The Golden Hour: Be the Inspiration – January 22, 2026 @10:00am

21CL Alumnus Michael Garcia is a graduate of Cherokee High School (2020) and currently a third-year BBA student at the University of Georgia (2024); during high school, Michael participated in many of our programs including EarthCare, SYLI, Leadership exCHANGE and was 21CL Youth Ambassador for two terms. In this post he shares how all this has shaped his career trajectory!

Paint a brief picture about yourself and what you are doing now.

I am Michael Garcia and I am currently a third-year student at The University of Georgia pursuing a BBA in Risk Management and Insurance with a certification in Legal Studies. I am very active on campus at UGA, participating in many activities and organizations such as Association of Latino Professionals for America and I am excited that I will be president for my chapter this upcoming school year; I will be interning this summer as a Consulting Intern for Crowe in New York City. In my free time, I love exploring new cities. I enjoy trying different restaurants, going to concerts, or simply having a self care night at home.

When were you in high school and which 21CL programs did you participate in?

I attended Cherokee High School from 2016 through 2020 and during my high school years I was fortunate to attend two different leadership institutes, EarthCare at GCSU in 2018 and SYLI @Goizueta in 2019; I also attended the Fall Summit – Leadership exCHANGE – in 2018. After completing the EarthCare institute, I was inspired to get more involved with 21st Century Leaders so I applied for their Youth Ambassador program and I served two terms as an Ambassador, from 2018-2019 and again from 2019-2020 where I was the Chair for the Youth Ambassador program. When I was a rising senior, I was blessed to be awarded the 2019 Georgia Youth Leadership Award. Ever since, I try my best to stay informed and connected with 21st Century Leaders – I actually just attended the 2023 GYLA ceremony in March. It felt great to reconnect with the individuals who make 21CL possible and it felt even better to get inspired by what these students are accomplishing!

What’s your memorable or ‘aha’ moment during your time at 21CL? (Particular program, meeting a professional and diverse peer, speaking in public for the first time, etc.)

I experienced many “aha” moments throughout my time with 21st Century Leaders, however, one moment stands out for me. After receiving news that I was a GYLA awardee, my peers and I were invited to meet our mentors and network with one another. During that event, I was interviewed on camera and was able to speak with my peers who, I felt, were doing so much better than me. Living about an hour away from Atlanta, that car ride to the GYLA Meet & Greet meeting was definitely an emotional one for me. I am a first-generation high school graduate and college student, and growing up I did not think about colleges or entering the corporate workforce. I could never have imagined someone like me being in a room with 20 outstanding leaders. That was the first time I felt proud of myself! It was the first time that I actually believed that I stood a chance at succeeding beyond high school. None of that would’ve been possible without my mom, who supported me even when she didn’t understand what all this was about. It wouldn’t have been possible without the exposure to diversity, critical thinking, and growth I endured during the 21CL Summer Leadership Institutes.

Did 21CL assist you in developing a leadership style that makes you an effective leader? if so, how? And if you’ve recently learned something else about leadership please share!

One of the most important skills that 21CL taught me that continues to effect my leadership style is to always be an empathetic leader. An eye-opening experience for me was during SYLI when we took a day to learn about diversity and which is one of the things that makes 21st Century Leaders so unique. As a student, you’re connected with a cohort of students who come from different backgrounds – ethnic, religious, socio-economic, etc. The beauty in this is that diversity is celebrated and students are encouraged to learn from different perspectives. Having this exposure gave me an advantage when I began my college journey because I was already involved with different diverse groups. As I continue to learn about leadership, there is a consistency between empathy and diversity. Knowing how to leverage both makes one a stronger leader.

What advice would you give to a current or future student?

My advice to students would be to go for it and give yourself a chance. I remember when I applied for the various opportunities within 21CL I hesitated with submitting my application – whether it was for Youth Ambassador or SYLI I did not think I would stand a chance. However, all it took was believing in my skills and giving myself a chance. I would also mention that once you’ve accomplished one thing, don’t stop there. Continue putting yourself out there and ensuring that your brand as a student is known. After all, there is only one “you.”

How would you describe 21CL in three words?

There are so many ways I could describe 21CL, however, I would say this program is the token to “propelling your career.” This organization teaches you more than professionalism. It enriches students with social and communication skills, all of which are key to succeeding in your profession.