Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu admitted he was “preaching to the choir” Monday in the LSU Student Union. Landrieu spoke to high school juniors and seniors attending the Louisiana Youth Seminar about what it takes to be a leader. The week’s theme of “scouting for leadership” was not lost on Landrieu. “This [seminar] experience is an important exercise,” Landrieu said. “This is serious. Through all that you do you develop leadership skills.” Landrieu spoke about hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the legacy each will leave in state history. He said while there are disparities in how the storms affected different communities, the ripple effect of devastation has put a strain on the state as whole, and changed the lives of everyone. “Cameron Parish got leveled just like Plaquemine,” Landrieu said. “It’s important to remember the pressure on Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Alexandria and Natchitoches, too. We need to learn to act as one state and speak with one voice.” Landrieu said it is up to the youth of the state to decide if the effects of the storms will be positive or negative in the long run. He said there is only one thing that separates leaders and followers. “Courage extends to everything in life,” Landrieu said. “Deep, deep down in your soul, there is an inner voice that tells you to act, to stick to your beliefs, to stand in the face of criticism or even stand alone. You can’t lead without it. Courage separates those that talk the talk from those that walk the walk.” Landrieu said leaders make mistakes, but the courage to act alone has redeeming qualities. The most important thing, Landrieu said, is to make an impact in your area. “The best way to change the world is by changing your world,” Landrieu said. “You can’t control what other people do, but you can control what you do.” Landrieu said typically people are content to sit as opposed to acting. He asked the 199 students in attendance to come up with one idea and make it a reality. He said the idea can be as simple as cleaning a street, as long as the student saw it through to completion. Landrieu said a prime example is the Katrina Crew, a grassroots effort in New Orleans that began as an effort to clean one street that became a 200-person mission to clean up the whole city of New Orleans. “It will be a sad day if years from now you say, ‘I wish I would have…'” Landrieu said. “[You need to be able to say] I’m glad that I did.” Landrieu said Louisiana has plenty of problems for leaders to address. “[Louisiana is] a state of ridicule,” Landrieu said. “It’s tops at what is worst and worst at what is best.” Landrieu said the state can be saved by the next generation of leaders in all fields. “This state will go wherever you take it,” Landrieu said. “If you do nothing, it will stay still, which is less than its potential. We need you.” Landrieu also said he plans to continue to do what he can, saying he will run for re-election as Lieutenant Governor. He said his focus will continue to be the tourism industry.
_____Contact David Hebert at [email protected]