Allen County-Scottsville senior JoyDale Williams continues to reflect on her experience at a national summer leadership summit---a five-day growth experience tailored to rising seniors from across the nation. Williams capped her summer break with a trip to the National Young Leaders Summit at Princeton University in New Jersey.
Williams’ path to participate came about after receiving an unexpected email late last winter.
“One day I got an email that asked if I wanted to go to Princeton,” Williams explained. “I received a second email and that’s when I started looking into it. I realized it was free and that it would be super cool. I met the qualifications so I decided to apply. I had no expectations of getting in. I Googled it and the acceptance rate was like two percent of those who applied.”
According to their website, “the Young Leaders Summit (YLS), presented by the Youth Leadership Consortium (YLC), is a free, college empowerment summer program for a diverse cohort of high-achieving, low-income, high school juniors, selected through a competitive application process. It is designed to give these young leaders the practical tools they need to successfully apply to top universities, have full access to scholarship and financial aid opportunities, and set a course for academic and career success. Attendees will enhance their leadership abilities and expand their professional networks by participating in college and career workshops and interacting with college students and professionals who serve as their mentors.”
YLS covers the students’ roundtrip airfare transportation, from their hometown to New Jersey. YLS staff pick up all YLS students from the airport and provide free roundtrip transportation to the Princeton University campus. YLS and Princeton provide students with free on-campus housing for five days and YLS and Princeton provide all meals on-campus and program materials.
Williams added that she had also applied for the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP). However, the disappointment of not being selected for GSP was replaced by excitement after learning of her acceptance “a few days” after the GSP option disappeared.
“YLS was essentially for students planning to go to a four year college with the goal of providing the students a network and the resources and the ability to be their best and get the best scholarships,” Williams said.
The YLS included about 220 rising seniors and another 100 squad leaders (college students) or squad leaders in training---students that have recently gone through the college application and scholarship process and will enter college this fall.
The prep work for the five days in New Jersey started almost two months prior to the actual week of in-house attendance, July 30 through August 3.
“This started with an online component in June,” Williams said. “This was a two day process in which we went over information and learned some things and shared about ourselves. It was two super long days. The in-person part started when we flew into Philadelphia. Then we took buses to Princeton. They started to give us all sorts of gifts---including a backpack filled with business cards with my name, a cardholder, a badge, cups, a battery charger for my phone and other items. The whole reason for this was to help us start to network. The group was 50% girls and 50% boys. It included people from all backgrounds and every state except for South Dakota. Not many people knew each other but it was really easy to go up and talk to people.”
The first night included an orientation and an elaborate meal, which not only welcomed the students but also taught the aspiring leaders about dining etiquette. The group listened to opening presenters as well as having time to socialize and make new friends.
“We were placed into squads,” Williams noted. “There were 220 kids split into 40 squads. In my squad, we had six girls, a leader and a leader in training. We traveled together. This was our family while we were there. Everyone was so talkative and friendly.”
The summit included day and evening sessions in which each participant was able to learn many new things. The daily process kept the students engaged and busy.
“We had a morning session, lunch, an afternoon session, dinner, networking time, and a squad reflection time,” Williams explained. “Most sessions were about an hour and a half. We were dismissed at 10 to go to bed.”
The Summit lasted four days---with a gifted t-shirt for each participant every day. During the time, Williams gained a wealth of knowledge about multiple topics pertaining to building leadership skills, networking, and preparing for college.
“My favorite session was the one about resumes and interview skills,” Williams added. “This included learning to talk to an interviewer and write resumes. I took a lot of notes in the session and all the sessions. They (our speakers) tried to emphasize that your network is your net worth. Now that I have met so many people, I see the value in that. Now if I wanted to go to a certain college, I have squad leaders and leaders in training that I can contact. That allows us to get to know the college and the application process. I think that is so cool. Another one of the great ones was a panel session with squad leaders in training talking about the college application process. They were giving their bits of advice on the college process. I also learned that I was actually behind in that.”
Williams admits that her experiences have opened her eyes to some new ideas.
“I believe this may be a turning port in my aspirations," Williams admitted. “Before, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to even try to go out of state for college. I was thinking about Western. It’s a good school and I have friends there. But, now I have met people from California, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Tennessee, New Jersey and hearing them talk about all the college opportunities has made me start thinking about colleges out of state. It has broadened my horizons.”
Williams---who experience included flying for the first time---adds that her YLS adventure makes up for missing GSP.
“I knew GSP was a great opportunity but I really wasn’t looking forward to it,” Williams said. “It was going to be five weeks of my summer. I would have been in the WKU summer band camp, gone straight to GSP, done our band camp, and then went to YLS. All my summer would have been taken up. Instead of going to GSP, I got my wisdom teeth removed. But, YLS more than makes up for not going to GSP considering the friends I have made.”
Williams is already very active with multiple activities---she’s a member of the AC-SH band and choir, the Patriot archery team, the high school academic team, Summer Soundz, the school musical, the Jazz band, the Environmental Club and HOSA. Williams’ summer has also included preparing for this week’s Distinguished Young Women program. All her activities are preparations to move on to the next level in her learning.
“As of right now, I am going to either major or minor in music,” Williams explained. “I like environmental sciences and the biology aspect and perhaps psychology.”
Williams is the 17-year old daughter of Robbie and Pam Williams.