Why Leadership Training Should Start Young

Imagine the impact if every child learned to lead with courage and empathy from the start.

I often wonder what our world would look like if every child had the chance to learn leadership skills early on. If courage, responsibility, empathy, and teamwork were taught alongside reading and math, I believe our communities would be stronger and our future brighter.

At just 11-years-old, my son had the opportunity to attend a school leadership retreat designed for his sixth-grade class. In just a few days, he became CPR certified, practiced standing up for himself and others, and learned what it truly means to be a good citizen. These are not just “extra” lessons. They are life skills that every child deserves the chance to learn. Imagine the impact if leadership training began this early for all students.

The retreat also gave him the chance to test his courage on a ropes course and rock wall, soar down a zipline, and balance across a narrow beam while encouraging a partner coming from the other side. He came home a little taller, a little braver, and a whole lot more grown up. Proud does not even begin to cover how I felt seeing that transformation.

As a parent, I felt immense pride. As someone who works with organizations and communities, I also felt inspired. Leadership is not about age or titles. It is about opportunity and practice. If we want thriving schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods, we need to create more spaces like this retreat that teach individuals to step forward, stand tall, and use their voices for good.

The best part was watching the students return eager to bring what they learned back to their school community. In their final year of elementary school before moving on to middle school, they are ready to lead by example, lift each other up, and set the tone for the younger students who look up to them.

Their growth is a reminder for all of us. When children are given the tools to lead with empathy and courage, they do not just change their own path, they strengthen the fabric of the entire community. That is a lesson worth carrying forward, for both the next generation and for ourselves.