For a middle school student council to be effective, it must address the unique behaviors of and situations that arise for adolescents. The development of decision-making skills, conflict resolution skills, and cooperative learning and working not only provides a framework for success as a council, but also enables students to maximize their own self-esteem. Periodically, council meetings should be viewed as training sessions that give members opportunities to learn about themselves, improve their self-concept, and develop positive strategies for leadership. In this article, the author presents a series of exercises and activities that can be part of regular council business. Advising a student council at the middle level provides educators the opportunity to teach important leadership and esteem skills. Embedding these skills into council plans and curriculum enables students to grow through friendship, partnership, and leadership.