ETSU senior Lance Wardlaw attended the LeaderShape conference and discovered his vision for what he wants to do with his life.
Wardlaw, 23, is majoring in finance banking and is a resident advisor in one of the dorms. He went to LeaderShape on behalf of Resident Life to represent that portion of ETSU.
“LeaderShape is a program that forces you to dig deep and figure out who you are,” Wardlaw said. “LeaderShape teaches you to build integrity and humble yourself so you can develop your vision and help others in the process.”
Wardlaw said he would like to experience LeaderShape again. “The people I met there were intelligent and outgoing, yet humble,” he said. “The whole experience was life changing. I can’t explain it. It’s just something you have to go through.”
What Wardlaw liked best about LeaderShape was that it helped him find his vision. “It helped me realize that it’s not about me,” he said. “It’s about helping others.
“I want to create an environment that will empower the youth, especially minorities. It would teach them how to gain knowledge, wisdom and understanding of life’s situations.”
Wardlaw would like to see these facilities not only locally but also in every major city in the United States. He would like to see his plans grow even bigger.
“If I could make it global, that would be really great,” he said.
Wardlaw hopes that the youth would take what they learn and help others. “It is my dream that they will use what they learn to affect the lives of other less fortunate minorities,” he said.
His program would not be just for minorities. “I feel that minorities have been left out but it would not be limited by any means,” Wardlaw said.
One major aspect of Wardlaw’s program would be guest speakers. These speakers would tell about their background to let the children know they could succeed. “There are a lot of people who need to tell their story,” Wardlaw said. “It would let them [the youth] know they are not limited. They need to know that they are not the only people experiencing what they are. It helps to know that someone else is going through the same thing you are.”
Wardlaw’s past life experiences led him to this goal. “Things that happened in my childhood, people investing in me, led me to this,” he said. “If I could do something to affect one life that life could affect many others.”
He plans to pursue his dream as soon as he graduates. “I’d like to see what I can do with this,” Wardlaw said. “It won’t be simple. I know it will be a long process. I’m willing to go through with it.

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