Alumna Jennifer Rice is a graduate of Providence Christian Academy (2018), a sophomore transfer student and a journalism major at North Carolina A&T State University and has been making major contributions in the media industry and in her communities. In her post she shares how 21st Century Leaders taught her to make a positive contribution to each situation and inspired her to live each day to the fullest.
Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.
My work experience and memberships at North Carolina A&T State University includes recently developing a multimedia network called “THE HUB”, content creator for HBCU Pulse, campus media manager for Bumble, article contributor to The A&T Register, SGA Senator, Honors Ambassador, NAACP, and voter registration. As a journalism major, I have also had the pleasure of interviewing Film Producer Kevin Wilson, NBA Player Chris Paul, TV/Radio Personalities Roland Martin and Angela Rye, Democratic Presidential Candidate Elizabeth Warren, and North Carolina Democratic Congresswoman Candidate Rhonda Foxx. I will also be starting a Planned Parenthood chapter at Greensboro, NC. “I have learned that success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” I am so excited about what the future holds!
How did participating in 21CL transform you and lead you to where you are now?
Participating in 21st Century Leaders helped to polish my public speaking , elevator pitch/communication and networking skills. In my freshman year at Florida A&M University, I was WANM 90.5 radio personality “J Live,” Assistant Producer for FAMU TV20, Presidential Ambassador, and Student Relations Committee Liaison. I also received the FAMU Outstanding Freshman Award. This past summer, I was a Roving Reporter for Dekalb County TV23.
How did 21CL prepare you for your next steps? Going into college and taking on leadership roles, heading into a new era of professionalism, etc. What skills/tools/perspectives have helped you along the way?
21CL prepared me for college and leadership roles. I was more than prepared for any interview with resume and business cards in hand as well as executive style dress.
Which programs did you participate in, and when? What skills did you gain or improve through those programs?
I participated in several 21CL programs including two summer leadership institutes and all of the school-year programs; including, Turner Voices Youth Media Institute at GA Tech, Summer Youth Leadership Institute (SYLI) at Goizueta, Emory University, the school-year summits, and served as a Youth Leadership Council/Youth Ambassador for a couple of years.
I was also a 2018 Georgia Youth Leadership Award Winner and top student fundraiser for 21CL on Georgia Gives Day.
What was a memorable or ‘aha’ moment in 21CL? (Particular program, meeting a professional and diverse peers, speaking in public for the first time, etc.?)
A memorable moment for me was when Mr Bob Watson told our 21CL group to always leave our environment better than we found it. His words always ring in my mind and inspired me to live each day to the fullest, to always give and do my best, to make a positive contribution to every situation, and to realize that life is full of “teachable moments.”
Did 21CL assist you in developing a leadership style that makes you an effective leader? if so how? And have you recently learned something else about leadership? Please share!
Servant leadership has been an effective leadership style for me. It is a leadership style in which you set the example serving others first. The leader makes sure that the needs of the team or surrounding community are met before hers. The team/community benefits by growing wiser, healthier, wealthier, etc and hopefully picks up the example of serving others.