Alumni F26

During my time in 20/20 Leadership, I believe I’ve grown as a leader by realizing my value, building deeper bonds with my peers, and gaining a deeper understanding of what’s truly important in life and how to direct effort toward those goals rather than paying attention to trivial things that aren’t as important.

Throughout most of my school years, I fit the stereotype of the “quiet kid”. Sitting towards the back of the class, speaking with the same few people, quiet when not spoken to, indulging in more artistic talents rather than socializing — those traits fit me to a T, and, looking back, I’m surprised I used to be so introverted. Nowadays, it feels like I have a reputation not only for my work as a published author, but for always talking to someone and being an outgoing, kind, and humorous person.

It wouldn’t be a stretch to blame that transformation on my time with 20/20 Leadership, helping me to realize my worth as a person. Like any teen, I grappled with self-esteem issues for a while. But, socializing with my peers, going on these field trips, and researching scholarships and colleges have helped me to realize the worth of having such a stellar academic record, being involved in after-school programs like Robotics, and pursuing my author hobby/career. As such, appreciating that has transitioned into appreciating myself.

Learning to appreciate me and getting past my self-esteem issues has cleared my attention for things like colleges, careers, and scholarships. I hold 20/20 Leadership in high regard for focusing so much on those three topics and helping me to understand how important they are. Thanks to our campus visit field trips, I’ve been able to see what university life is like and narrow down the choices required to make the most out of my college years.

It’s especially important to me to make those good choices because successful people are the ones who create legacies. To me, leaving a legacy means defying mortality itself by acting in such a way that the consequences of one’s actions are felt long after their passing. Ripples can reach far across a lake long after a pebble’s already been dropped. It’s important to me that I leave a good legacy, and I’m confident I’ll do so because of how I’ve been prepared for adult life by 20/20 Leadership and due to my main hobby/dream career as a published author. 

I’ve been a self-published author since I was twelve years old, and I was writing long before that. Currently, I have six books published, a seventh serialized web novel, and an eighth novel I’m preparing for publication. Without a doubt, writing is my passion, especially because the immortality of books and art as a whole is downright impressive. As seen by the ripples made by the likes of Shakespeare or even J. R. R. Tolkien, art can persist long after the artist. J. R. R. Tolkien passed away in 1973, yet his stories in Middle-Earth remain some of the most influential pieces of fantasy fiction ever created. No one in my family before me has become a fiction author, and I plan to be the first and most notable example, leaving behind a legacy that will persist long after I do.

In conclusion, the 20/20 Leadership program has helped me grow as a leader by helping me realize my value, build deeper bonds with my peers, and gain a deeper understanding of what’s truly important in life and how to set the foundation for my adult life — a life hopefully filled with choices and accomplishments that persist long after I do.