Highlights from the 2024 Annual Dinner
“I am honored to have been given this opportunity to share my story…” she said as she began her keynote address at the 2024 ALMS Annual Dinner. But the audience at the dinner were honored to hear from this high school student with a 4.7 grade point average. She is an immigrant student who shared of her pain and suffering after arriving in the U.S. at age 2 years, now - a senior at Pioneer High School.
She not only bore the responsibility of caring for her younger brother, protecting her mother, and appeasing her father, but struggling in school – a place she hoped to find solace.
“Coming to a new country as a child is beyond difficult in ways I can’t fully explain. Adapting to a new culture, struggling with the language, navigating between two completely different worlds, feeling isolated and being constantly overwhelmed was more than difficult, it was onerous. I often felt at a disadvantage.”
“There came a point when everything hit me at once, and I questioned whether I could keep going. I struggled through horrible depression and anxiety.”
What our speaker did not share was that her family had been homeless at some point, and that she had also tried to commit suicide – taking over 80 pills, being found unconscious, but in time to be saved.
“Even after therapy and medication the difficult times never got easier, especially when COVID forced us into isolation. That period was one of the hardest of my life. I lost touch with the few friends I had made, and at my lowest, almost gave up entirely. I saw no value in my life, and no future ahead of me. I came out on the other side of it, but it left me scared, and I knew I needed to find support to truly heal.”
We cannot afford to lose a life that is so bright, and only time will show what unique gifts she will bring to make a difference in the world in industries such as medical, science, technology, social work, or teaching.
“Recently I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of a wonderful program, ALMS. ALMS didn’t just give me a space to reflect—they gave me a mirror to see my own strength, and how much I have overcome. Through their support, I faced parts of my past I had tried to bury…. I can’t overstate how transformative it has been to sit with those feelings, to have mentors and peers who’ve walked similar paths, and to be empowered to turn pain into resilience. I began to understand that the very things that challenged me the most are also what make me uniquely prepared to grow, to learn, and to lead.
What I’ve gained from ALMS goes far beyond preparing for a career or planning my next steps. They’ve helped me learn to adapt to the realities of life—to face obstacles with clarity, courage, and patience. From our sessions, I’ve learned how to navigate unexpected changes, and learning to approach every setback as a step forward. This experience has shown me that resilience is not about being fearless; it’s about knowing I’m equipped to handle the unknown.
I feel as though I'm able to trust again and become a more trustworthy person myself through the skills they’ve taught me. They’ve helped me see how important it is to develop trust in myself, and to understand my own limitations.”
Imagine - the impact of changing the trajectory of just one young person’s life. “We would actually change more than that person because we would change how they choose their spouse, love their children, invest into their community, improve their planet – and maybe save the world.”
Originally Released November 13, 2024
