#rochmn

Congratulations to our Latest YLP Grads!

Where will they go next and what will they achieve? No one knows for sure, but we do know the group of students you see above from Beth Rojas’ speech class at Rochester’s Alternative Learning Center have some extra skills that could make a big difference.

Over the space of eight, one-hour sessions this fall, Beth’s students have been made to feel a bit uncomfortable, they’ve taken risks and they’ve gained new self-confidence as they’ve learned new skills.

They’re now graduates of Toastmasters International’s Youth Leadership Program. With the assistance of Beth and the members of Rochester Chamber Toastmasters, the students have learned the basics of public speaking and leadership.

The results are in a few words “transformative” and “life-changing.” Most have never stood up front of a group or been able to express themselves to their peers. In many cases, it’s also the first time the students have been recognized for achievement.  

YLP Graduate Wins Scholarship, Sets Sights High

If you need a healthy dose of inspiration and determination, a graduate of Rochester Chamber Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program may be in a clinic near you someday soon to deliver it as a nurse.

This past week, Diana Sanchez of Rochester, Minnesota was awarded the Overcoming Adversity Keeping Strong (OAKS) Scholarship from Rochester Community Technical College. The OAKS scholarship program awards deserving students from Rochester and surrounding areas a scholarship to attend RCTC.

The OAKS program pays tribute to students who have overcome tremendous odds to become personally and academically successful.

Diana came to the United States from Mexico when she was four-years old and didn’t speak a word of English. She struggled with anorexia and self-esteem issues and in seventh grade she began attending the Rochester Alternative Learning Center, which is geared toward students who don’t excel in the city’s traditional high schools.

Among the many classes Diana took at the ALC was a speech course conducted by Beth Rojas. Since 2013 Beth has been partnering with members of Rochester Chamber Toastmasters. Over a space of eight sessions held in the Fall or Spring of each academic year, the Toastmasters volunteer to facilitate one-hour classes which highlight key skills of public speaking and leadership.

The transformation brought about through Beth’s nurturing instruction, positive feedback from the Toastmasters and the YLP curriculum are transformative. From barely having the confidence to say their names in front of a group, to giving full presentations, the results can be life changing.

Beth couldn’t be prouder of her former student and emailed her congratulations, “You continue to amaze me each and every day by your level of self-confidence, never-ending compassion for others and living your life in a way that others notice and want to be more like you!  Continue to reach for the stars, Diana and always look to the sky!”

Another one of Diana’s former ALC teachers, Leah Baethke, was on hand as she received the scholarship and summed it up this way in an email, “Diana left everyone with tears in their eyes. She did a remarkable job giving an emotional speech in front of 500 strangers. She couldn’t have been a better representation of what the ALC is all about, and everyone was so impressed with her and had lots of questions for me about our school (which I was happy to brag about).So proud to be a member of the ALC community!”