Alumni F8

As a student I have learned to take control over the choices I make and realize the power in saying “no” for the present and future benefit of myself. I learned that I must think and do whatever I can to benefit myself in the long run, because it will make me happy and make things easier for me as I grow older, get out of high school, and become an adult. Whenever I go to the 20/20 leadership meetings that talk about finance, learning to schedule, staying on track, and making decisions for myself, these things become habits. I don’t even worry or think about it because I know it is something that I will not struggle with. Because I have figured out how and why it is important for me to take charge for myself. Also understanding how different those skills can make or break me as an adult or as a teenager right now.

At first as a leader, I took care of myself whenever I had to lead for others. I made sure that everything was working for others, or I did everything for someone else and put myself last. Since I have grown up and realized that for a long time that it will just be myself for a while. I had to learn how to spend time by myself alone and get everything that I needed for myself done. You learn that as a leader that people will follow what you do and if they see that you can’t take care of what you must do for yourself, they start to question if the choices that you make for them are really the right ones.

This is where leaving a legacy comes in, as people will either see you with the experiences they had with you or the stories they hear about you. I want people to see the love that I had for my community and people. That I always wanted the best for everyone that I haven’t met, will meet, and will never meet. In the small but large community we have, I want to be someone who works to keep our community safe and build love. Leaving a legacy means the image that people have of you if your name is still around when you are physically gone and the idea that people have of you. I don’t try to focus a lot on the image of myself but rather the impact and changes that I have made or effected.

As a leader I want to take the steps to separate myself from my choices and tasks that I must take on and realize that decisions become bigger than myself and look at how much something can affect. Throughout my 20/20 Leadership experience I have learned and heard how to take control and save money for the future for the benefit of myself. Making decisions that will benefit me in the future is something that I can share with members in my own family and share with those that don’t have the resources.