Bus Ride Home: A Perspective on NYLT

The National Youth Leadership Training is like no other camp experience. NYLT is a seven-day program of intense trainings about the achievement gap and service-learning, many new friends, and little to no sleep. Sounds pretty bizarre right? Well, anyone who attends NYLT wants to tell the world what they’ve just experienced — and how they want to make a difference in their communities.

At the July 2010 NYLT, I was a resource staff member working on logistics, helping facilitate a seminar, and offering support where needed. Going into this role I was skeptical because I felt that I wasn’t going to have the meaningful interactions I wanted with the campers, but boy, was I wrong. As NYLT ended, we were all saying our goodbyes, loading the bus that would take us home and parting our own ways. On the bus sitting across from me was the 2010 Evan Dalgaard Award recipient, Jorge Zamora, from Chicago.

I met Jorge on the first day of NYLT when I walked him to his primary group, and we had an interesting conversation. He kept asking questions about where he was sleeping; whether or not his bright, white shoes were going to get dirty; and how to avoid as many mosquito bites as possible. On this bus ride back a week later was such a different Jorge. I asked him how it felt to get the Dalgaard Award and he was speechless. He kept saying how shocked he was that he was the one to receive the award, and how he wants to prove to himself that he deserves it. As we kept talking, his eyes were so wide and inspired to do — do anything and everything. He talked on about the many amazing friendships he has made, how meaningful NYLT was for him, and how ready he is to make a change in his community.

Seeing Jorge’s transformation was powerful. Being able to witness how one week can impact so many people like Jorge and develop strong servant-leaders all over the nation is incredible. At NYLT, one main focus is the achievement gap, learning about how massive it is can be overwhelming, but knowing that people like Jorge are going back to their communities motivated to address the achievement gap gives hope. I’d like to thank Jorge and everyone else who participated at NYLT 2010 for changing the world.

Pajnucci Vue, a member of NYLC’s Board of Directors and NYLC’s Youth Advisory Council, attends Highland Park Senior High School in St. Paul, Minn.