Leadership, confidence are lessons in program
Lead America proves to be a rewarding exercise for preteen
BY BARI FAYE SIEGEL Correspondent
There was blood on the bed sheets and muddy footprints by the doorway. Clearly, the kidnapper didn't care about getting caught; his or her fingerprints were on the light switch and a crib handrail. Even the ransom note was something right out of a television show script: "Hand over the money and the baby won't be harmed."

Elliot Melcer

Calm down … this isn't a recount of one of those horrific stories we are hearing all too often these days about kidnappers for hire.

This was the scene Elliot Melcer, 12, of Lakewood, encountered on his recent Lead America experience at Bentley College near Boston. Lead America is a youth leadership organization dedicated to educating and empowering the world's next generation of leaders by inspiring and instilling in them ethical and principled leadership values, attitudes and skills.

The program is held, 10 days at a time, around the world at various colleges and universities - the perfect backdrop to instill a sense of independence and leadership, say Lead America planners. High school and middle school students can choose from a variety of career-oriented programs including business and entrepreneurship, law and the courtroom, and science and robotics. Elliot chose CSI: Forensic Science because he is a major fan of TV's "Law & Order" and enjoys the "CSI" shows, as well.

"I've always thought this was a really interesting field to learn about. I especially wanted to know more about ballistics and narcotics. And, the idea of using DNA to identify criminals seemed like a really cool thing," Elliot said.

Through a series of lectures and handson labs, Lead America participants learned how to look for clues at a crime scene, how to collect evidence, and the various ways crime scene investigators and forensic scientists process the material collected. They learned many ways to lift fingerprints from different surfaces and how DNA has changed the way crime scenes are processed now compared to only a few years ago when DNA technology was less mature.

The "coolest" thing about the program, to Elliot, was the study of forensic odontology - the proper handling, examination and evaluation of dental evidence. This type of evidence is helpful in the identification of people when there are mass fatalities, in cases of child abuse, when bite marks are pieces of evidence, when the age of a victim needs to be determined, and more.

The study of this science dates back to Paul Revere, famed for his "One if by land, two if by sea" ride during the American Revolution. Revere was also a dentist who used forensic odontology to identify fallen revolutionary soldiers.

"We learned that using odontology, investigators can make molds of a suspect's teeth that can be matched up with a bite mark," Elliot explained. "In fact, they told us about a particular case of child abuse where an 8-year-old almost died from bite marks on his back and neck. It turned out to be his mother who was biting him, and they proved it by making impressions of her teeth and matching them to the wounds. That was amazing."

Turns out, Lead America was amazing in a variety of ways for Elliot. The program was so much more than just a view of the field of forensic science.

"This program was really about leadership … living on your own without your parents and taking care of yourself for 10 days," the young man said. "It was about responsibility: finishing what you start, knowing right from wrong, and the fact that your mood really can affect the way you do things."

Elliot, a soon-to-be seventh-grader at Monmouth Academy, Howell, said mood affects confidence, and confidence is crucial to success in life.

"You don't take on new things when you are unhappy. I learned that when I'm feeling bad about myself and I have no confidence, I don't perform well. I learned that trying to stay positive really has a domino effect. When you smile and show your confidence, people look at you differently than when you are unhappy," he said.

In fact, listening to her son speak about responsibility and confidence, Elliot's mother, Gena, believes the Lead America program gave her son the experience of a lifetime.

"We learned about this program from a friend who has been going for several years, and he has gone through all the LeadAmerica sessions. I was sure this experience would further Elliot's love of learning and build on leadership and confidence skills. He came home talking about team building and being independent and making new friends. What more could I have hoped for? This was a great experience for him," she said.

At Lead America's closing ceremonies on June 24, the participants were given the chance to rise and speak about the one thing they learned most in their 10 days away from home. Not everyone stood up, but Elliot did not miss the opportunity.

"I spoke about the importance of communication. You have to express yourself with confidence," he said, readying himself for a great career in anything he chooses to pursue. "If you can't communicate well, how will the people you are leading know what you want them to do?"