Alumni Spotlight: Michael Garcia

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.

Alumni Spotlight: Alani Pace

Alani Pace, a graduate of Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts (2020), is currently a junior at North Carolina A&T State University majoring in Computer Graphics Technology. During high school Alani participated in several of our programs including the Summer Youth Leadership Institute (SYLI) @ Goizueta, Turner Voices Youth Media Institute now known as Warner Bros Discovery Future Leaders Institute  and the fall summit: Leadership ExCHANGE. Last summer (2022), Alani served on the 21CL Summer Leadership Team helping to mentor the participating students during their own summer leadership institute experience. “I still feel nervous about doing some things, but I do it anyway. I do it even though I am scared, and I have been rewarded greatly for pushing myself out my comfort zone and taking advantage of the opportunities that scared me.” ~Alani Pace

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

I am now a junior in college majoring in computer graphics technology with a concentration in user experience (UX) design. I am a member of several organizations on campus and I enjoy volunteering with them in my free time. I am a member of the university honors program and serve as an honors ambassador. As an ambassador, I also serve as a mentor for 5 freshman honors students. Outside of school, I am working hard to strengthen my design skills and have enrolled in a bootcamp with the Georgia Institute of Technology. I’ve enjoyed attending professional conferences, such as the Thurgood Marshall Leadership Institute, and getting to network with seasoned professionals as I get closer to graduating college. I just accepted my first internship in my chosen field and I look forward to growing my professional portfolio during the summer 2023.

How did participating in 21CL transform you and lead you to where you are now?

I can confidently attribute a lot of my success in college to participating in 21CL as a teen. The skills and experiences I gained with 21CL have helped me tremendously. I went to college with a working knowledge of how to conduct myself in a professional environment, network and build professional relationships, and deliver my own personal elevator pitch during interviews and meetings with others.

Which programs did you participate in? How did the skills/tools/perspectives you acquired from 21CL prepare you for your next steps, going into college, taking on new leadership roles in your community, college and after?

I attended the Turner Voices Youth Media Institute when it was still active, and followed that with SYLI before graduating high school. Last summer I served as a Summer Staff for 21CL’s Summer Youth Leadership Institute (SYLI) and led my own group of approximately 20 students through their programs. I was able to apply that experience to my role as an honors ambassador almost immediately when school started this fall. Managing the 5 students I have now is a breeze compared to planning programs and guiding a full classroom of students. Involvement in 21CL requires you to step into leadership positions and be creative professionally. I draw upon that experience in my collaborations on group projects and with volunteer groups, and I know that I can take the skills I’ve learned to the workforce.

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

When I attended the media institute, that is the first time I spoke publicly in front of a large group of people. When I first learned that I had to speak I did my best to avoid having a speaking role. I almost made it through the entire week without being selected to speak, which my counselors realized. So on the last day I had to speak in front of not only the students but also their families at the closing ceremony. I was nervous but I overcame an obstacle that I never thought I would. I got over my anxiety and from there, something in me shifted. I still feel nervous about doing some things, but I do it anyway. I do it even though I am scared, and I have been rewarded greatly for pushing myself out my comfort zone and taking advantage of the opportunities that scared me.

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

21CL helped me find my voice and feel comfortable sharing my knowledge with others. I always keep in mind that someone might be nervous about stepping out in front of others so I do my best to create a safe space. I was a trainer at my job at Chick-Fil-A, and I always made sure to be patient and to share best practices so that new employees could thrive. I think good leaders invite everyone to contribute and that is what I bring to the spaces I’m fortunate enough to occupy.