Wow.
Where to begin? I knew I would write a blog on my experience, so here it goes...
This was my third year. Aside from BB- the Director for the NCLR Lideres Initiative, I was the only who had 3 years of experience. Believe it or not, I was feeling the pressure of that especially cus it was mentioned often..... - or maybe it was just me mentioning it to myself. ... who knows!
The thing about the Lideres summit is that no matter how many times you've gone through the experience its always different, there's always that excitement you get when you're about to meet the staff. The worries about getting along and making sure everyone is included and feels included comes along with that too.
I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly we became a hit with each other. OF course there were those people who you make a connection with more than with others... but the professionalism that was set forth by all of us was just amazing. We did act a little immature and goofed off a bit at times but who doesn't? The only thing that matters is that we put on a great Summit!
I do miss everyone. IT also never fails that I tend to be more serious about everthing once conference has ended. I think this is due to the fact that I return to my routine and I go about my business. The interactions with everyone around me and the constant reminder that I no longer have those amazing people who simply get me, can lead me to miss the experience horribly.
You see, for those that are reading or will read this someday, the Lideres Summit is something more than just a group of people coming together to put on a conference for other youth. We are a people who may be considered young. We come together because we have a passion to Promote the Latino community and enhance how the rest of the society sees us. We come together to discuss a lot of the issues that our Latino community faces all across the country. WE come together, Most importantly because we need more Latino Leadership in this country. Weather it be to become a leader in your own schools, community, or maybe even becoming politically involved in the city, state or national level. What ever it is WE NEED LIDERES!
A lot of what I have taken from these experiences is the sense of feeling like I belong. At times even my own classmates, friends and acquaintances don't really care to know or do anything that effects or will improve the Latino Community. Yet, with NCLR's Lideres Summit, people you come across just get it. They are passionate about things such as the immigration reform, the Dream Act, etc the same things I find of great importance. With the people you meet and the stories they share, you get inspired to just keep the fight going, to get up and take a stand and above all, to rise to the challenge by taking a leadership role big or small.
There are times when I tend to forget about keeping the fight going. Especially when I live in a City where the Hispanics have just simply molded into the stereotypes that have been placed by other non Hispanics. (teen pregnancy, drop out rates, etc...) These molds have been in place for such a long time that attempting to break them can, and at times seem, something impossible to accomplish.
Getting a call from a fellow staff member yesterday as I was about to go into work made my day. To know that this, the summit, wasn't just a ten day event but rather a shared experiences that leads to having friends - and above all a support system, a familia....all across the country.
