MAY 2025 NEWSLETTER
- Antonio Tsialas Foundation
- May 1
- 4 min read
Updated: May 1
Embracing College Life with Joy and Compassion
Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
As you prepare for college, we encourage you to take some time to consider your approach to this exciting new chapter of your life. College is a wonderful opportunity to explore new ideas, join groups, create memories and form lifelong friendships. It should be a joy-filled and exciting time of life!
We hope you will embark on your college journey with great pleasure while keeping in mind your own safety and self-compassion. Now is the time to start thinking about finding the best college clubs and organizations and taking steps to prevent hazing.
1. Remember the reasons for your interest to join
Think about your goals when exploring social or athletic organizations to join. Ask yourself what you are looking for: do you want to make new friends? Learn new skills? Engage in group activities? Develop an artistic, academic, or athletic interest? Give back to the community?
2. Learn about groups you may want to join
Research organizations before you consider joining. Read up on and ask about its traditions for welcoming new members and observe how new members are treated. Connect with your own values and see if they are aligned with the group you are considering. If an organization’s actions or traditions don’t meet your values and goals, you can always find other groups to join.
3. Practice self-compassion
Choose organizations that value who you are and the gifts you possess. You always have the power to say NO to organizations that engage in dangerous behaviors or activities. Make your own decision about which groups to join. You don’t have to follow the crowd.
4. Be kind to yourself and others
Take into account your values and boundaries. Understand and respect both your personal boundaries and those of others. Never be afraid to step in to defend or assist when you see someone struggling or in distress.
Remember that in your life journey every choice you make has consequences and every action contributes to change. Together we say yes to life!
ATLF Ambassadors Corner
As an ATLF Ambassador who recently transferred schools, I can provide a unique perspective on how the leadership skills that I learned as an Ambassador have positively impacted both me and my new school community.
During the first few weeks at my new school, I quickly realized I would have many opportunities to decide who to surround myself with. I had chances to join clubs, take classes, and play sports that would have seemed foreign to me just a few months prior. While this was overwhelming at first, applying what I had learned during the ambassador meetings allowed me to understand that I did not have to be perfect in everything.
The program taught me that to positively impact my community, I sometimes just needed to be kind to others or offer support to someone in need.
This new philosophy to make positive change in my school allowed me not only to have a favorable impact on some of my new classmates but also to build respect between me and my peers that eventually led to friendship and collaboration. Many of these positive experiences can be tied back to the mindset I have built during my time as an ambassador.
Michael Goff, ATLF Ambassador
APRIL PAST EVENTS
The Power of Empathy in Action: A Talk on Compassionate Leadership
Last month, the ATLF, together with our amazing ambassador Ella Barnett, presented the program module “Preventing Hazing through Compassionate Leadership” to the freshman class at Cushman Schools in five back-to-back sessions.
Ella inspired students to lead with compassion by sharing her story and the impact that her work at ATLF has had in her life and leadership journey.
It is essential to normalize conversations about hazing with a compassionate approach. By empowering our students to recognize, prevent and reject harmful group dynamics, we can foster a safer and healthier community.
We truly appreciate Cushman’s leadership for prioritizing and providing this vital education to their students.
Thank you to Mrs. Geimer, Mr. Romanik, Mrs. Lange, and Mrs. Keenan for their unwavering support.
Together we lead with love and compassion! 🙏🏽💛💙
To book a program at your school email info@antoniotsialasfoundation.org
Hazing Prevention through Compassionate Leadership for Seniors at Miami Country Day School
On April 11, 2025, we were honored to share our program “A journey from Hazing to Compassionate Leadership” with the incredible class of 2025 at Miami Country Day School! We are very proud of our amazing ambassadors Lila Erez and Michael B. Mcpherson for sharing their compassionate leadership journeys.
A huge thank you to Mrs. Carroll Kelly and to the administration, faculty, community, and students for their warm welcome and for prioritizing this education to their Senior students and for their commitment to preventing hazing through compassionate leadership at MCDS and beyond!
Step into Leadership with Compassion & Purpose!
Are you a high school student passionate about creating positive change? Join us for an upcoming Online Info Session where we’ll share how our Ambassador Program is shaping the next generation of leaders.
🔹 What You’ll Learn:
The power of Compassionate Leadership and how it can transform your approach to leadership
Strategies for preventing hazing and fostering a safe, supportive environment for all
Insights from past program participants about their journey and impact
Ready to Lead with Purpose? Don’t miss out on this opportunity to grow, connect, and make a meaningful difference.
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The future of leadership starts with you—let's make it compassionate!
The ATLF Compassionate Leadership program at Ransom Everglades
On April 17, 2025, ATLF Ambassadors, Christopher, Garrett, Nate, and Quin led a Collaboration Module for Sophomores as part of our Compassionate Leadership program at RE. Students practiced collaboration by defining their goals to support personal and group values.
Hearing students share their learning was truly inspiring!
We thank the leadership team and the entire Ransom Everglades community, especially Mrs. Perez-Gonzalez and Mr. Adatto, for their continued support in educating students the values of compassionate leadership.
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