Nyla Wooden

The mission of the first ladies is to train and equip girls around the world to be positive global change agents and to dominate in the ten strategic cultures of the nations of the world with strength and dignity. Through first ladies it has taught me to never be afraid to speak up, because your voice commands and holds power. Opportunities come when you use that voice. Being in First Ladies they have always pushed me to excel in anything I did or wanted to pursue, even if that something was something I didn’t feel comfortable with. There was always a purpose and motive behind everything. Settling for average is never an option.

I have been a part of the leadership foundation and have been a member of this club for four years now. A club in which we also empower ladies and our sisters to feel beautiful, to create a sisterhood to know that you have someone to lean on.  Mrs. Green, my advisor came to the girls and I with the eagerness and excitement to expand our club out to a larger group of girls. She mentioned the great opportunities, the relationship building, wisdom, and scholarships we could obtain. I became excited and thrilled, knowing that I could have one happy ending to my senior year. She explained to us that there would be an application process and interview process.  Mrs. Green told us that after we were accepted there would be a formal induction ceremony. All of our girls were of course accepted in and it was time for the long awaited induction ceremony. The ceremony symbolizes the transition from “girl” to “lady”. At the ceremony we are to be gifted pearls as a symbol of beauty. Mrs. Green of our chapter came to me and asked if I felt comfortable speaking at the ceremony. Nerves just flutter my brain, and butterflies lodge around in my stomach. I nervously responded with “Sure, I have to talk in front of everyone?” She responds, “Yes, I believe in you, you got it!” My mom encouraged me not to be afraid because I can do anything. I took the encouragement and went into my room and wrote my reflection speech of what I was going to read out loud. The day of the ceremony finally came. There I am, on the podium, white lace baby doll dress hair curled up, makeup powdered to perfection, and the camera pointed right on me. I can feel all eyes on me, and the commanding energy from the crowd. I took a deep breath and I read proudly and clearly,   “ I am Lady Nyla…..” and as I come to my concluding statement I left them with this “ With FL, I know that it has gifted me the knowledge , dignity , power , and confidence to know that I can do and push for anything I put my mind to , and to be that positive change in the world. Thank You.”

First Ladies has taught me to not be afraid, to be confident, to go after what I want, and excel at it. The sky's the limit for my sisters and I. This was an accomplishment that's unforgettable, it made me realize how much impact that one club could impact me in the long run. The old me would have not gone up here. It showed me a glimpse of what a wonderful and empowered person I really am becoming through this foundation. I take every piece of advice and encouragement a sister or mentor has gifted me with and use it to shine through everything I do. I am very grateful for this foundation, sisterhood, and bonds that I have formed, it has truly been a blessing in my life. I am going to be that great Sports Medicine doctor that I aspire to be and with the huge help of the First Ladies scholarship it will lead me one step closer to that dream, and to my fellow little sisters of First Ladies I wish them the best in any and everything they do! Stay driven and focused on your goals because they will be reached, and I will definitely be back to help and mentor!