Alumni Essay 22

For the first sixteen years of my life, I lived without a voice. Not because I had nothing to say, but because I believed my voice did not deserve to be heard. Growing up surrounded by Spanish speakers, I developed a strong accent that many people struggled to understand. Instead of being supported, I was bullied from elementary school through high school. My language was treated as something foreign and “alien,” which made me feel invisible and less than others. Over time, I learned to stay quiet, afraid that my words were not good enough.

When I joined Youth Lead KC, I never expected it to change me the way it did. I assumed it would be like any other program where I would simply observe from the sidelines and do my part, but never truly speak up. I believed leadership belonged to those who were confident and outspoken, not someone like me who had spent years being silenced. I planned to stay quiet and let others take control. But this changed during my team’s Olympic project. We were asked to write down ideas that could help shape our project, and I hesitated. I thought my ideas were dumb and not worth sharing. But one of the former Youth Lead KC members, who is now a director, noticed my hesitation and asked me about my thoughts. For the first time, I felt seen. She created a space where I felt safe enough to speak, even though my voice was shaking. When I finally shared my ideas, my teammates listened, they liked them. Together we decided to build the project around what I had suggested. At that moment, something inside me shifted. I realized my voice had value. Youth Lead KC gave me more than an opportunity to participate; it gave me confidence. It taught me that my experiences, my accent, and my ideas matter. Instead of feeling ashamed of my voice, I began to embrace it. Through this program, I learned that leadership is not about being the loudest person in the room. It is about being brave enough to speak when your voice has been silent for too long. Youth Lead KC did not just give me a platform; it gave me belief in myself. 

Going forward with this new profound voice and confidence I was given thanks to Youth Lead KC, I want to show younger generations just like me that having an accent or coming from a different background compared to your peers does not make you less capable or intelligent than them. Especially as a young woman going into a male dominated career path, I want to advocate for students and professionals who face language barriers and self-doubt like I once did that their voice matters. I hope to use my voice to become a role model for young women and bilingual students who feel intimidated by STEM fields and show them that confidence in their voice can break barriers and stereotypes.

When I think of leaving a legacy, I think of the lyrics, “If I can do it, then why can’t you?” from the song Now or Never by Tkandz. Going through this program helped me realize that my voice has power and purpose. To me, leaving a legacy means reminding others that they are capable of more than they think. If I was able to overcome fear and speak up, then others can too. My legacy is opening a path for students who struggle with language barriers and sharing their opinions, showing them that their voices matter and that success is possible.