From Participant to Leader: How Junior Leadership Medina County Shaped My Journey

My name is Camille Begley and I am a senior at Magnificat High School. I graduated from Junior Leadership Medina County (JrLMC) in 2024.

 

During my time with JrLMC, I was the only one from my school. I did not know a single person on the first day, and seeing the kids who did know others was intimidating. JrLMC taught me how to open myself up to others. I went from being an introvert and wanting to just listen, to wanting to speak at my graduation. I met some of my best friends through this program, and some of my fondest memories are from my special Thursday group. JrLMC was a space where we could be ourselves and have fun doing so!

 

I struggled with bullying when I was in grade school and lacked confidence. After I finished JrLMC, I am quite sure my moderators and peers would say that I am outgoing. It taught me how to connect with others, and to work with people I might not have chosen to work with.

 

Being a leader is not just what is best for yourself. Being a leader is taking everybody else around you into consideration. I learned how to talk to and respect others, how to be more confident, and how to put yourself in other people’s shoes.

 

As a senior, I have realized how lucky I am that I was selected to be part of such an amazing and educational program. I am now a Senior Facilitator for them!

 

My senior year has had its challenges, like it has for many of my peers, but it’s also been filled with great experiences. I am an Officer for Students in Medicine and had various leadership roles with being a feature twirler for St. Edward High School Marching Band.

 

A lot of people assume that once JrLMC ends, everything you learned stops at graduation. However, I will carry things that I learned last year with me throughout my life.

 

JrLMC has helped me in so many ways. I’ve become more confident, learned to communicate better, and met people in the business world that have been instrumental in helping me grow.  I used those skills when I shadowed a surgical oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic and helped me to be selected as an honoree at the annual Spring Leadership Ball, here in Medina.

 

I am honored, and so excited to be a Senior Facilitator at Junior Leadership Medina County this year.