Inspiration, Connection and Moving Beyond the Comfort Zone: This Year’s Leadership Conference

Dec. 5, 2025

On Friday, Nov. 14, Dallas College science major and work-study student Andrew Prichard didn't just attend the Student Leadership Institute Fall Leadership Conference — he went full-on content creator, stepping way out of his comfort zone. His mission: takeover the official @DallasCollegeStudents Instagram account, where he dropped exclusive, behind-the-scenes content for followers throughout the day.

The Mission

Prichard went into influencer mode at the all-day event at the Fairmont Hotel with more than 330 students in attendance.

“I was so nervous leading up to it because I didn’t know what to expect,” Andrew admitted. “But working with David was awesome. After meeting and hanging out with him, I don’t know why I was worrying!”

David Fallavollita, Dallas College assistant director who manages the newly rebranded student social media account, coached Prichard on video tips, scouting the best spots for shooting and adding personality to every post. Together, they filmed, refilmed and made sure the vibe was authentic and fun.

The Theme

This year’s conference theme was “Soar Beyond Limits: Where Resilient Leaders Take Flight.” It was about bold vision, fearless leadership and the power of resilience. Students from all campuses arrived by bus to attend a day packed with workshops, networking and inspiration, designed to help them grow as leaders.

Big Takeaways

Prichard said his biggest takeaway was about “being comfortable in the uncomfortable.” From stepping into the influencer role to diving into leadership sessions, he discovered that growth happens when you push past your limits.

His favorite workshop was “Confidence and Communication” presented by the All Stars Project of Dallas.

“The presenters had great energy,” Prichard said. “It was all about rolling with the punches.”

There were fun games, teamwork exercises and tips for moving past adversity. Another standout was “Mental Health/Resilience: Bouncing Back Better” by Louis Whatley.

“He talked about framing your mindset — how you look at things can determine the outcome,” said Prichard. “If you focus on the bad, you can get stuck in a rut. That resonated with a lot of stuff going on in my life.”

He also highlighted Josh Eason’s session, “Fixed vs. Growth Mindset: Rethinking How You Think,” which focused on overcoming self-doubt and embracing collaboration.

“Sometimes you can’t control what happens in your life, but you can control what happens next,” said Prichard.

Why It Matters

Prichard summed it up perfectly: “The speakers showed us that we all come from similar backgrounds, whether we think we do or not. Each of us has the potential to be a leader or CEO in our own respective fields.”

Ready To Soar?

If Andrew Prichard can go from nervous to confident content creator in one day, imagine what you can do. Keep an eye out for next year’s Leadership Conference — you might just surprise yourself.

Find out more about the Student Leadership Institute: DallasCollege.edu/slife/leadership.

Watch for more student takeovers @DallasCollegeStudents on Instagram or Facebook.

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