I came to this country as a refugee in 2004 with a single mother who raised me in the Denver/Aurora area. I struggled with social anxiety in high school. It became hard for me to focus on and establish relationships in high school. I ended up graduating high school with a 1.6 GPA, where I felt like my life was over and that I’d never been successful. I took some time after high school to work and get my mind in the right place. Later, I attended the Community College of Denver (CCD), where I heard about GlobalMindED. After our first day of workshops, I connected with Adrian Rosado, Rocio Perez, and Dr. Melinda Cain. During our Intercultural competence training, Melinda saw my scores from the personality tests we took and said that she saw something special in me. She recognized a devoted leader and revolutionary within me, which is something I never acknowledged myself. Then, Rocio helped me realize that energy is essential, and my thoughts are powerful. She helped me own my story and fill the room with confidence and charisma. Adrian helped me learn how to network and be a connector.
The exposure and training from the GlobalMindED First Gen leadership program in 2018 was life-changing for me. The leadership program was healing and revealing; in a sense, it liberated me. It freed me from the misconceptions of my identity and broke down stereotypes and false mental barriers I created for myself. It allowed me to discover myself for who I was, a student who was first in his family to go to college, a student with a compelling story, and a student who was born to lead. The connections I made at the conference continue to pay off and amplify my memory of attending. This exposure allowed me to dive deep into my identity and own it and helped me develop skills that continue to change my life. It helped me see being first gen as a superpower and not a disadvantage.
Before this event, I held no titles or awards, or positions. After the conference, I was elected President of the National Society of Leadership and Success serving 1000+ members at CCD. I was awarded the New Outstanding Student Award and was the only black male to receive the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) Rising Star Award that same year. Currently, I sit on the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education. I chaired the State Student Advisory Council representing over 137,000 students on the state and national level. I still talk to my friends from all over the world whom I met during the GlobalMindED conference. Those experiences gave me a different perspective on life and helped me tap into a version of myself I never knew existed. Everyone I met at the event aided me on my journey to success in a way unimaginable and unforgettable.” I graduated from the Community College of Denver with a 3.72 GPA and my Associates in Computer Information Systems. I graduated with a multitude of awards and full-ride offers, proving to my high school self that anything you put your mind to is possible. I also recently got selected by the Obama Foundation and The City and County of Denver to receive the My Brother’s Keeper – Emerging Leader Award.
I believe that I would be the strongest candidate for any position because I have exceptional experience in leadership and team building, with excellent communication, emotional intelligence skills. I’ve planned my time at school and extracurriculars around what I believe will make me a leader in any industry. I’ve also interned at a top tech company where I learned valuable skills such as data analysis and critical thinking, I’m currently studying Computer Information Systems, gaining the technical knowledge I need to know while building the soft skills that will lead me to excel in any role.