Never Settle.

As many of you know, I have been part of a non-profit organization called Students Today Leaders Forever (STLF), an organization that has become like family to me.  As I sit and think back to the start of my STLF journey, I can’t help but think about what a true blessing it has been in my life.  

I’m can’t exactly begin to say how much it has impacted my life, but I’ll give it a try.

March 9, 2011… I got on a bus with 42 other students with no clue in the world about what was soon to come. Little did I know, the next 9 days on the road would change my life in such an amazing way, nothing I ever could have imagined.

My new family aka “yellow bus crew” helped me discover new things about myself as well as bring so many positive people into my life.  Through my first tour, I started to think more about what my purpose in life was. What was I put on this earth to do? What was I meant to do? We made an impact on multiple communities along the road on route to Washington, D.C. To me, however, the biggest impact was made through my fellow bus members.  I was challenged to think outside the box, I was challenged to discover my passions, I was challenged to dig deep and think about my struggles.  Some of the things I shared with my bus, as I got a chance to say, what I didn’t realize at the time, I needed to let off my chest so badly, has helped me grow as a person, in such a powerful way.

My first tour was only the start of the impact STLF had on me.  After tour, I knew I wasn’t done. I wanted more. I wanted to continue this amazing discovery of revealing leadership through service, relationships, and action.

I decided to take on leading a college tour, which became one of the best decisions I have ever made. This role challenged me emotionally and mentally like I never would have expected. But it was the best challenge I was given, because I learned SO much about myself. Through my 2nd tour and this time as a leader, I KNOW that I helped make an impact on others. This time around, it was more important that I helped others feel empowered and loved versus focusing on my impact. But again… little did I know, through helping others I was impacted in a great way. I STILL have bus participants telling me how much they look up to me or that they are so thankful for the work that myself and my bus core put in. Sometimes I feel like it’s a little odd to say “Yeah, I basically rocked it and because of me, someone else is empowered”… but honestly there’s no shame in saying or thinking it! I helped others see their potentiaol and now we have at least 10 participants who have applied to be leaders next tour season.

THAT kind of impact blows my mind. I can’t help but feel so much joy when I think about “my babies” trying to help others and continue this amazing role as a leader.

Through all the work I’ve put in, my passion, my desires, I know that I helped make an impact on STLF. But honestly, STLF made a much greater impact on ME.

STLF has helped me discover myself when I felt the most alone and unsure of what I wanted. I now have the best outlook on life, the most AMAZING and supportive group of friends, mentors, and peers. I also started to discover what I wanted to do professional… now that I’m about to graduate in TWELVE days! I’ve put my communications skills and my passion for community work and discovered community relations. I don’t know a better way to spend the rest of my life than to do something that I’m good at AND love. 

I can’t begin to describe how blessed and thankful I am for everything that I’ve experienced… all because on March 9,2011 I stepped onto a bus headed on a mystery tour to Washington, D.C. without the slightest idea that, that one step I took onto the bus was about to change my life in more ways than I can count.

Change my life for the absolute best and create IMPACT.

whatshouldwecallme:

whatshouldwecallme:

I just wanna be like,