Programs (homepage)
REALeaders for REALationships Through EQ and SQ
Emotional and Social Intelligence for Real World Leadership
GRStrong: V.O.I.C.E.S. — Vision, Ownership, Integrity, Connection, Empathy, Strength
BBT: R.I.S.E. — Respect, Integrity, Strength, Empathy. (in development)
Program Overview
Mission:To equip high school students with the emotional and social intelligence needed to lead with character, communicate with confidence, and serve with compassion.
Vision:To cultivate a generation of resilient, values-driven leaders prepared to influence their communities and the world through intentional, authentic leadership.
Participants:9th & 10th Grade: Foundational Leadership Pathway
11th Grade: Junior Facilitator and Mentorship Leadership Track
Delivery Format:
- Weekly after-school or weekend sessions
- 10-12 sessions per semester (2–2.5 hours each)
- Asynchronous power skills modules in Year 3
- Hands-on facilitation, journaling, mentorship, and service-based learning
PROGRAM FLOW + COLLEGE READINESS
YEAR 1: SELF MASTERY
Theme: Leading Yourself First – Building Inner Strength through Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Semester 1: Self-Awareness & Emotional Intelligence
Skills Developed:
- Emotional literacy
Self-reflection and growth mindset
- Mindfulness and internal pattern recognition
- Understanding thoughts-feelings-actions link
Learning Outcomes:
- Increased emotional regulation
- Strengthened sense of identity and personal values
- Foundation for resilient self-leadership
Aligned College Essay Prompt:
- Prompt #1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
- Students develop a clear personal narrative rooted in identity, values, and self-awareness.
Semester 2: Building, Practicing & Strengthening Self-Trust
Skills Developed:
- Values-based decision-making
- Sitting and defending personal boundaries
- Differentiating fear from intuition
- Self-validation
Learning Outcomes:
- Heightened self-confidence and discernment
- Emotional responsibility and inner compass
- Clarity in high-pressure decision-making
Aligned College Essay Prompt:
- Prompt #2: The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
- Students explore how inner conflict, boundaries, or failure moments shaped self-leadership.
YEAR 2: SOCIAL LEADERSHIP
Theme: Leading in Community – Practicing Empathy, Connection, and Respect (SQ)
Semester 1: Connection – Leading with Empathy & Integrity
Skills Developed:
- Active listening and emotional presence
- Navigating peer dynamics
- Communicating healthy boundaries
- Identifying toxic vs. supportive relationships
Learning Outcomes:
- Stronger empathy and interpersonal safety
- Growth in peer discernment and relational confidence
Aligned College Essay Prompt:
- Prompt #3: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
- Students reflect on moments of social courage, advocacy, or redefining relational beliefs.
Semester 2: Leadership – Influence Through Integrity & Inclusion
Skills Developed:
- Conflict resolution and group facilitation
- Cultural humility and inclusive leadership
- Servant leadership and peer affirmation
Learning Outcomes:
- Inclusive leadership identity
- Tools for affirming, uniting, and uplifting teams
Aligned College Essay Prompts:
- Prompt #4: Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
- Prompt #5: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
- Students describe growth from service, mentorship, or being mentored, and moments of transformation.
YEAR 3: PEER MENTORSHIP & JUNIOR FACILITATION
Theme: Leading Through Influence – Creating a Legacy by Lifting Others
Role: Junior Facilitator
Participants serve as peer mentors and co-leaders of a new cohort of REALeaders. Under the guidance of trained facilitators, they model integrity, empathy, and leadership in action.
Skills Developed:
- Public speaking and co-facilitation
- Mentoring peers through real-world issues
- Giving/receiving constructive feedback
- Role modeling emotional and social intelligence
Learning Outcomes:
- Real-world leadership portfolio
- Increased responsibility, confidence, and purpose
- Ability to lead with humility, vision, and empathy
Aligned College Essay Prompts:
- Prompt #6: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
- Prompt #7: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
- Students write about leadership, social impact, mentoring, and their philosophy of service and influence.
POWER SKILL LABS: 10 MODULES IN YEAR 3
Each Junior Facilitator completes a monthly asynchronous module, paired with real-time practice.
Modules:
- Confident Communication
- Problem Solving & Critical Thinking
- Empathy in Action
- Time Management & Self-Discipline
- Teamwork & Collaboration
- Growth Mindset & Adaptability
- Conflict Resolution & Accountability
- Presentation & Personal Presence
- Giving & Receiving Feedback
- Service-Oriented Leadership
Integration with Junior Facilitator Pathway:
- Skills are practiced while mentoring new students
- Reflection prompts connect each module to real-world leadership
- Certificates of completion included in application portfolios
College Readiness Benefits:
- Builds a service and leadership transcript
- Demonstrates initiative, communication, and mentorship
- Tangible skills for college success, internships, and scholarships
- Rich content for essays, interviews, and recommendation letters
REALeaders Matters for College Admissions
As colleges move beyond test scores and GPA to assess student potential, they increasingly look for applicants who demonstrate:
- Emotional maturity and resilience
- Leadership experience
- Social responsibility and service
- Strong communication skills
- Growth through real-world challenges
This shift is reflected in Holistic Admissions Criteria used by institutions like Harvard, Princeton, and the University of California system, which emphasize personal character, impact, and integrity alongside academics.
REALeaders is intentionally designed to develop these very competencies—offering students a structured, multi-year pathway to cultivate the qualities colleges value most.
Research-Based Evidence Supporting REALeaders’ College Readiness Impact
1. Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Boosts Academic & Life Success
- According to research by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, students with high EQ show better focus, higher academic achievement, and stronger stress management — all critical for college success.
- A study published in Frontiers in Psychology (2019) found that EQ was a stronger predictor of college GPA than IQ in many settings
REALeaders EQ Integration: Year 1 helps students understand their emotions, articulate identity, and build internal resilience — giving them an edge in academic persistence and reflective college essays.
2. Social Intelligence (SQ) Supports Leadership and Belonging
- A report by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) highlights collaboration, empathy, and cross-cultural awareness as “Essential Learning Outcomes” for the 21st-century student.
- Students with strong SQ skills adapt more easily to college social systems, lead student organizations, and maintain mental well-being.
REALeaders SQ Integration:Year 2 teaches inclusive communication, empathy, and respectful peer leadership, positioning students to succeed in college group work, residential life, and multicultural settings.
3. Real-World Leadership and Mentorship Matter in Admissions
- Harvard’s Turning the Tide report urges colleges to reward “authentic, meaningful contributions to others” over superficial achievements.
- Recommendation letters, interviews, and essays are strongest when students can show sustained service and leadership.
REALeaders Leadership Integration:In Year 3, students apply their skills by co-leading workshops, mentoring younger peers, and completing service leadership projects—all excellent content for personal statements and reference letters.
4. Common App and Coalition for College Prompts Reward Reflection
REALeaders’ progression maps directly onto essay prompts requiring:
- Self-awareness (Prompt #1)
Growth through obstacles (Prompt #2)
- Leadership and service (Prompts #5 and #7)
Students leave the program with a journal of reflections, a portfolio of mentorship, and stories of impact—ready to craft compelling applications.
College-Ready Deliverables from REALeaders
By the end of the program, every participant will have:
✅ A Leadership Development Transcript (tracking hours, modules, and impact)
✅ A Soft Skills Certificate covering 10 key 21st-century competencies
✅ A Capstone Leadership Reflection (essay-ready content)
✅ A Recommendation-Ready Profile Summary for counselors and teachers
✅ A Mentorship Impact Portfolio with documented facilitation and service roles
What Counselors and Colleges Will See in a REALeader Applicant:
✅ Sustained engagement and leadership over three years
✅ Ability to mentor and serve others
✅ Reflective maturity and emotional intelligence
✅ Authentic experiences of personal transformation
✅ Cross-cultural empathy and inclusive leadership
✅ Concrete application of soft skills and civic agency
