The most valuable part was reflecting on my mentors and the people who have helped me become who I am today. It made me feel more appreciative of how far I have come and the people in my life.

I realized that gratitude isn't just about saying thank you, but about recognizing the efforts of others.

I learned how important language is when speaking with survivors. The activity where we reframed questions to be survivor-focused helped me get a better idea of what to say if I'm ever in that kind of situation.

I learned that tone, posture and the way you present yourself have a great impact on how people perceive you.

I learned that being aggressive isn't the best leadership style because it does not build trust.

I learned that leaders should take responsibility for their messages and follow through on what they communicate.

In order for our projects to be successful, we need to start seeking accountability for our own actions and communicating better as a group.

My leadership goal is to step outside my comfort zone and participate more. I want to challenge myself to share my ideas, support others and take initiative. By the end of PALS, I hope to feel more confident in my leadership abilities.

PALP was such a mind-opening experience. It allowed me to grow in just the span of a few months. I learned more ways to improve my leadership, communication, creativity and problem-solving skills, and how to use them in my daily life.

I believe that PALP breaks down what it means to be a leader on a deeper level. PALP really helped me understand what to do in difficult situations, and how to be calm and confident in addressing the problems in order to be an effective leader.

Before, I really did not like presenting and talking to others and was very nervous when asked to do something. However, PALP has strengthened me and my communication skills greatly.

Because of PALP, I hesitate less to reach out to people that seem closed off or excluded. It's way easier for me now.

I also like the information it gave about preparing for college. I feel way more prepared now.

My PALP experience inspired me to be more involved in my community and to start planning for college and career sooner rather than later.

PALP was incredible at training me not only for camp counseling, but also teaching me skills that can be applied to my whole life, such as time management and project planning.

PALP has truly allowed me to become a better version of myself. With all the workshops and guidance they provide, I always feel like I am working toward achieving success.

The experience that has most greatly contributed to my development was the retreat, as I learned to be a better leader.

Being a part of PALP has truly allowed me to grow as a person and leader. From learning how to be a better public speaker to gaining clarity on career paths, it has allowed me to develop skills that I will continue to use in my everyday life.

Through our PALP leadership training, I have grown into a more confident person.

I was mentored in public speaking skills in a diverse and welcoming environment. I owe my confidence in both casual social situations and professional work environments to NVEEE.

Originally, I was not super into the program, but the leaders and mentors were fantastic and taught me a lot about how to be a leader and bring the best out of everyone.

PALP was a tight-knit community. Everyone felt accepted and it was truly a place where you could be yourself. I met some friends that will last forever and learned so much.

I learned that leadership is not about creating followers but creating other leaders instead.

Being a good leader is not only about being assertive. It's about being compassionate, empathetic and knowing who you are.

I learned that tone and body language are more important than just the words you're speaking.

I learned about the importance of saying no and prioritizing my self-care. I also really appreciated the resources and time management practices the other students shared.

Self-management is in every aspect of our lives, and it's important to not procrastinate but also have mental health breaks.

I learned that in order to be a leader, one must be able to communicate effectively, as that can help you not only professionally, but even personally.

Everything was great and I've learned so much.

NVEEE has been pivotal to my daughter's growth as a young professional.

She was overcoming fears of public speaking and making connections.

She has become more outspoken and put together.

Provides leadership, personal growth and community service opportunities that benefit the whole family!

Her experience really began her leadership and self-care journey.

My daughter never had bullies per se, but had times where she felt as though she didn't fit in, and NVEEE was a place she could come to and share her experiences and gain advice and new friends.

I was so nervous walking into PALS and struggled to talk to others. I left and I have never walked into a room afraid of meeting new people.

My reason for joining PALS was for community service hours, however I walked away with a whole new experience. I made friends, we laughed, and overall I genuinely had such a fun time while educating myself on social issues as well as college.

Instead of just signing up for different community service opportunities, I now reach out to the director and figure out how I can take initiative in the service. PALS also inspired me to begin a community service student organization at my school.

This experience gave me inspiration for my personal statement and helped me organize my goals for college and engineering.

PALS definitely helped me feel more confident standing up for myself and others.

PALS definitely prepared me to step out of my comfort zone, which is needed for me to get out in my community and actually make change.

I’ve been sitting on the idea of launching a student-led lesson for teachers on how to spot and address microaggressions in the classroom but was too scared to do it, so I never acted upon it. This year I decided to face my fears and propose it to the Dean of Faculty who loved the idea and we’re now working together to implement it.

I liked myself more during PALS.