Be the Change

Students who participated in The University of Florida Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership and Sustainability program for high school juniors and seniors.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world” -Ghandi

The University of Florida Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership and Sustainability program for high school juniors and seniors lived for five weeks under Ghandi’s famous quote this summer. I had the honor to be one of the 41 students, 40 of them being from Florida and one from Houston, Texas, participating in this amazing program.

Going into the program, I did not know what to expect. I never considered myself as a very sustainable person or an entrepreneur, all I wanted was to experience the university, and I thought what better way than living there for five weeks. But I came away with much more than an experience, but a changed perspective.

The program was split up into four parts - leadership, community service, entrepreneurship, and sustainability - and each was implemented every day. In the mornings, we would have either our Exploring Entrepreneurship class or our Social Problems class, both college-level classes about exploring the realities of life and starting up our own businesses.

Personally, these classes put into perspective the issues of the world and the impact our everyday actions have on these issues. These issues really became a reality to all of us when we created business ideas that helped solve the issues we learned in class. Business ideas ranged from a sun protection clinic to social networking tools, to even a business advocating for sustainable musical instruments.

My business was called The Hatchery, which allowed for adults with disabilities to create businesses with the help of entrepreneurial mentors and investors who support their ventures. After class, we would then do three hours of community service, which ranged from working at a summer camp for underprivileged kids to taking down barbed wire fences withour  bare hands. Each service project showed how small actions can lead to a big impact. For me, I worked at the summer camp for underprivileged kids and each day we showed up, you could see the happiness on the kids’ faces every time we walked in the door. After service, we would either explore Gainesville, FL or hear from inspirational speakers.

We went to places like the iconic ice cream shop Sweet Dreams ice cream, to the UF Innovation Hub, where entrepreneurs can go to foster business ideas until they are ready to go on their own. We got to hear from speakers like the current Student Body President of the University of Florida to the Florida football team and even get to talk with the Florida quarterback, Jeff Driskel. On the weekends, we would do group service projects, like cleaning up a beach, or even picking up 1,200 pounds of trash in a creek over the course of three hours.

Seeing the impact we made, especially in the creek, really put Ghandi’s quote into perspective. Not only did we recycle every day and lived pretty sustainable for five weeks, but we made an impact in the Gainesville community as whole. After the five weeks were over, I would have not traded this experience for anything. Not only was I the change I wished to see in the world, but I believe I did change the world.

The impact 41 students had can inspire others to change their lives, just like all of us have. Since I have been home, I have lived a more sustainable life and have become more conscientious of the consequences of my actions. I hope everything I have learned during my five weeks will inspire to change just like I have this summer.