Tatiana Cherry

I have been a part of a teen girls foundation known as First Ladies Youth Leadership for a year now.

As a first year First Lady, I have had countless opportunities to develop and grow. When I had first

decided to join, I never knew how much the First Ladies Foundation would have drastically

impacted my life. We all started as strangers that soon branched off into a lovely sisterhood.

During my first year throughout the foundation, I hardly talked. Instead, I preferred to listen to the

other ladies explain and share each other's opinions, goals, and aspirations. I’d been keeping my

innermost feelings suppressed. Though, I used to prefer it that way. However, after listening to the

other ladies speak, I felt compelled to soon share my own stories and opinions. Each time I shared, I

felt as though my connection with each and everyone was becoming stronger. On a much personal

note, I had self-learned that there is nothing wrong with expressing emotions. I have become more

open with my emotions and more comfortable with expressing my ideas with the help of these

ladies.

In addition to this, not only do we have meaningful conversations, but outside of meetings we lift

each other by offering support and advice. As a high school graduate who spent her whole senior

year virtually, I tended to procrastinate a lot. Although my grades weren’t slipping, I felt as though

they could’ve been better. I knew they could’ve been better, but I didn’t care too much to make them

better. However, my mentor Destiny did, and she made sure of that. She’d always check up on me

regarding school and to see how I was doing mentally. She’d tell numerous stories about how the

Melanin Queens helped each other in stressful times concerning school. She took the time out to

help me and encouraged me to finish the rest of my school year off strong. Gladly, taking her advice,

I was able to achieve a resulting 4.0 GPA and was awarded an Honors Graduate.

In conclusion, as a freshman off to college, words wouldn’t be able to express how thankful I am to

have such significant women in my life. I have endured many deep conversations and connections

with each First Lady. Although I will be attending college in a different state, the support my

mentor and mentees have given me will continue to rise. We have discussed keeping in touch with

each other and meeting up with each other once in a while. I have gotten other mentors’ personal

information to contact in case of different situations, in addition to other college freshman mentees.

Along with my middle school First Ladies, I will continue to support them as well. I will check in

with everyone once in a while to let them know how my college experience is going so far. Even

though each college has different expectations, I will gladly give them some advice they should

keep in mind, along with a few study tips and college recommendations. Just because I’m going off

to a different state doesn’t mean the bond between us First Ladies has broken. The foundation of ladies might change every year, but the foundation of our sisterhood will never.