Leadership can shape the way you see yourself, your relationships, and your future. At Cumorah Academy, students explore leadership through faith, service, personal responsibility, and their Life Vision.
These leadership lessons can help young adults build a stronger foundation for the decisions they will make throughout their lives.
Leadership Begins With a Vision
For Veronica Espinet from Venezuela, one of the most meaningful leadership lessons came from creating her Life Vision.
“For me, it was very emotional because I learned that my life vision is not only about me. It also involves other people in my life, like my family and friends, as well as my future family.”
She realized that her goals should not focus only on personal achievements. Her future will also affect the people around her.
“If I don’t have that mindset, it becomes selfish,” she explained.
Veronica also learned the importance of including God in her plans.
“If you don’t work with God as your partner, nothing will happen. He is my best friend in this. I know I can count on Him if I am stuck on some points in my life vision.”
Her experience shows how leadership lessons can shape their relationships, priorities, and sense of purpose.
Leadership Means Serving Others
Another important lesson at Cumorah Academy focuses on the difference between a Giver and a Taker.
A Giver willingly supports and serves others. They share their talents, help carry other people’s burdens, and look for ways to make a positive difference.
A Taker follows the opposite path. They focus primarily on themselves and may become driven by greed, arrogance, power, or pride.
This concept introduces students to one of the semester’s first leadership lessons for an important reason: to encourage them to become Givers throughout their lives.
Beatriz Fernandes from Brazil connected this idea with her own experience.
“I learned something I loved: to be more patient with one another and to put other people’s interests as a priority.”
She also discovered how leaders can remain consistent by living according to their values, caring about other people’s feelings, and recognizing the importance of small things.
These leadership lessons show that serving others does not always require a dramatic action. Sometimes, leadership begins with patience, kindness, attention, and a willingness to put someone else first.
Leadership Is More Than a Position
Leadership can mean different things to different people.
Some young adults may not even consider themselves leaders. Social pressure can make them feel that they need a specific title, position, or achievement before they can lead.
Cumorah Academy challenges that idea.
Students learn that leadership can begin with the choices they make every day. Their decisions can influence their families, friendships, workplaces, communities, and future families.
These leadership lessons encourage students to recognize their potential and understand that their actions can create an impact far beyond themselves.
André de Oliveira from Brazil experienced this encouragement directly.
“Patrick and Alysse inspired me and encouraged me to go forward and keep trying to be better.”
His words reflect an important part of the experience at Cumorah Academy. Students do not simply learn about leadership. They meet people who encourage them to grow and apply what they learn.
Faith Creates a Strong Foundation
Faith in God and Jesus Christ remains an important part of the foundation at Cumorah Academy.
The story behind the school also reflects this foundation.
On the same day and at the same time, Patrick and Allyse Sedivy each felt a spiritual prompting. They were in different rooms of their home and did not know what the other person was experiencing.
When they later shared their impressions, their message aligned:
“We need to start a school in the Czech Republic.”
At the time, the idea felt ambitious. Starting a leadership academy in another country required faith, sacrifice, and long-term commitment. Yet Patrick and Allyse trusted that a vision rooted in service could unfold step by step.
Their story reminds students that meaningful goals often require patience, faith, and consistent action.
Build a Life That Serves Others
The leadership lessons students receive at Cumorah Academy can influence the way they approach their future.
Putting others first can help young adults develop empathy and a stronger character. A leader who considers other people’s feelings can encourage others instead of putting them down.
Patrick and Allyse consistently teach that leadership does not depend on position or authority. Instead, it begins with a willingness to serve.
Patrick, who was born in Canada and graduated from Brigham Young University, has an engineering background. As he often jokes, however, he never actually worked as an engineer.
Together, Patrick and Allyse work to prepare young adults for the challenges ahead. Their goal is to help students discover their potential, strengthen their faith, and develop a vision for the lives they want to build.
These leadership lessons can become part of that foundation.
You do not need a title to start leading. You can begin by serving your family, encouraging a friend, caring about someone’s needs, and making choices that reflect your values.
Your future leadership can start with the person you choose to become today.
