengths, interests and ideas. LDP traveled to Camp Kitaki for an overnight retreat in the fall. The goals of the project were portrayed through skits presented by small groups.
Situations such as "How would you treat a new student in your class, or an exceptionally shy student" were discussed and portrayed to see how positive action could be used to help those students have a more positive self image. Counselors and counselees got together and discussed situations and experiences they've encountered at Lincoln High. In discussing relationships within the school, it was decided that building a trusting relationship with another student was more beneficial than just brief encounters. But through the initial encounters you are able to build the relationship.
Comments from the counselees about these relationships were, "I gained a real concern for my friends and other people"; "I learned how not to let prejudice stand in the way of a relationship"; and "I learned how to really help a person with a problem.” The counselors and counselees discussed the one-to-one relationships with the students at Lincoln High. Through advice and coaching from the counselors the counselees started reaching out to more and more people as the year progressed.
With eyes always on the future, LDP got together in April to discuss what is in store for the project in the coming year and to evaluate the previous semester. Counselees felt that through the friendship and help of their counselor, they were able to help others in their school. Counselees found that through LDP they: found a real friend, found a greater capacity of caring for others, became more patient and understanding with people and their problems, and learned how to see goals for themselves and follow through with them.
Plans for the future include strengthening and building the counselor/ counselee relationships, having the second year counselees take on more responsibility through helping new sophomore counselees invest in others, and focusing on and reaching out to more Lincoln High students.
Get to Know LDP Lincoln High
Staff Advisor: Hallie Horner
Tri-Chairs: Lexi Mercier, Hannah Ryan, Gavin Dozler
Number of mentor-mentee pairs in 2024: 26
“Lincoln High project is full of tight-knit, supportive and driven mentors. Having a project where our mentees are so close to the UNL campus offers a variety of unique experiences for our mentors and mentees to be a part of such as Lincoln High’s monthly Club Days. During these Club Days, mentors meet their mentees at school to build a deeper NHRI community and discuss leadership topics that they can take into their high school that same day and continue on for years to come.”
Just a few of their outstanding one-on-ones
“Natalie and I met up and decided to do one of my adventure challenges. The challenge required us to build a Lego set together (it was a lot harder than we thought it would be) and then film a video of us “playing with the set”. We decided to make Lego flowers and at our next meeting we’ll film a video of us picking them from the ground to complete the challenge”
“I picked Khalidah up from school and we went to Love Library to study! I helped her with study techniques for her chemistry exam coming up and we talked about issues she’s been having with people at school. We talked about different perspectives on the issues and how to overcome!”
“Henry and I met on Sunday. We went over our activity we had done where we went to a record store and each bought a cheap record we’ve never heard of. After listening to our records, we talked about what we liked and didn’t like, and then I talked about the importance of expanding yourself and trying new things. There are so many benefits to reaching out of your comfort zone and expanding your taste. After that discussion, we played Guess Who and talked about our busy weeks coming up.”
“My experience in NHRI and as a mentor in LDP played a huge role in my eventual career as a school counselor at Lincoln High School. My mentee, Emma Rathe, and I used to meet for one-on-ones at the McDonalds right across from LHS. Like many NHRI mentees, Emma was involved in everything under the sun - student council, theatre, softball, honors classes, etc. I remember rolling out of bed in my sorority house at 5:45 AM every Thursday morning so I could pick her up from her house and take her for breakfast. We would talk about her long-term goals, and how she could be more intentional in using her Gallup strengths to invest in her peers and siblings. I credit Emma for sparking my interest in helping others learn and grow. To this day, I have a picture of the two of us in my office. I look at it every day and smile.”
