Cadet First Sergeant First Class Cecil Smith, a fourth year JROTC cadet and senior at Dillon High School, recently attended the Four Star Leadership Academy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
“I just want to say that the Four Star Leadership program has changed my life forever. I feel like a different person ever since I have been back, and it’s all because of the knowledge, and leadership skills they have passed on to me. The people who came to talk to us, shared life changing stories that made me want to be a better person, as well as lessons in leadership that I could take home, and use to chance my community. They have taught me so much that I won’t forget. Overall, the Four Star Leadership program is an amazing program that every student should participate in and experience, I promise you that you won’t come back the same person as before,” said Smith. Smith arrived in Oklahoma Christian University on July 15th. After settling into the dorms and getting to know everyone, the participants were briefed on their schedule for the week and there was a story told by the main cadre on the Four Star General Tommy Franks. The first
assignment was to partner up with a random person and gain as much information on them as they could in two minutes, and give a two-minute speech on what they learned. After dinner, they were told that everyday of the week was represented by the four starts of leadership Character, Common Vision, Communications, and caring, and then they sent them off to bed with high hope for the first full day on Monday.
On Monday, July 16th, they took a field trip to the Freedom 43 News Studio. They got to walk around and see how real life news anchors do their jobs and and how they provide up to date news to the people of Oklahoma. They spent the rest of their time asking reporter’s questions, and getting positive feedback from them as well. After they left the news studio, they headed back to campus to the classrooms to learn about how to do congressional debate. It was a very interested subject where they had to provide pros and cons, and persuade one another over to like your side of the complaint. They learned to work on their persuasive speaking skills. They also visited the state capital building of Oklahoma and got to meet Senator David Holt. After leaving the capital building, they got to have dinner at the governor’s mansion. This is where they first met General Tommy Franks in person, and the first women to ever become a general in the army as well.
On Tuesday, July 17th, they went on a field trip to a little suburb to help out a volunteer service called Habitat for Humanity. When they got there, they started working immediately. They cleaned the area, helped build a house, and what they had created at the end of their project was a beautiful home for someone someday. They went back to the classrooms to study debate and persuasive speaking. Greg Slavonic, an Admiral in the Navy, spoke to them.
On Wednesday, July 18th, they went on a two-hour drive to Hobart Oklahoma, to see the General Tommy Franks Museum. When they arrive, they went to the town museum and saw all of there old artifacts like old bank vaults, World War II items, and the Indian exhibit, a personal favorite of Smith’s. After the museum, they got to see the General Tommy Franks museum. “I thought it was amazing that one man could achieve as much as he did. He is a very honorable man. The museum told about his life as a toddler, to where he is today. It was a memorable sight to see.” Smith said. After the museum, they got to eat at a local restaurant, and a local Indian tribe came to dance for them. The best part was that after dinner, General Tommy Franks, and two of his friends came to talk to them and answer the questions that they had for them. “General Tommy Franks was a wonderful speaker. The stories they shared were filled with so much knowledge and experiences that
we all could learn from. It made me want to change even more that before.” Smith said. After the lectures, they grabbed a bagged lunch and went back to campus.
On Thursday, July 19th, they went on a field trip to the Devon Boat House for the days focus on Common Vision. When they arrived, they were given a tour of the facility, where the Olympians trained. They let them get in some boats and row down the river they actually raced on. “It was a very fun experience.” Smith said. They went back to campus to prepare for the preliminary rounds of the congressional debate competition. They did rounds one and two then the final were left. A speaker named Dr. Rufus Fear came to talk to them. After the lecture, it was to the classrooms to give the persuasive speeches in front of everyone.
On Friday, July 20th, they went to the Oklahoma City memorial with the day’s focus of “Caring” in mind. When they got there the first thing they saw was the gifts left by the loved ones for those who died that day. “It was sad.” Smith said. Then they showed them what they called the gates of time, which had 9:01 and 9:03 written on it, which represents the time that passed from when it started to when it ended. After they went inside, they got to see all the artwork they had inside the building, and the pictures of all those who died. “My favorite piece that they had was a picture of Oklahoma that had the words, “It was like any other day” written on it. I found that emotional. It was sad that so many lives were lost on this day for no reason. It pained me to see so much death around such a cheerful city.” Smith said. After they toured the building, they heard a woman named Kari Watkins speak on the meaning of this place. “It was a
very moving speech.” Smith said. After they left the memorial, they went back to the capital building to meet the governor of Oklahoma. She spoke to them for a while, then, it was back to campus for the final rounds of the persuasive speaking speech and congressional debate. After the competitions, they had a woman named Amy Polasky come and speak to them on genocide and explain why it was a bad thing. “I felt sorry for anyone who had to go through an experience like that.” Smith said. After she spoke, they were escorted to the banquet hall to hear the scholarship winners. The speaker, Immaculee Illibagiza, a Rwandan genocide survivor. She spoke after they announce the winners, and in her story she mentioned she survived with seven other women, in a closet-size bathroom for 91 days from soldiers trying to kill her. After she got out, with power and faith in God, she was able to forgive the killer who murdered her family. “I found that speech so
touching, and I felt that I could have changed so much in my life as well if I would have only used the power of forgiveness to do it like she did. She was an amazing woman to meet.” Smith said. Then Brian Bush talked to them about the past week. “He said they if we didn’t feel any change in our lives when we get back, then they failed us this week, and that they look up to us to be Americas future. I won’t ever forget the words he said that night.” Smith said. After the discussion, they were sent to their dorm rooms to pack and go to sleep.
“On Saturday, July 21st, at 5:30 a.m., most of us left for the airport at that time. Many were sad, some cried, but most of us all made a bond that will last forever. Those were my friends, and I won’t ever forget any of them. Four Star Leadership has changed my life forever, and I thank them for giving me the chance to have that opportunity to experience it. It really was life changing.” Smith said.