ABSTRACT
Student leadership is one of the most remarkable aspects of alternative breaks. A college education develops knowledge and experience in both values and skills that lead to citizenship, so graduates can effectively contribute to meeting the needs of their own communities, whether that be a family, workplace, neighborhood, city, or region. Colleges and universities rely heavily on credibility and reputation, and a widely publicized incident in the press devalues alumni degrees and future enrollment. The Astins capture the idea that leadership is about developing personal qualities that support effective collective action. Student leadership allows the program to continue growing without alternative breaks completely overwhelming this staff position. Student trainers of site leaders can be more effective because they are teaching things they have experienced firsthand and are thus more credible to their peers. Student leaders strengthen the justice foundation of alternative breaks by setting an example for their peers; their commitments can help others see active citizenship as attainable.
