February is Youth Leadership Month. To be completely honest with you guys, I never knew that this was a thing. Youth Leadership Month is dedicated to celebrating young people who take on leadership roles in their lives. It is an annual event and for people of all ages. There are so many ways you can get involved.
Schools and activity centers are the perfect places to start. Although, there are so many other places that offer a chance to learn and develop your leadership skills. Anyone who is a leader can mentor kids (or even adults) and teach them new skills. Not sure if you can be a leader? People who are already in leadership roles may recognize your potential skills as a leader and give you opportunities to lead a meeting, a program, or even a team.
Coaching sports is a great leadership role. Coaching others is a great way to hone leadership skills. People who serve as coaches in their community can be one of the biggest influences in the lives of children, parents and the community overall. Serving as a coach means you need to have awareness within yourself and your team. You need to set an example. You need to have strength, passion and enthusiasm. You must also have the ability to stand by your convictions. Communication skills are key as well. Maybe you feel you only have some of these traits. Being a leader, such as a coach, is a great opportunity to strengthen the skills you have and gain new ones.
Being a brand ambassador for Quantum and having iLevel® technology on my wheelchair helps me be a leader. I meet a lot of people when I go to the Abilities Expos with Quantum. I talk to them about my experiences and hope that they’ll realize that they can do great things themselves. Kids or adults with disabilities may look at me and think, “If this girl can be a leader and influence others to be leaders, maybe I can do the same thing and help others get where they need to be.” I like guiding young people and pointing them in the right direction.
If you want to share your experiences or participate in a leadership role, look for opportunities in your community.
About Zoe Hernandez: Zoe lives in Meriden, Connecticut. A Quantum® brand ambassador, Zoe attends Abilities Expos and speaks with people about her disability. She is currently enrolled in college and hopes to work in a community one day with people who are just like her. Click here to learn more about Zoe.