Leadership & Character | Winston Salem, NC

A group of Wake Foresters gathered over dinner in Winston Salem, North Carolina, on February 23, 2018, to discuss Leadership & Character.

Overview and highlights of our Call to Conversation:

• Throughout our conversation we discussed what the definition of character is, how it is lived and demonstrated, and how we can ensure we pass character on to the next generation. The idea that character is how we treat others and what we do when no one is looking also lead to discussion based around the fact that with technology and social media today it feels as though someone is always looking.
• Stories were shared about people who maintained character during significant hardships and tragedies, which demonstrated the idea that “characters is who you are no matter what happens to you.”
• The theme of “relentless giving” and caring for others was present through many of the stories, whether it was a specific instance, as in the case of a natural disaster like a hurricane, or a story about an individual who lives their life in this manner.
• The stories tied back to Wake Forest and Fraternity/Sorority Life in a few ways. One was through the stories of people of character coming together to initiate change through collective action. Another was through the spirit of Pro Humanitate and efforts to provide access to role models and cultivate character among those who may have limited access to people who live their life as a positive example of character, as well as the ideas that character “leads you to act whether or not it is convenient for you.”