YABDevelopingLeaders

Being part of the YAB has made me a lot more confident in my own ability to affect change. Every year, we have $5 million that we can give out to amazing projects throughout the country. I feel really lucky to be part of that.

When you empower young people and you involve free enterprise, the possibilities are endless.

I was selected to be on the board while I was in high school. I didn't really have an outlook of my future really. But being on the board I saw all these opportunities. And I began to hold myself to a higher standard.

My time on the Youth Advisory Board has shown me what young people can do. The initiative and the innovative thoughts that my peers, and even I have, can really come to life. I've been able to help change communities and help change people's lives.

Before being on the board I was probably more introverted and didn't really speak out for what I believed in. And sitting on the board has given me an opportunity to really fight for what I'm passionate about.

And I've gotten to meet some really, really amazing, incredible people. I'm always blown away by the quality of the people that I've met and by how accomplished everyone is. And at the same time, how down to earth and how fun it is to be with them.

I guess the YAB has really made me think more critically about the problems around me. Besides learning about my hometown and the problems that exist there, I also learned about things in other communities, how the corporate world can also help the nonprofit world.