Words from a First Lady
Pillars of focus are: (1) purpose (2) mentorship (3) sisterhood (4) community service/civic engagement/social justice (5) leadership (6) high school readiness (7) college readiness (8) career readiness (9) entrepreneurship (10) etiquette, (11) finance and (12) building strong families.
In a narrative of 500 words or less, please share how your personal experiences in First Ladies have ignited your pursuit of the following: self-discovery or purpose, influenced your academic success, driven your participation in extracurricular activities, and empowered you to advocate for your community through service during your high school tenure.
While a Freshman in college, please share how you would like your First Ladies family to support you. Also, share how you plan to help your middle school First Ladies after graduating high school and beyond.
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.
