This year in the Belleville CEO program has truly shaped who I am. I’ve grown as a person by becoming more patient and learning to take things one step at a time. As a student, I’ve stayed motivated even during my lowest moments, and as an aspiring entrepreneur, I’ve learned how to use my abilities, connections, and feedback to improve and push forward.

One of the biggest things I now believe about myself—something I didn’t at the start—is that I truly belonged in this class. At first, I felt different from others. We had different backgrounds, opinions, and ideas, and I thought that might hold me back. But looking back, I’ve accomplished everything I hoped for and more. I’ve proven to myself that I was capable all along.

The CEO experience helped me strengthen so many skills. I became much more confident in my speaking abilities—being able to present and talk in front of others was something I struggled with before, but now I welcome it. My leadership skills also improved as I learned to take initiative and help guide group efforts. Collaboration has become second nature to me; I’m now more open to hearing others’ ideas and voicing my own in a productive way.

CEO also taught me resilience. When we couldn’t move forward with the basketball tournament, I didn’t waste time being discouraged—I immediately shifted gears and began researching and contributing to our 5K event. I became more resourceful by using my talents and creativity to support both our class business and my own badge business.

This program has shown me the power of believing in yourself, working with others, and staying adaptable. I’m proud of the progress I’ve made and grateful for everything I’ve learned along the way. Thanks to CEO, I feel more confident, capable, and ready for whatever comes next.