Students solve 'knotty' problems

A group of middle school students are clustered in a bunch, holding hands.

Gingerly, a blond girl, who’s holding tightly to teammates with each hand, steps over another pair of linked hands. When she reaches the other side, the group pauses to assess.

It’s called “Human Knots” -- a team-building and problem-solving exercise.

The groups are made up of 7th and 8th grade student leaders from Papillion Junior High and Anderson Middle School. They were in the Papillion school’s gym Friday morning to take part in a one-day leadership workshop being held by instructors from the Nebraska Association of Student Councils state convention.

Lindsay Eisenmenger, a counselor at Papillion Junior High School, said approximately 50 students were attending.

“These are our student leaders, student council members, and they’re learning about goal setting, how to get to know other people, things they have in common, diversity, and just a basic understanding of what a leader does,” she said.

Other exercises during the day included group and individual goal setting, songs and other team-building and leadership exercises.

Kalie Whidden, a UNL student and member of NASC, was helping wrangle the event.

“It really teaches them the leadership skills that they’ll need for the rest of their life,” Whidden said. “It teaches them how to network, how to be comfortable with themselves, how to make new friends.”

Eighth-grader Shelby Pfeifer of Anderson Middle School said she was having fun.

“This is awesome,” she said. “I was hoping to meet new people.”

Papillion 7th grader Erin Bertone wanted to hone her leadership skills “so you can take action in situations, and be more of a role model to other people.”

Eisenmenger said the event was a useful tool for the students.

“This is a great time for them to network and get to know other leaders,” she said. “They’re learning skills, and about themselves and about others.”

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