This fall, Meghan Riddock began to teach a class that focuses not on what’s in history books, but rather on events transpiring in Troy. The new class, titled Introduction to Leadership, teaches students how to be leaders and even helps new students feel more at home at school. After several years of this class being offered over at Athens, Mrs. Riddock felt like it was her opportunity to teach new and helpful skills to students. Unlike other classes, Riddock says this class is different because the daily lesson plan doesn’t revolve around her and the material but instead centers on the kids who take it.

“It is very very much student driven, so my curriculum is very open [and] flexible,” Riddock said. “The students can take what they are interested in and dive deeper.”

Introduction to Leadership lets students gain real life leadership experience,. Instead of only discussing leadership in class, they go out and help students. One way that students are getting hands on experiences is from their “mentees”. Students meet with their mentees, who are usually foreign exchange students, transferred students and underclassmen, around three days a week.

“We start off by discussing what our relationships are with our mentees, and we have group discussions on what to do and how to make them feel more comfortable” junior Caitlin Smith said.

New students are the focus, and the class holds events outside of school to help them feel more at home and get students to know each other. The first of these events was the Colt Corner during Homecoming, and Riddock said there will be more events like this in the future.

“We just did our first event, where we invited students, especially our transfer students, freshmen and sophomores to come and be a part of something,” Riddock said. “We ate pizza, socialized and met new people because in such a big school, it’s easy to get lost”.

When asked about the definition of leadership Mrs. Riddock had no hesitation in her answer.

“It’s not my definition that’s important: it’s the kids’.”

Several of Riddock’s students feel that they are able to define what being a leader meant to them.

“A leader is someone who doesn’t follow,” senior Grant Labelle said. “Being a leader is one who stands up.”

Smith agrees and says that a leader needs to help people feel better.

“Helping people come to one common goal and being the one that steps up and helps everyone feel comfortable,” Smith said.

The class contains 29 students and is gaining recognition from other students who weren’t even part of the class. These students showed up to the Colt Corner to interact with friends and new students. Riddock said the class is for anyone who wants to help out the community, the school or work on new or creative ways to improve your leadership.

“I’m looking for inner passion, I don’t want these kids to do something just to put it on their resumes,” Riddock said. “This is something that has to come from within, and they have to want to be here.”