By Sibaal Jilani, Student Experience & Housing Programs Assistant and Peer Leader
The ELI Student Leadership Team is a space where students in Renison’s (ELI) get to grow—both in their confidence using English and in their leadership skills. Over the course of a semester, students met every other week to build together an event for the wider Renison and UݮƵ community. It’s hands-on, collaborative, and, and, as I came to learn while leading the team through both the Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 semesters, incredibly heartwarming.
I first learned about the Leadership Team through my role as an ELI Peer Leader. As a peer leader, I was already familiar with connecting with students at events and during check-ins, but being asked to actually lead a structured learning experience? That felt a bit daunting. I wasn’t sure I was ready to guide other students through something so involved. But as it turned out, running the ELI Leadership Team became the most rewarding experience of my time as a peer leader.
In our very first meetings with both the Fall and Winter semester groups, I asked everyone to think about what makes a good leader. We each drew our own interpretation—most of the drawings were hilariously bad, but that only made it better. We laughed, we bonded, and without realizing it, we’d already started learning. That set the tone for the rest of our time together: low-pressure, high-fun, and full of meaningful little moments.
One of my favourite sessions with both groups was the one where we focused on communication skills. I brought out a bunch of strings and a rubber band, and challenged students to work together to lift and stack paper cups into a pyramid using only those tools. It was chaotic in the best way—and got everyone talking, laughing, and collaborating.
A group from the Winter Leadership team presents their interpretation of what makes a good leader
The Fall ELI Leadership Team takes on the team communication challenge.
What made the experience even more special was how intimate it felt. The Leadership Team is usually a small group, which means everyone gets to know each other really well. There’s room for every voice to be heard, and it doesn’t take long before people start opening up, joking around, and sharing more of themselves. Our group was packed with personality, and our bi-weekly meetings felt less like a task and more like a hangout with friends where something meaningful just happened to get done.
For the Fall group, we organized the Culture and Sustainability Fair, a project that gave students the chance to showcase both their creativity and knowledge. The fair’s theme focused on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they apply to different cultures and countries. We had students from the Middle East, East Asia, and Latin America, each bringing unique perspectives from their cultures. One of our brainstorming sessions even turned into an impromptu geography lesson, as students shared their knowledge about sustainability practices from their home countries.
The result was a fair that was a fusion of cultures and ideas—true testament to the group’s creativity. Students designed visually engaging displays, put together thoughtful presentations, and led conversations about how sustainability can be approached in different ways. It wasn’t just about giving information—it was about making it interactive, educational, and fun.
The Winter group planned to celebrate World Happiness Day. The students worked hard on designing colourful tri-fold boards and brainstorming interactive activities to promote well-being amongst the Renison community. The Winter team went all out—balloon animals, a try-not-to-laugh challenge, Chinese fortune telling, and even homemade tanghulu (sugar-coated fruit on sticks). Pro tip we learned the hard way: making tanghulu is fun... just be careful not to burn yourself with melted sugar. Oops.
Despite the occasional hiccup, those moments of trial and teamwork were where the magic happened. Every week was filled with laughter, growth, and the kind of energy that reminded me why I love being a part of this community.
The experience wasn’t just about “being a leader”—it was about practicing skills that’ll stick with students long after the program, from navigating group dynamics to planning and executing a public event.
In both semesters, we wrapped up by talking about how to translate their experience into a resume. It was important to me that students saw just how meaningful their contributions were—not just in the moment, but for their futures. We talked through examples, practiced writing bullet points, and celebrated how far everyone had come.
If you’re thinking about joining the ELI Leadership Team—or even just getting more involved at Renison—do it. You’ll build something real with your peers, learn more than you expect, and maybe even surprise yourself along the way.
Huge thanks to Thalia, the Student Experience Coordinator, for all the support, and to all the students who made the ELI Leadership Team such an amazing experience. You all brought so much energy and creativity—it wouldn’t have been the same without you!To learn more about the ELI Student Leadership Team, visit our ELI Student Leadership Team webpage.