The Rotary Youth Leadership Development Competition conducted by Rotary International received over 2000 applicants from students aged between 16-18 this year. This competition involved a three stage interview selection process to access my own leadership qualities and knowledge of current affairs. I won at the regional level (school stage) advancing to the local level (Rotary Club finals) and then to the national level (Zone finals).
I was among three others who succeeded in the Zone final, who will participate along with 21 other students selected across the whole of Ireland (i.e. North and South ) to participate in a week long Leadership Development Programme (LDP). This includes a visit to the Dáil, meeting the Taoiseach, Senators/TDs and sitting in an assembly session. We will spend time preparing for Euroscola at the European Parliament Office in Dublin. We will then be travelling to Belfast, visiting Stormont to meet MLAs and also to sit in an assembly session. We will visit Belfast City Hall.
Our final destination is the European Parliament at Strasbourg. Here, students from other European countries will join us to debate EU issues in the Euroscola programme. This would be a great opportunity to meet students from other countries and will enable me to further develop my leadership skills.