When Étude High School needed to select one student to attend the Wisconsin Leadership Institute earlier this year, Julian Panzer was the natural choice. The only tough part was convincing Panzer himself.

Held the last week of June at Carroll University in Waukesha, the event brings together high school students to discuss weighty issues like gun rights, engage in team-building activities that encourage communication and consideration, and generally hone their leadership skills.

Panzer said he was shocked he was chosen, but now a few months later he’s reflecting on the ways the experience changed him.

“I definitely see the world more positively now,” he said. “I’m thinking about being a leader more instead of just sitting back and not talking. I’ve been more out there; a lot more talkative now. I enjoyed seeing other points of view now.

Teacher Addie Degenhardt, who was one of the teachers involved in the selection, said Panzer stood out for a number of reasons.

“One of things we talked about was the positivity Julian brought to school, his willingness to engage in things we were doing – team building activities, participating in club activities, advisory,” she said. “He was engaged in what we were doing. We also talked about wanting to pick someone who would be willing to use that information and give back to the school.

That’s just what Panzer is doing now, even though it’s only his second year at Étude. One way he’s doing that is by using the discussion and debate skills he burnished at the event.

For example, the students were assembled and given a heavy topic, such as gay rights or reproductive rights. For every question that was asked, students who agreed stepped forward and those who didn’t stayed where they were.

“I was even surprised with how mature everyone was,” Panzer said. “No one was getting into arguments; it was a normal discussion about our thoughts on different topics and trying to see other people’s point of view.

In another exercise, students were separated into groups of 10, given a long length of string and then blindfolded. Without peeking, the students had to use the string to create a shape on the ground just by communicating with each other.

Panzer said through those and other activities, he grew close to the other participants and he’s planning to take part in a reunion event this winter.

“I always thought if I shared my opinions I’d get into a fight or they’d bring me down about it,” he said. “Now I’m less scared of people’s eyes on me. I want to do more clubs now, use those skills.”