Alumni Scholarship 16

Leadership means so much, it’s self discovery, a journey of growth, and impact. Through my involvement in various community service opportunities and school activities, I have not only been able to grow as a leader but also a person. Being involved in 20/20 leadership since the beginning of my junior year. I have had so many opportunities to do good in my community, school, and club. I have had the great opportunity to learn valuable lessons that have shaped my leadership style and will guide me in the future. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that leadership is rooted in service. It’s not about who gets the most recognition or titles but about making a positive difference in the lives of others. 20/20 leadership has taught me I can help out whenever I just have to put effort into helping out and not just wait for someone to ask for my help. Whether it’s packaging food for families during the holidays, volunteering time to help out the school’s blood drive, organizing parent passes to simplify access to school events, making blankets for foster kids, help make dog toys out of old used t-shirts, cleaning the school’s press box, or even trying to figure out how to renovate your school’s old smoking patio and turn it into an outdoor learning space. Each of these experiences have taught me the value of empathy and compassion, as well as perseverance. These moments have shown me that even small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact, and true leadership is about putting others before yourself. also having had the opportunity to help pick out furniture for the leadership project in 2023 with the wellness space in our high school that promotes having good mental health helps kids learn better and helping create a quiet space for kids to work. Being a part of something like this was a wonderful opportunity to see what 20/20 leadership does for everyone.  Looking ahead, I plan to carry these lessons with me into future leadership roles, whether in college at Kansas State University, my career in digital marketing and PR, or community service. I will continue to lead with a focus on serving others, empathy, and keeping composure in the face of any challenges I come across. Once you have seen firsthand what the impact of kindness and dedication can have, I can’t imagine myself discontinuing creating a positive change wherever I go. To me leaving a lasting impact means making a difference that lasts beyond my time. It’s about inspiring others to do great things and continuing the work and creating opportunities for the positive change that will benefit people in the future. A legacy is like an ocean wave once it starts to ripple you’ve done something right. In the end leadership is more than personal growth, or how much pizza you can consume by the end of the year while being in 20/20 leadership, it’s about leaving a meaningful impact. I’m proud of how I’ve grown while being a part of this organization and I am excited to continue using what i’ve learned to make a difference and leave a positive legacy.