Alumni M1

Being a member of 20/20 leadership since my junior year, I have attended many events the organization has provided to me. 20/20 Leadership initially drew me in because of the word, “leadership”. I have always wanted to be a leader, from running for student positions to volunteering in other areas that impact my community. The trips that I have gone on because of 20/20 Leadership have provided me with the connections and relationships that have allowed me to grow. I have made many friends from other schools who also attend events. The ability to learn from others is yet another important skill 20/20 Leadership has provided me with. The 20/20 Leadership staff have been a pillar of support for so many students, and certainly for me. I am so proud and honored to say that I am a member of 20/20 Leadership. Leading is not just about having a fancy title or position. Leading is making an impact; this is what I believe to be the true essence of leadership. Indeed, the impacts we make through the work we do in our communities can last a lifetime. Leaving a legacy is to have made an impact on others. To lead is to affect others, to connect with others. I have chosen to go down a road that seems to have become less popular, the road of pursuing a career in politics. Pursuing that career starts here, in my community, making change…positive change that leaves an impact. So many leaders make the mistake of assuming they know what’s best for those they lead. It is worth noting that this is almost never going to be the case. Not to listen and understand those you lead, is to not lead anyone at all. Networking is a skill 20/20 Leadership has allowed me to develop. My future education will allow me to use these skills, and also allow me to give back to an organization that helped me take the steps to get me onto the highway to success, a path of leading others. It is well known that the organization teaches leadership, it’s in the name after all, and said throughout this essay. The organization and its members are so much more than that. We are a community of youth who are all here to make an impact and it’s all about figuring out what that will be. This organization has allowed me and others to figure out our purpose, goals, and vision for the future. From the college expos to the college visits, we have gotten a taste of what our future could be, and the setting for that future. To say that I am a leader is a cliche and underdeveloped. I am not just a leader; I am a learner, a teacher, a community member, a motivator, a listener, and an advocate. I am and will continue to be all of these things because of 20/20 Leadership as it has made a lasting impact on me.