Leadership Talk with Pine Bluffs High School Juniors

On March 31st, I met five outstanding juniors from Pine Bluffs through Junior Leadership of Laramie County.

After introductions, we quickly discussed what County Commissioners do each day. More importantly, we stressed the value of continued learning. Whether in college, trade school, or by taking every chance to grow on the job, learning shouldn’t end after high school.

Building on that, I also stressed that strong leadership starts with self-understanding. Developing emotional intelligence is key to interacting with others and leading positively. I encouraged them to learn from life’s lessons, build relationships, and learn from those around them, then use these lessons to move toward their goals.

To illustrate these points, I shared a bit of my own path—from using basic math skills in high school to manage budgets and inventory as a meat department manager, to taking report writing classes at LCCC while working as a deputy, and later attending the FBI National Academy, where I focused on things like critical thinking and emotional intelligence. Along the way, I took every chance I could to learn—whether it was training on conflict resolution, working with the mentally ill, or just dealing with people in tough situations.

All of those experiences, accumulated over time, helped shape the path that led me to serve as a County Commissioner today.

I appreciate speaking with these students about their goals. Laramie County has a strong group of young leaders.