Alumni Essay 52

Participating in Youth Lead KC has been one of the best ways I have  experienced in my life. Before joining the program, I believed leadership was mostly about being confident, having all the answers and being the most intelligent person or the most qualified person in the room. Through this experience, I learned that true leadership is about more than just being the most dominant voice in the room but being the one who empowers others to achieve things they did not think possible, inspires, guides, being a great listeners, supports others, while taking responsibility for results and fostering an environment of trust, growth, and accountability, and helps guide a group toward the achievement of a common goal. This change in my perception of leadership has allowed me to grow not only as a leader, but also as a person. 

A way that I have seen growth was through my confidence and that growth has shown me that I  have improved. When I started out with this program, I used to hold back ideas I had in my mind and l was afraid that they may not be good enough. Leadership is not about being fearless, but rather about being brave enough to share your ideas, voice, the willingness to contribute even when you feel unsure, that’s when l realized leadership takes courage, even if you are not entirely sure that they are right. I have learned to speak up, share my ideas  and to trust my voice. But then I have also come to understand that leadership  leadership involves creating a space for others to be heard. 

Another way I grew as a leader was by understanding the importance of service. Youth Lead KC showed me that leadership is not about titles or recognition; it is about the impact. Leaders are those who see problems within their community and are willing to do something about it even if it is a little effort. Talking about leadership with my peers and mentors helped me realize that change does not happen in a day, but it starts with a small bunch of people who really want to see change and implement it in their lives.

In the future, I look forward to using what I have learned at Youth Lead KC not only for my career but also my involvement in my community. As I move forward on a path in healthcare, I recognize that leadership is an absolute necessity. Patient advocacy, working with healthcare teams, and working to improve disparities in healthcare access require a set of skills that includes communication skills, empathy, and leadership to build confidence in problem-solving. Alongside the leadership skills that I have developed here, this will help me not only to move forward in my career but also in my community work. I look to use my voice and my knowledge to help improve communities and to ensure that people feel valued, supported, heard, and given equal opportunities to succeed. 

 To me  leaving a legacy, to me, is about creating an impact that persists after you leave. An example of this will be seen in the people you motivate, the way you assist (create) opportunities for people to succeed, and live your values through your actions. Awards alone are not a measure of a meaningful legacy. Rather, it is the people whose lives you change and the obstacles you help eliminate in others’ lives that will count toward the legacy you leave behind. Being a part of Youth Lead KC (YLC) has helped me to better understand that the legacy I would like to leave behind is one of compassion, service, and empowerment. I want my legacy to be built from the way I inspire and empower others and how I ensure that they are able to have faith in their own capabilities and to be encouraged to continue their journey of personal growth.