Leader Testimony - Mikayla

The Leaders of Tomorrow program has been a truly rewarding experience that I will never forget, both personally and professionally. Our team had the opportunity to visit elementary schools and help students improve their public speaking skills. Going into the program, I was honestly a bit nervous as public speaking has never been one of my strengths, and I wasn’t sure what to expect.

From the moment the first session, it became clear just how meaningful this program was. One of the most memorable moments for me was hearing from teachers who shared how their shyest students were beginning to come out of their shells. Knowing that we were helping young students build confidence in such a fundamental skill was incredibly fulfilling.

For me, the biggest area of growth was in my leadership skills. I had the chance to lead one of the activities during a workshop, and it pushed me to take initiative, communicate clearly, and guide a group in a way that was both fun and effective. That experience showed me that I’m more capable of leading than I had given myself credit for.

If I could offer one piece of advice to future participants, it would be this: bring fun energy into the room. Kids feed off the energy you bring, so showing up with enthusiasm and a positive attitude makes all the difference.

Overall, being part of the Leaders of Tomorrow program reminded me of the power of encouragement, the value of stepping up, and the impact we can have, that includes when we’re still growing ourselves.