From Their World to Success: Connecting with Youth Through Shared Experiences

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of speaking to middle school students, and one key message I wanted to convey was that I once walked in their shoes. It's crucial to recognize the profound impact it has on young minds when they not only have access to successful individuals but also see reflections of themselves in those figures. While it's easy to list accomplishments, connecting with young people necessitates them understanding your shared background. By "coming from their world," I don't simply mean being young once; it's about conveying that I emerged from circumstances similar to theirs, whether growing up in a single-parent household, residing in an apartment, or living in a rural area. For some youths, envisioning a path to success requires seeing individuals who resemble them and have faced comparable challenges achieving success.