HSU Students Attend CASL Conference

Every year, the Christian Association of Student Leaders (CASL) organizes a conference aimed at empowering students to be purposeful leaders and make a positive impact on their campus and communities. 

The location is shared among the Baptist universities, and this year, it was hosted at East Texas Baptist University.

Hardin-Simmons students and student-life staff attended the conference. Below are some of their takeaways.

Maddox Carr, junior music education major: 

Reason for attending the conference: Initially, I was not fully aware of what this conference entailed, but I wanted to attend because I thought it would deepen my walk with Christ and give me a greater understanding of what it means to be a leader. 

The biggest takeaway from the conference: My biggest takeaway from the conference was the feeling of thankfulness I felt for where I am now. I saw different perspectives from other Baptist colleges and got to learn how my faith and what I believe could be a positive influence on all that I do, including my job as a Resident Assistant. 

Did you strengthen any relationships or skills? My relationship with God was strengthened thanks to this conference. I realized that I need to rely on Him through the ups and downs in life. It was also nice to see other RAs talk about their environments and strengths.  

Did you learn anything you are excited to apply to aspects of your life? The insights I gained inspired me to grow and be more intentional with reaching out and connecting with my residents.

How does attending this conference enhance your experience at HSU? The opportunity to travel to a different school and see the perspectives of students at similar schools, bonding with my school friends, and simply having fun are core experiences that I will hold dearly. 

Ethan Arias, sophomore accounting and finance major:

Reason for attending the conference: I wanted to attend because I thought it would be a fun experience and I would learn to be a better leader. 

The biggest takeaway from the conference: My biggest takeaway from the conference was that to be a good leader, you must surrender yourself completely to Jesus Christ. Being meek does not mean you are weak. Instead, it shows that you put your strength in God’s hands and submit to his will. 

Did you strengthen any relationships or skills? Of course. I made some new friends and learned how to share the Gospel in a very simple way. 

Did you learn anything you are excited to apply to aspects of your life? By attending the conference, I was reminded to live for Jesus no matter where I am or what my role or position is. 

Mikael Echeveste, junior strategic communication major:

Reason for attending the conference: I attended the conference because it was a great opportunity to represent HSU. I was able to take part in the CASL conference last year, and it was eye-opening for me. 

The biggest takeaway from the conference: My biggest takeaway from the conference is that everyone faces trials and tribulations.  

Did you strengthen any relationships or skills? I got to strengthen my connections with my peers on campus and make new relationships with people outside of campus. 

Did you learn anything you are excited to apply to aspects of your life? I got to learn about the power of worship through one of the workshops offered at the conference. Furthermore, in another workshop, I found out that I needed to have some solitude in my life.  

How does attending this conference enhance your experience at HSU? Attending the CASL conference enhanced my ability to impact campus by letting me bring new perspectives and ideas to my peers.