Last month, Abigaelle and Aliyah from Pace Collier stepped into a crowd of 400 young dreamers in Orlando at the DJJ Office of Prevention Services’ 5th Annual “Unleashing You” Youth Summit. The event was built to help students explore what leadership means and reflect on their future goals. Throughout the day, speakers guided sessions on communication, decision-making, and how choices can shape our lives.
At 17, Abigaelle was fully in during her session. Her enthusiasm and presence caught the attention of speakers and room monitors alike, and by day’s end, she proudly held a trophy.
“It made me feel heard and showed me that I had an impact on others attending the summit. It was a big achievement,” Abigaelle said.
For Aliyah, Abigaelle’s achievement became motivation for what she could do next. “Seeing my peer win an award motivates me to step outside my comfort zone and participate more in opportunities like this,” she shared. Her journey at Pace has already changed how she sees her future. Once unsure of what she wanted to do after high school, Aliyah now wants to become a registered nurse or a psychiatric nurse.
Sometimes, seeing someone your own age step forward is enough to make you think, “Maybe I can do that too.”
Abigaelle left Orlando knowing her voice had made an impact. Aliyah left ready to push herself a little further. And both returned to Pace with something to carry into whatever comes next.
