Building Bridges and Stronger Leaders: A day of Connection with Bergen Community College
- Visions
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Written/Images By SGA Secretary Tori Mclary
“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success,” an inspiring quote by the visionary Henry Ford. As your SGA Secretary, I am delighted to share a recap of our fantastic Leadership Day this past Friday, October 24th, hosted by HANDSIN4YOUTH in West Milford, NJ. It was a day dedicated to building connections, strengthening our skills, and having a great time together.
Our journey began with a 9 AM bus departure from the Paterson campus, filled with a group of Student Athletes, SGA members, and club executive members. The ride was filled with vibrant conversation and Chameleon game play with anticipation for the day ahead.
Upon arrival, we met with student leaders from Bergen Community College, and then we participated in a series of engaging and fun team-building exercises. We practiced communication and trust during the “Bind Man’s Line Crossing”, cheered on each other on during the zip line, and rock climbing, and shared laughs during the “Fish and Sharks Game”. It was so much fun!
A special mention goes to our lunch, which was a delicious, family-styled Taco feast. The act of passing around shared platters of food fostered a wonderful sense of community and gave us all a chance to connect more personally with one another.
We wrapped up the afternoon with a sweet closing ceremony. Each of us found a unique stick to roast marshmallows, creating the perfect s’mores with Hershey’s chocolate and Graham crackers. It was a simple yet perfect way to reflect on the unique strengths we each bring to our teams.
By the time our bus returned to campus at around 4 PM, our group was buzzing with renewed energy. We returned not just as individual leaders, but as a more cohesive and inspired team. The bonds we forged and the lessons we learned in communication and collaboration are invaluable. We are excited to channel this strengthened spirit into serving our student body even more effectively. It was a powerful reminder that when we work together, we can achieve great things.