What you're doing is not as important as why you're doing it.

Esfir Goncharova is the student council president at Steinbach Regional Secondary School and she says that statement is one of the biggest points she took away from the annual Leadership Conference at the International Peace Gardens last week. Goncharova was accompanied by a four other members of student council.

"I really liked Rebecca [Powell's] speech," notes Goncharova about the leadership consultant and educator speaker. "She was saying, why we're doing what we're doing, not what we're doing, is what's really important because when you know why you're doing something the what becomes much bigger and it has purpose."

Teacher Maya Radunz says the conference brought the student council group closer as they spent time learning and growing together as leaders and people.

"I just think it was really nice to see how contagious spirit is and the whole leadership thing in a group, to run a group well, but also to be a leader in the school in terms of promoting positivity and a good attitude towards being in school and taking part in celebrating."

Goncharova says it was a great opportunity and is excited to have event ideas and additional leadership knowledge to implement during the remainder of the school year. She adds it was encouraging to be around other school leaders and gain ideas and perspective about how other schools are running their student council groups.