Alumni Spotlight: Natasha Walker

Natasha Walker, 21CL Alumna

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]21CL Alumni Spotlight: Natasha Walker[/fusion_title][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”left” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] 21CL Alumna Natasha Walker, Class of 2012[/fusion_imageframe][fusion_text]Natasha Walker participated in two summer leadership institutes in high school. She attended EarthCare at Berry College in 2009 and the Summer Leadership Institute at Georgia Southern University in 2010. She also attended 21CL events throughout the year, such as the Winter Leadership Weekend, Fall Rally Day and the Fall Leadership Summit.

In 2016, Natasha joined the Summer Leadership Team as a returning alumna and shared her experience with the current students. She works at Turner and regularly volunteers with Marietta YELLS. She graduated from Marietta High School in 2012 and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies from Auburn University in 2016.

How did participating in 21CL change you and/or lead you to where you are now?

21st Century Leaders was my first exposure to professionalism and networking. I’ve been able to build my network on LinkedIn since high school. This doesn’t seem like a big deal, but some of my peers are just now learning about it. Through 21st Century Leaders I was also exposed to companies and business partners I could one day work for. In fact, now I’m employed at Turner.

What was your most memorable moment in 21CL? 

I enjoyed the ropes course at EarthCare, speaking at the closing ceremony at EarthCare, and the case competition during the Winter Leadership Weekend (Goizueta Youth Leadership Summit). I had a great time as a student, but it wasn’t until I came back to work the summer leadership programs this past summer, in 2016, that I really felt impactful. It’s awesome to know that I can help some young leaders in the way that I was helped and to work alongside some of my former leaders as their peer.

How did 21CL prepare you for your next steps? Going into college and taking on leadership roles, heading into a new era of professionalism, etc. What tools or perspectives have helped you along the way?

21CL taught me that leaders aren’t born, they are made. You may be a great leader already, but there is always an opportunity for growth. As a student at Auburn University, I chose to not only excel academically, but also to be a part of change on my campus. I served as Administrative Vice President for the Black Student Union, as a Resident Assistant, an Ambassador for the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, an Orientation Leader for International Students and more. If it wasn’t for the strong foundation and practice with 21CL in high school, I wouldn’t have been allotted as many opportunities or as prepared to interview for those positions.

What’s something you’ve recently learned about leadership?

Leaders give back. As a young professional it’s easy to feel like you’re struggling to find your next move and the ways to grow in your current position, but strong leaders give back. It’s important to continue to create opportunities to meet new people in your field. I’ve met so many people simply by reaching out and they are usually willing to give me information about their positions and introduce me to other people I should meet who can help me grow as well. [/fusion_text][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”” bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”” class=”” id=””/][fusion_text]Thank you, Natasha, for sharing your leadership lessons and giving back to 21CL as a summer leadership team member! Here’s to more growth and being a part of change!

 

Alumni, check out the 21st Century Leaders Alumni group on LinkedIn for a summer photo from the archives.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Alumni Spotlight: M. Jennifer Sonola

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Meet M. Jennifer, 21CL Alumna![/fusion_title][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”left” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][fusion_text]It’s been almost nine summers since M. Jennifer Sonola attended her first 21CL event – G5 [Summer Youth Leadership Institute] at Emory University, and her pursuit of leadership has not waned since. A graduate of Campbell High School in Smyrna, Class of 2011, M. Jennifer went on to get her Bachelor of Science in Sales & Marketing from Xavier Univeristy of Louisiana in December 2015.

Now a young professional, M. Jennifer shares on how her time in 21CL prepared her for success in college and the workforce. 

How did participating in 21CL change you and/or lead you to where you are now?

Participating in 21CL tremendously helped to shape me into the leader I am today. I attended 2 camps (SYLI in 2009 and TVYMI in 2010) and I was on the Youth Advisory Board during the years of 2009-2011. There are many aspects of 21CL that I enjoyed, but I most enjoyed having an environment in which I was able to collaborate with other young leaders and implement the ideas that resulted from our teamwork.

The professional dress requirements, group projects and presentations that were facilitated during 21CL programs were the most helpful due to how often I utilize these skills in my day to day activities.

Also, having local professionals attend 21CL events in order for the youth to network with and serve as audience and panels during our presentations was extremely helpful to promote comfort and confidence.

What was your most memorable moment in 21CL?

My most memorable 21CL moment was during the Leadership Plugged-In Program [Turner Voices Youth Media Institute]. My team and I constructed a website and delivered an amazing presentation. During the Q & A of our presentation we were able to demonstrate the uniqueness of our website and answer all the questions the panel of judges had, and as a result, we won that activity for the program. For me this was such a memorable moment, because I was chosen by my peers to be the voice of the group, and to know that I represented our group successfully was a personal accomplishment. Also, being taught how to build a website at a summer camp is still uncommon in 2017; this just goes to show you the unique experiences available at 21CL.

How did 21CL prepare you for your next steps? Going into college and taking on leadership roles, heading into a new era of professionalism, etc. What tools or perspectives have helped you along the way?

My experiences at 21CL prepared me for college, as well as my professional career in many ways. The environment of the programs was very similar to my collegiate environment and it allowed me to see the importance of time management and priorities. I was also able to build some lifelong friendships that have also doubled as some great business relationships.

In this new era of professionalism, 21CL truly harnesses all the teachings that any young leader will need to navigate their way successfully.

What’s something you’ve recently learned about leadership?

I have learned that there is no prototype to a leader. If you are passionate about a specific area of focus, then you should take action; and no action is too small in the grand scheme of life!

M. Jennifer is a Corporate Buyer and Supply Chain Planner at “It Works!,” a health & wellness company in Palmetto, Florida and is pursuing her Master’s degree in Supply Chain at the Florida Institute of Technology. 

Thank you for sharing your experience and best wishes as you continue your leadership journey. The #21daysofleadership is coming to a close, but we encourage everyone to take action to connect, transform and inspire and make everyday a leadership day! 

Visit our 21CL Alumni Page[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Alumni Spotlight: Jevan Huston

JevanHutsonToday’s action challenge in the #21Days of Leadership social media campaign is to highlight a past leader who has made a difference in your life and inspired you to become a leader.

Meet 21CL alum Jevan Hutson, whose inclusive leadership has made a major difference in his community and its members! He attended SYLI (formerly known as G5!) at Emory’s Goizueta Business School in 2011 and served on the 21CL Youth Executive Board (Youth Leadership Team) from 2011-2012.

In addition to inspiring his peers at 21CL programs, Jevan was the recipient of the 2011 Georgia Youth Leadership Awards for his leadership as the 2011-2012 school coordinator for Whitewater High School’s Pennies for Patients, which benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Jevan was directly responsible for leading his peers at Whitewater to donate approximately $40,000 over two years, raising enough money to support an LLS-funded researcher for more than 9 months. Read more about current and past Georgia Youth Leadership Award winners here!
#21daysofLeadership #21CL #iamINSPIRED

How did participating in 21st Century Leaders change you and/or lead you to where you are now?

At such a critical juncture in becoming a future leader and citizen-scholar, 21CL granted me a deeper sense of self-value and a more robust confidence to assert and contest my opinions as well as to engage and collaborate with community and industry leaders.

How did 21CL prepare you for your next steps? Going into college and taking on leadership roles, heading into a new era of professionalism, etc. What tool and perspectives have helped you long the way?

First and foremost, 21CL provided me a unique platform for both conceptualizing and operationalizing my academic and professional goals, which was very much integral to my successful transition into undergraduate life at Cornell University. Reflecting back on my experiences in 21CL, particularly now as a Master’s student at Cornell and soon-to-be law student, I can safely say that the program’s focus on collaboration, relationship building and professional networking skills was key not only to my professional development — helping me garner numerous, prestigious internships (Research & Technology Intern at the Boeing Company) and research assistantships during my undergraduate tenure — but also to my successful career as a student leader and community advocate on campus.

What’s something you’ve recently learned about leadership?

Overall, my leadership and service to the Cornell community has taught me that true leadership is interdisciplinary and requires organization that is inclusive and nurturing of all stakeholders. I ground my own pursuit of public service and passion for equity in an ability to be highly self-aware and to engage a practice of conscious activism. I listen deeply to the communities I serve, so that I may center their needs ahead of my own presumptions and understandings. While my own tenacity, advocacy, and intellectual curiosity are valuable and unique, they do not exclude the incorporation of others’ skillsets and the necessity of coalition building. Through inclusive leadership and a recognition of the power of solidarity within the experience of injustice, I learned they are in fact an imperative toward that organization.

Jevan graduated in 2012 from Whitewater High School in Fayetteville, Georgia. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History of Art (2016) from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he is now pursuing a Master’s Degree in Information Science and guides students as a Teaching Assistant in “Personal Relationships and Technology” and “Information Ethics, Law, and Policy.” #iamINSPIRED