Student-athletes at Snyder High School gather weekly with sack lunches and notebooks in hand with a shared purpose: to grow as leaders for their teams and for one another. This spring marked the launch of the second Leadership Lunch series, continuing a growing effort to reinforce that leadership is not an extra lesson. It is central to who students are becoming, on the field and beyond. The message also serves as a timely reminder for the entire community about the power of building one another up.
The most recent Leadership Lunch opened with reflections from Lady Tiger Soccer and Football student leaders, who looked back on the previous session led by Coach Anthony Gonzales. His message on fanatical effort (FE) set the tone, and students shared how that mindset is already shaping expectations, accountability, and daily effort within their teams.
Student leaders who spoke included Sierra Short, Marlynn Dominguez, and Jimena Torres from Lady Tiger Soccer, along with Gensyn Fuentes and Aiden Welsh from Football. Each stepped forward with confidence, offering honest perspectives and modeling leadership in action. Speaking in front of peers is never easy, yet each student did so with clarity and purpose. As Coach Gonzales noted, fear often keeps people quiet when leadership is needed most.
Building on that foundation, Coach Carson Ritter led a powerful session on loyalty and the barriers that can prevent leaders from stepping forward. His message was direct. Teams divided from within cannot succeed. Coach Ritter introduced what he called the “Twin Thieves of Leadership”: fear of judgment and fear of failure.
Students worked through real-life scenarios leaders face every day, sparking thoughtful discussion. One example asked how students can respond when someone criticizes their team. Student responses emphasized respect for effort, perspective, and unity. They noted that outcomes are not always within our control, but attitude and effort always are. Leadership means speaking up to build others up, especially when silence would be easier.
Coach Ritter closed by challenging students to rethink loyalty. It is a word many know, but fewer truly live out. Loyalty is action. Over the next two weeks, students were encouraged to put that belief into practice by intentionally supporting teammates, coaches, teams, and relationships.
As Leadership Lunches continue, students are reminded that leadership extends beyond athletics. It shapes classrooms, hallways, friendships, and the wider community. Snyder High School encourages students and community members alike to pause and consider a simple question: How can we build one another up today? Small actions, carried out with courage and consistency, are how strong teams and strong communities are formed.