At Rowland Hall, we embrace opportunities to help students build real-world connections and leadership skills.

One of the most meaningful ways we do that is by providing students with chances to attend conferences with peers from across the country—experiences that allow them to exchange ideas, build community, and grow as leaders.

“When students are able to learn alongside peers from schools across the country, they not only sharpen their own thinking and leadership skills, they help others recognize the good work they are up to in Utah as well,” said Dr. Chandani Patel, director of equity and inclusion. “These experiences are transformative, often resulting in lifelong learning and friendships. It's really special to see the impact of conferences on our students’ understanding of themselves and others.”

In late January, a group of upper schoolers—11th graders Elayna Hoglund, Elidi Lawson, and Hayden Thompson; 10th graders Beck LaBore, Mia Zhang, and Mina Bailey; and ninth graders Gael Alfaro and Shea Gainer—were invited to attend the Roots to Routes: A Call Forward national conference in Philadelphia. This conference is described as an opportunity for independent school K–12 educators, administrators, and high school students to engage in bold learning; transformative dialogue; deep reflection on self, school, and society; and skill-building for strategic change.

The experience wasn’t without bumps. While the group, accompanied by Dr. Patel and Upper School Learning Specialist Shannon Foy, was scheduled to arrive in Philadelphia on Sunday, January 25, a severe winter storm on the East Coast caused their flight to be canceled. Rather than miss the conference, the students came together to rework their travel, knowing that even a shortened experience would be valuable. When they finally arrived in Philadelphia on Tuesday, January 27, they jumped right in, dedicating themselves to their learning and to getting to know fellow attendees.

“Not only did they show up to make Rowland Hall proud, everywhere they went, people knew who they were and the determination they exhibited to get to the conference,” said Dr. Patel. “They are all shining examples of what the world needs.”

Below, two of the students, Elayna and Hayden, reflect on Roots to Routes and what the experience meant to them.

What did you learn at Roots to Routes? 

Leadership is not about authority or recognition, but it is about stepping forward when something needs to be done, even if no one is watching. Leadership is about listening just as much as it is about speaking, uplifting others rather than competing with them, and turning ideas into action that serves a greater purpose.—Elayna Hoglund, class of 2027

Elayna: During a discussion, I had posed the question, "What is leadership?" I mentioned how we use the word leadership every day; it is printed on school flyers, used in speeches, and put on resumes, but what does it even mean? I learned at this conference that leadership is not about authority or recognition, but it is about stepping forward when something needs to be done, even if no one is watching. Leadership is about listening just as much as it is about speaking, uplifting others rather than competing with them, and turning ideas into action that serves a greater purpose.

I learned that leadership can be loud, but it can also be quiet. At this conference, I saw leadership in the quiet moments, in the people who stayed behind to clean up after bowling night, or the people who sat with someone sitting alone in our family groups, or who even walked me to a room I couldn't find. I saw leadership that was loud, and I saw leadership that was quiet, both of which made a lasting impact.

Hayden: I learned that there is hope for our world’s future, that if we can just give everyone who attended and whom I met a few more years, they will show up in our society as a force to bring change. I learned that I am not crazy for thinking this way and having hard-to-achieve goals for our future. I learned that it is possible to walk into a room of strangers and feel comfortable and be able to slip into an easy rhythm and banter with them. I learned what kind of leader I am, could be, want to be, and might need to be. I learned that I am not one of few people who use their brains and enjoy doing hard things and pushing the boundaries of what we are told we can do. Most importantly I learned that no matter who you are, how much you missed, how many planes it took you to get to wherever you are, you can belong there. It doesn’t matter if you're from the other side of the country or the next block over, you can belong there, and you do belong there. Whatever route you took/take to get there, you can set down your roots and thrive.

What are some reflections you’d like to share?

Elayna: One reflection I continue to think about is how powerful a genuine connection can be, even in a short amount of time. Because our flight was canceled, we were only able to attend the conference for one day. At first, that felt disappointing. It felt like maybe we were missing out, but instead, that one day became even more meaningful. From the moment we arrived, people welcomed us without hesitation. Even though we were only there briefly, no one made us feel like outsiders. People went out of their way to include us in conversations, to invite us into their groups, and to make sure we felt like we belonged and had something special to offer to the conference. That immediate sense of warmth showed me that leadership is not about how long you’ve been somewhere and held that role, but it is about how intentionally you treat the people around you.

I learned that there is hope for our world’s future, that if we can just give everyone who attended and whom I met a few more years, they will show up in our society as a force to bring change.—Hayden Thompson, class of 2027

I also reflected on the effort our group put into simply getting there. When our flight was canceled, it was decided that our group was not going to physically go to the conference in Pennsylvania. However, instead of giving up, we sent emails, made calls, searched for new flights/alternative options, and problem-solved together to eventually split ourselves up into two groups to go on two separate flights. That experience itself felt like leadership. It required persistence, teamwork, and believing that something meaningful was worth fighting for, even when it felt very unlikely.

Being there for only 24 hours taught me that impact doesn’t depend on time, but on intention. The friends we made, the conversations we had, and the growth we experienced did not depend on how long we were in Pennsylvania, but on how fully we showed up.

Why was attending this conference meaningful? 

Elayna: Attending this conference was meaningful not just because of what I learned about leadership, but also because of what I experienced firsthand. I experienced our group’s resilience when our travel plans fell apart and we didn’t quit. I experienced community when people welcomed us immediately (and when I say immediately, I mean immediately; people were literally cheering and screaming once we set foot into the hotel). I experienced leadership in both discussions and simple acts of kindness. The fact that we fought to get there, even when it didn’t feel possible, reminded me that growth often requires uncertainty. The way we were all TOGETHER, even if we weren’t close in school or had never even talked before, also showed me that leadership creates belonging instantly. This conference was meaningful because we all belonged; we all felt like it too.

What is one interaction, experience, question, or moment from this conference that will stick with you for the rest of your life?

Hayden: I remember so many moments. First, the group we met in the lobby when we had landed and arrived at the airport, who shouted, “Utah!” and gave us all hugs when we asked where the check-in was.

The moment I walked into my house and everyone’s eyes were on me but I felt safe and relaxed and it was as if I had been their classmate for years.

Bowling in the basement and just getting to comfortably talk with other students and get to know what their lives are like—not necessarily related to the conference, but just personal interactions.

The last activity we did in our houses, where we made eye contact with someone and wrote them a note, and how mine said that my smile was radiating. And then I realized that I hadn’t stopped smiling since I had arrived!