Before one can lead others, I believe one must know how to lead themselves. During eighth grade, I was motivated but without direction; I had a knack for illustrating and writing, but I didn’t know its value outside personal satisfaction. But then, I began working for La Escuelita, a bilingual (Spanish/English) dual immersion preschool program that helps Hispanic children of lower socioeconomic status prepare for preschool and long-term success in the education system. Through two years of volunteering, I directly saw the benefits of empowering the Hispanic community. By the time I reached the end of freshman year in high school, I noticed the program was running out of funding. I wondered who would save them, but as I looked around, I wondered: if not me, then who? If not now, then when? So I took what I loved doing—writing and illustrating—and began the seminal project of my adolescence: a children’s book, written in Spanish and English, about a bird named Ozzie who experiences the difficulties as an immigrant (a story I had learned first-hand with the children and parents of La Escuelita). I was lucky enough to publish it during my sophomore year, and in combination with book sales and a donor campaign, I raised $110,000 for the program.
By writing a story in La Escuelita’s honor, I was able to rewrite my own, and by extension, the narrative about what people my age could accomplish in my community. Leadership isn’t always about grandiose displays; it can be found in the well of an ink pen, the watercolor of an illustration, and the smile of a child as they flip a page. It is in these small moments I am reminded what is worth fighting for. This project taught me success is not a product, but a discipline, predicated on internal motivation and consistent application. In the fundraising process, for every town hall meeting I have spoken at or donor meetings that end in a donation made in La Escuelita’s name, I’ve also had doors shut in my face and tens of emails with no reply. But I never considered stopping my efforts. Leadership is not principally about controlling every external factor, but learning to navigate the ebbs and flows of uncertainty, doubt, and challenge intrinsically. I believe I will be successful in my field because I prioritize passion over doubt. I’m used to being the youngest person in the room and the unexpected mouthpiece; because of that, I am accustomed to being the hungriest in the room, the first one to start working, and the last to go to bed. Especially during this xenophobic period in the political continum, I also find that my work in topical and necessary. For my future, I plan to help shape the Hispanic narrative through another means: policy and the law. I’m currently working on a policy paper about the benefits of bilingual education, and long-term, hope to translate my efforts into immigration law. Stories are powerful—they shape community, action, and law— but I’ve found that the most important narrative is the one we tell ourselves. Leadership is understanding how to lead oneself through doubt with the passion and the fervent understanding of your work’s value.