Today's episode of The Infinite Voice of our Youth features talented Phillip O Berry High School student, Nyami Aghedo. Nyami is a laser-focused senior who has narrowed her college to three choices. She is a competitive student leader with vision and purpose. The astounding young Shero plans to major in public health on a pre-med track in college. Some of Nyami's accomplishments thus far are participating as an ambassador with the Young Black Leaders Alliance (YBLA), vice president for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools youth council.  As a young servant leader Ms. Aghedo has already begun serving the city of Charlotte by starting a non-profit organization, To and Fro-Connecting Communities.

During the interview, Nyami shared gratitude for her mother, YBLA, and those that supported her dreams and cultivated her growth. YBLA has been instrumental in providing her with leadership training, mission trips, exposure to a dynamic and involved leadership team that exemplifies the importance of championing engagement. Moreover, she has benefited from the young professionals and college ambassadors who returned to prepare current ambassadors for their forthcoming journey to college.

The last two years have led to her replicating the same principals to prepare elementary and junior high students. Nyami's observation of fellow students and other youth is that many feel unsupported and lack appropriate resources/spaces to be safe and vulnerable regarding mental health (depression/anxiety etc...) challenges.

Her recommendation is to focus on real engagement and eliminate transactional interaction. Doing so will improve trust, confidence, and promote an environment that exposes youth to successful and service-oriented peers.

Listen to hear how her mom motivates her to do more, what she put her in to get exposure, and open her mind to opportunities.

Help us by sharing this episode and making everyone aware of why it's essential to provide a platform for youth to share their powerful voices. Ms. Aghedo is using her talents to reciprocate the blessings she has received from others who have invested in her. So she is paying it forward.

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LinkedIn: Nyami Aghedo

Website: www.toandfrocc.wixsite.com/connect