Alumni Essay 40

When I first joined Youth Lead KC, back when it was 20/20 Leadership, I already had a pretty good understanding of what leadership was because I’’ve always seen myself as a leader. My journey through the program has expanded my knowledge on leadership and helped me grow better as a leader. Looking back on my time in the program, my growth was not about a sudden change in my personality. Instead, it was about a total shift in my perspective.

My turning point happened during our last field trip that was focused on the DeBruce Agilities. Up until that moment, I felt like I had a clear set on my future and goals. However, as we dove into the project, I had a sudden and sharp realization. I saw that the goals I had for myself were very vague. They were not really planned out at all. The Agilities project forced me to stop talking in circles and start looking at my specific strengths. I realized that being vague wasn’t good for me at all. To actually lead, you have to be intentional and detailed.

This realization is something I know will carry me into my future career in healthcare. My dream is to become a nurse or work in a similar medical field. At first, I was not 100 percent sure how a leadership program would help me with that. Now I see the connection clearly. Nursing is the profession for a problem solver. Every moment is a series of puzzles and problem solving. You have to assess symptoms, manage your time, and coordinate care under pressure. The DeBruce Agilities taught me how to move from a vague idea of helping people to a concrete plan of treating them. Youth Lead KC gave me the confidence to stop being a passive participant and start being an active strategist.

My definition of leadership has also been shaped by the person who put me on this path. When I think about what it means to leave a legacy, I think of the teacher who encouraged me to be in her student government class. She was the one who persuaded me to sign up for Youth Lead KC in the first place. She saw potential in me that I had not recognized yet. Her legacy is not a building or a trophy. Her legacy is the fact that I am now writing this essay and pursuing a career in medicine. She left a mark by investing in my future.

To me, leaving a legacy means being that same kind of spark for someone else. It means being the problem solver who does more than just fix the immediate issue. It means building up the people around you so they can eventually lead too. In the future, I want my legacy to be the patients who felt truly heard and the younger coworkers who felt supported because I took the time to mentor them.

Youth Lead KC started as a program I was persuaded to join. It ended as the experience that defined my transition into adulthood. It took me from a student with vague dreams to a future healthcare professional with a clear mission. I am ready to take the skills I discovered and use them to care for my community.