Oakmont student government was graciously invited to join the Jostens National Renaissance Conference on Oct. 1 at West Park High School. The conference is a leadership academy hosted by Jostens and CoolSpeak, a youth engagement organization aimed at uplifting young people across the country.
The Oakmont attendees met around 8:00 am and loaded up on the transit vans at 8:22. With Journalism advisor Michaela Morrison and Principal’s Secretary Caitlin Strawn, the Vikings departed OHS and headed for the conference. Upon arrival at 8:47, all attending schools were met by a West Park welcome committee, hoisting signs and banners that read “Welcome Student Leaders” and “Fight Forward”.
Oakmont was joined by schools from all over the area, including Woodcreek High School, Roseville High School, and Antelope, as well as some middle schools like Elizabeth Ustach Middle School from Modesto and Carson Valley Middle School from Nevada.
The conference was described as a leadership academy with “dynamic keynote speakers”. The first speaker came on-stage at 9:20, Dr. Phil Campbell (known by his fans as PC). Campbell worked as an administrator at Portland High School in Portland, TN. In this position he brought spirit, encouragement, love, and engagement to his campus. His goal with Jostens is to bring the same ideals to schools all over the world.
Campbell then introduced the second speaker, Carlos Ojeda Jr., founder of CoolSpeak. His “set”, so to speak, was by far the most engaging of the event. A Puerto Rican from Newark, NJ, Ojeda Jr. had a New Jersey accent, was animated and lively, and hilarious as can be. Ojeda Jr. detailed his childhood in Newark, which was marked by violence and prejudice. The one thing that saved Ojeda Jr. from going down the wrong path was love.
Campbell and Ojeda Jr’s whole message was about wanting to be seen, heard, and loved, as well as how to spread that love to your school as student and faculty leaders. Campbell hosted staff and student breakout sessions with idea blasts, where Campbell listed off things himself and others have done to make their students feel seen, heard, and loved on campus. This included graduation murals, military dedication walls, and more.
After the idea blast ended, schools put themselves into teams and brainstormed about how they can boost engagement and morale at their schools. With a list of seven questions, the teams covered posters and brought them home to implement. Once finished with the idea blast, students and staff participated in a mini-rally, with four games including cup stacking, animal noise competitions, and even a Fruit-by-the-Foot challenge.
“We’re here because we’re leaders, not because we’re cheaters,” said Campbell at the start of the games.
The Jostens and CoolSpeak team also presented students and staff members with award certificates, recognizing them for the hard work they do at their schools. They also had attendees stand up if they were 1st generation college students, teachers with 20+ years of experience, and those with Oct. birthdays.
Campbell and Ojeda gave their ending speeches at around 12:30 before sending their newly inspired students back to school where they can make their peers feel seen, heard, and loved.
“Did you like it?” asked Oakmont junior Samantha Joseph, “I loved it.”
