Building Tomorrow’s Leaders

In the summer of 2021, I was honored to be selected as one of only 70 students in Colorado—Class of 2022 graduates—to attend the Rocky Mountain Youth Leadership Conference, a five-day immersive leadership experience hosted at Colorado State University Pueblo. I didn’t know exactly what to expect going in, but what I found was a turning point in how I viewed leadership—and how I viewed myself.

Up until that point, I had taken on leadership roles in high school through student council, managing the varsity football team, and even launching a Tokyo Olympics initiative. But this conference challenged me in a completely different way. It wasn’t about titles or achievements. It was about presence, mindset, and influence—about learning to lead not by controlling, but by connecting.

Throughout the week, I was surrounded by other high-performing student leaders, each with their own strengths and styles. Through collaborative activities, group challenges, and powerful keynote sessions, I began to sharpen my understanding of what makes a great leader—not just in theory, but in practice. I watched how people carried themselves, how they handled pressure, and how they brought others along with them. For the first time, I wasn’t just observing leadership—I was reflecting on my own.

One of the most profound lessons I took from the conference was self-recognition. I had never fully acknowledged my own leadership ability until I realized I’d been chosen for a reason. Being among this small group made me reflect on how others must have seen something in me long before I had the courage to see it in myself. That realization gave me confidence—not the kind that needs to be proven, but the kind that quietly fuels your decisions, your presence, and your purpose.

Since the conference, I’ve leaned into leadership with more intention. I don’t just wait for opportunities—I create them. I seek ways to lift others up, to bring people together, and to use my voice in spaces where it can make an impact. What I gained in those five days wasn’t just a toolkit of leadership strategies—it was a deeper understanding of how I want to show up in the world.

The Rocky Mountain Youth Leadership Conference didn’t just teach me how to lead—it reminded me why I lead. To listen. To grow. To serve. To connect. And ultimately, to help shape a future where more young people recognize their own potential before the world has to point it out for them.