The FCCLA chapter at JP Stevens took part in the annual Leadership Bootcamp on Saturday, January 7, bringing together members from chapters across New Jersey. FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) promotes family consumer science and the practices of teamwork through various fundraisers alongside statewide and national competitions. 

The FCCLA Leadership Bootcamp, taking place for the past 18 years, was hosted via Zoom by Ms. Catherine DiGioia-Weinfeld and Mr. Bill Plastine. The FCCLA alumni, former officers at the state and national level, now serve as leadership trainers who convey their knowledge and past experiences to the new generation of FCCLA leaders. Utilizing team-bonding activities, insightful discussions, and inspirational speeches centered around the theme of persistence, the boot camp allowed attending members to develop valuable cooperative and leadership skills that will support their FCCLA journeys. 

“One of my favorite parts of serving as the FCCLA National President is being able to meet so many passionate members throughout the state and nation!” said senior FCCLA National President Amanda Chen. “At the 2024 Leadership Bootcamp, I loved learning from our leadership trainers and fellow officers while connecting with chapters from across New Jersey. We had fantastic discussions on how to create accountability, self-reflect, and set goals to enhance our leadership skills!” 

The event began early in the morning, with students pouring into the cafeteria to sign in and collect their shirts. This boot camp included students from the JP Stevens FCCLA chapter, Edison High School FCCLA chapter, and John Adams Middle School chapter, among other school chapters. Hardcover copies of the book Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life… and Maybe the World by Admiral William H. McRaven were distributed to every attendee, whose lessons of motivation and tenacity in daily life would be used as the guide for the rest of the activities. 

The boot camp began as Bill Plastine introduced the philosophies surrounding the book, which went into detail about McRaven’s personal trials in the military and how he maintained his persistence throughout his journey. Listeners drew connections to their own lives, particularly how to maintain determination in school, their daily lives, and their FCCLA journeys. After listening to the book, attendees were prompted to identify an object in the room which was composed of smaller things to make a larger object. Many students connected back to the principles of unity and determination outlined in the book, bringing up things such as group projects and coalitions. 

“As FCCLA Vice President, I have the honor of supporting and leading our members toward personal and leadership development,” said junior Aum Singhal, Vice President of JP’s FCCLA Chapter. “The 2024 Leadership Bootcamp was a very valuable experience, filled with collaboration and empowering us with skills essential for driving positive change within our community.”

The activities ensued as members were asked to identify an object in the room that represented a significant accomplishment, as well as an object that represented a setback in their life. Furthermore, a team-building activity was held as the members assembled small groups in triangles, with their backs turned to one another. Members were then asked to count to the number 20, with the rule of restarting if multiple people spoke at once. The exercise taught the members that collaboration is key within groups to avoid conflicts. 

“Throughout my state officer term, I have been able to show our members the importance of empathy through planning our state-wide community service initiatives,” said junior Malav Shah, a FCCLA state officer. “All in all, I am grateful to have served our state association for almost a year now, but I know my journey with FCCLA is not over, and I will continue to apply these lessons in my adult life. “

Ultimately, the boot camp gave attendees valuable lessons about determination, hope, and collaboration which gave them inspiration for community initiatives within the realm of FCCLA and beyond, as well as persistence in everyday life.