Alumni F22

If you were to ask anyone who has known me for two or more years what is the biggest change to my personality, the most common answer you would receive is my confidence and social skills. This is something that is brought up often as I used to be a socially anxious and awkward person who could not do anything by herself in fear of embarrassment. If you look at me now, I like to think you would have a hard time seeing that as I have grown into a professional adolescent, and that is all thanks to 20/20 leadership through our orientations where we are shown how to pitch ourselves to others then being able to exercise this new information at career and college expos. This organization has provided me with the experiences to grow my social skills. In turn, I have grown as a leader because what is a leader without communication skills. I can now proudly say I am the one encouraging and advocating for others to come out of their shells and be the one to ask questions on other people’s behalf at our college, trade, and career expos.

Being the one to lead others in questions and conversations with professionals, I have learned that this is the type of example and resources our community needs. I’m unaware of how the program functions at other schools, but at &&&&&&, in order to be a part of 20/20 Leadership, you need to be enrolled in the class, which is limited in availability. Although the program aims to break down barriers and empower students, expecting the organization to help everyone is unrealistic, especially when the community supplies the power. But being enrolled and finding success in the program has inspired me to want to help come back to 20/20 Leadership as a volunteer for event days and to &&&&&&&&&&& to mentor others. Even if it is just to spread information about resources in the community as I would not have learned about if not for my family and teachers but not everyone has this advantage, and speaking with some of my friends within the program has made me realize how bad this as most of them often tell they do not find out about these resources till senior when it is sometimes too late to take all the benefits they have to offer.

With this, I plan to get other students enrolled in 20/20 leadership and other programs like it to help them feel like they can succeed during and after high school. If these resources are more widely spread and earlier in high school careers, then I can show others how to feel empowered and create a new school culture. Where it is not seen as lame to be putting effort into yourself and your dreams, as I sometimes would get laughed at or given weird glances due to my outfits for leadership events, this change in the school or someone’s life is what I would define as leaving a legacy because no matter how big or small, if you can help at least one person you would be a legacy in their lives.