Who’s got next?
What are all the things you wish you knew when you started being involved with SADD?
As we head towards the end of 2019 some of you will be moving on, so it’s time to make sure we are all ‘passing the torch’ well.
“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence”
It has come to that time of year, seniors are hectic with exams and ‘end of year’ business, the weather is warming, and the end of the school year is fast approaching. 2019 has been an epic year for SADD, how encouraging is it to know hundreds of young leaders are actively promoting, campaigning and collaborating to keep young people safe on our roads!
It has been a busy year and our SADD team are looking forward to a bit of a break over summer...as we are sure you are too. BUT we want to make sure that things are on track to carry on the momentum of this year into next.
Firstly, a big shout out and ka pai to all our year 13’s and those who have been involved with SADD, that are now moving on from school! We are so proud of the work you have done, and know that you will smash it in whatever you choose to do next year.
Before you move on and before that ‘summer brain’ takes over, now is the time to pass on your wisdom and top hacks for running SADD in your school. Of course our SADD team will most definitely be around next year to support people, but nobody knows your school like you do. You will know the best teachers to get on board, where to run activities, what works and what doesn’t. You get the drift, don’t let those little gold bits of info die with you leaving...set up your future SADD group for success.
We asked one of our National Leaders Caleb from St Kevin’s in Oamaru about how ‘Passing the torch’ works at his school.
Caleb Jopson, St Kevin’s College
Your school has a really good way of making sure that SADD carries on smoothly year to year, can you explain how it works?
Each year the current year 13 leader(s) along with the teacher in charge, identify potential year 12 leaders who would be interested in leading the SADD group the following year. Throughout the year the current year 13 leader(s) work alongside the new year 12 leaders to mentor them in leading SADD and running activities at school, inviting them along to meetings with the deputy principal and student prefects to organise the logistics of running an activity. During term 3 the new leaders are given an opportunity to run and lead an event with the SADD team with the support of the year 13 leader(s) when needed, before we officially ‘pass the torch’ in term 4. Term 4 also provides our younger students in year 9 and 10 the opportunity to run an activity for our juniors; this gives them the chance to have a taste of what leading SADD is like in year 12 and 13.
What advice would you have to someone in year 13 (or who is leaving) about how to pass on the torch, or hand over the reigns well?
Identify 1 or 2 passionate student leaders early on in the year and mentor them throughout your time as a leader so they have the skills, and know the processes to run SADD well. Before you finish up your time as a SADD leader have a meeting with your new leaders and teacher in charge to identify what worked well throughout the year and brainstorm a vision/goal for the following year.
If you could give all those who will be staying on or starting out with SADD in 2020 one piece of encouragement, what would it be?
Don’t give up! Sometimes it can be difficult to plan and organise activities, especially when they don’t get the buy in from student leaders or staff; don’t let this stop you from persisting and running amazing activities. You all have the potential to lead amazing SADD groups and make a positive change in your community!
If you’re leaving - Remember to pass on your knowledge.
If you are taking over the reigns - Track down the current leader(s) and ask them a million questions and write down what went well this year and what you’d like to build on for next.
“Leaders don’t create more followers, they create more leaders”
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