Alumni Essay 13

Ever since I was a child, success is something I dreamed of obtaining. I was very afraid  that it wasn’t going to come to fruition so I developed a strict plan and disciplined myself to stick to it. I developed my very own tunnel vision which isn’t abnormal living in an urban community, a place where dreaming big can only lead to disappointment. I used to spend more time worrying about what can go wrong than imagining what can go right. However, my time in Youth Lead KC changed the setting of my ambition. It has expanded my eyes to the opportunities and possibilities that are available to me as a student.

This program has encouraged me to trade my hesitation in for unrestricted curiosity. Youth Lead KC gave me the opportunity to visit places like the Missouri Supreme Court and even meeting with the Jackson County prosecutor which gave me the extra boost of confidence needed to go into the field of law and policy. Also they have taught me that being a leader is more than just holding the title, it’s about being the person who is brave enough to stand tall even when things go wrong, encourage others to do the same and to recognize the beauty of trusting the process – something I have now learned to appreciate. I went from being a straight-arrow student and always staying within the lines I have drawn for myself to a leader who explores every opportunity with an open mind and a sense of confidence. I refuse to put my goggles back on and continue my life with tunnel vision.Now, I am ready to step through every door that opens.

Transitioning from a mindset of survival to a mindset of opportunity requires more than just a change of scenery; it required a total internal revolution. Throughout my time in Youth Lead KC, I began to see that the urban community I call home isn’t a place of people who lack the essentials to be leaders of tomorrow, but a landscape of untapped and overlooked potential just waiting for a real leader to emerge. I no longer just want to walk through the doors of opportunity; I want to be the one who is welcoming others in. In the future I hope to use what I have learned in Youth Lead KC to guide others on to a path where success is the end goal and is attainable.

I want my life to be the blueprint for the ones who will come after me. To me, leaving a legacy isn’t about being famous or having everyone know your name. A true legacy is the lasting effect of continuous growth that blossoms even after your own time on Earth is completed. By relentlessly embracing every possibility today, I am building a foundation of hope that will empower my community to look at the horizon and not see a limit, but a beginning. A beginning where they can now see all possibilities that have always been there with the shadow of doubt and uncertainty being lifted.

At the end of it all, Youth Lead KC will forever be the beams of foundation to my everlasting legacy to inspire future generations to choose to always be leaders even when faced with adversity. They have gifted me the courage to lead, shift my way of thinking and discover how I want to be remembered. I am forever thankful for the opportunities that have been presented to me and I hope that others after me take in every field trip, every person that they meet and every opportunity presented to them, just as I once did.