JANUARY ENEWS EDITOR, NIA CLOSE (YLT 12)

Hello! My name is Nia Close. I am a third-year Health Science major at the University of Florida. Youth Leadership Tallahassee (YLT) played a pivotal role in spearheading my leadership experience. I enjoyed learning about the Tallahassee area and meeting community leaders during programming days. I served as the co-chair of our class service project where we hosted a field day for the Boys Town residents. Giving back to the Tallahassee community through service was one of my favorite parts of YLT. As a member of YLT, I was given the opportunity to serve as the Board of Directors Student Member for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend Inc. At the end of my YLT program, I was appointed as co-chair of Leon County Schools Student District Advisory Council. During my senior year of high school, I served as the Student Body President at Lincoln High School. I utilized the transferable leadership skills that I gained from YLT into my various leadership positions. In 2017, I was selected as the county winner of Best and Brightest in the Leadership Category. My growing passions for leadership, service, and community involvement were shaped by YLT and the group of incredible leaders I met through the program.

 

At the University of Florida, I am pursuing a minor in Leadership. I have learned about interpersonal, organizational, and global leadership. During my freshman year, I was selected as one of the top 25 freshmen at UF. I was inducted into the Fall 2019 Tapping Class of Florida Blue Key, the oldest and most prestigious leadership honorary in the state of Florida. I currently serve in UF Student Government as the Junior Class Vice-Chancellor. YLT greatly impacted my future leadership opportunities and set a strong foundation for my professional endeavors as a student leader.