By: NICOLAS FIERRO
Salina Post
A nationwide federally funded educational program that helps high school students learn more about themselves as they prepare for college, was invited for a 'personality workshop' at the campus of KSU Salina this past Tuesday.
Upward Bound, part of the 'TRIO' programs by the U.S. Department of Education was invited to be apart of a workshop that helps high school students (incoming 9-12th graders) learn about what personality/temperament type they align towards. Volunteer, Kay Quinn was the leading advocate in making the workshop possible.
Before the workshop came into fruition, Quinn read the book "Personality Plus" by Florence Littauer and presented it to Upward Bound Academic Services Coordinator for KSU Salina, Brandi Smith. Smith enjoyed the material and collaborated ideas with Quinn to start a workshop that would help students improve on their soft skills.
In order to make the workshop possible, at least 2 other volunteers had to be on board along with Quinn, Smith and Director of Upward Bound for KSU Salina Monshonda Booker. Prior to the workshop, each participant/volunteer had to fill out a one-page personality quiz. This would help identify a temperament/personality type each volunteer was keen towards. The volunteers were also known as 'actors,' as they would portray the specific temperament/personality type during the workshop for the students.
When the workshop took place Booker, Smith and volunteers (Quinn, Jacob Brown and Gary Demuth) came together to make it a 'success.'
"The workshop was a huge success and the kids were really engaged," said Smith. "They (students) were really excited to see what personality types they and their friends were."
Students in the workshop filled out the same quiz as the volunteers and were divided in groups evenly depending on the type of temperament/personality that would fit with their assigned 'actor.'
The personality types included; 'Popular Sanguine Personality,' 'Perfect Melancholy Personality,' 'Powerful Choleric Personality' and 'Peaceful Phlegmatic Personality.'
“The students seemed interested and engaged," said Quinn. "It is always exciting to see students learn more about themselves."
Smith commented on how this workshop was 'one of the best workshops that Upward Bound has probably ever had.'
"Our goal for this workshop was to help our students discover and appreciate each other's temperament," said Booker. "The workshop was engaging and our students demonstrated thoughtful reflections, as they learned to harness their strengths and navigate challenges when collaborating with temperaments."
Booker also commented on some of the key takeaways Upward Bound took from the workshop.
"By blending students with different temperaments and assigning balanced roles, we fostered this workshop that would mirror real-world dynamics," said Booker. "This environment encouraged respect of individual differences and cultivated essential skills like collaborations, empathy and effective communication. Through meaningful team-building activities our students experienced first-hand, how understanding and embracing personality differences can lead to personal growth and stronger group cohesion."
Smith and Booker were representing the Upward Bound program that oversees 4 target school areas, through a grant that includes; Ell-Saline, Clay Center, Lincoln and Newton.
Upward Bound helps incoming 9-12th graders navigate high school, as they prepare them for the college level. Once students have graduate high school, Upward Bound tracks their students for 6 more years on their performance, as they navigate through the college scene.
For more information about Upward Bound, click here.