How Lead2Change’s Summer Program Experience Built a Foundation for Two DreamBuilders

Elijah and Nate have very different visions for their futures.

Nate wants to become an engineer. Elijah dreams of becoming a traveling musician, playing

drums on stages around the world. But through Lead2Change, the two discovered that many of the skills they’ll need to achieve those dreams are exactly the same.

When they entered Lead2Change’s summer program, neither knew exactly what to expect.

They anticipated activities and opportunities to work with other students. What they didn’t

anticipate was how much those experiences would teach them about teamwork, communication and themselves. “Teamwork and communication are two of the primary things Lead2Change has taught us,” Elijah said. “We got to understand our peers and how we work with one another.”

For Nate, working in groups provided an opportunity to become a stronger problem-solver.

Students didn’t always agree on the best approach, which meant learning to listen, consider

different ideas and work together toward a solution. Those lessons directly connect to his dream of becoming an engineer. “Engineers have to solve problems, come up with ideas, and work with other people,” Nate said. “So the skills I learned here, like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, are things I can use in my future career.”

For Elijah, Lead2Change helped strengthen his confidence in the future he envisions for

himself. Elijah wants to travel the world as a musician and drummer. His experience with Lead2Change helped him recognize that the choices he makes today can help determine where he goes tomorrow.

“Lead2Change helped me gain more confidence in what I want for my future,” Elijah said. “I

want to become a traveling musician and to play drums all over the world, and Lead2Change is helping me be more confident in that.” He also sees his future as an opportunity to carry his family name with pride and make his family proud.

While their career paths may eventually take them in completely different directions, Elijah and Nate are leaving Lead2Change with a shared foundation. “The skills we’ve gained, like communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving, are things we can carry with us into our futures,” Nate said.

Whether that future means performing on stages around the world or solving complex

engineering problems, both students now understand the work they put in today matters.

As Elijah shared, “We’ve learned that the choices we make now can help shape the people we become in the future.”