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PROFILE

Dana C.

Alumna, NYLF National Security 2014
United States Military Academy, West Point Class of 2019

"Every day, we were exposed to many opportunities to meet extraordinary individuals who were well-versed in their fields and wonderfully willing to indulge every question we asked."

From the age of five, I have known what I want to be when I grow up: The President. As I got older, I filled in the details of how I would get there. I had a grand plan, every step of the way mapped out. There was just one detail that I was unsure of...whether I wanted to dedicate my life to public service. So as a junior in high school, from the little-known city of Lubbock, Texas, I attended the NYLF National Security program to see if my goals were the right fit for me. Now there isn't a doubt in my mind. When I leave for college, it will be with the utmost confidence that a double major in Political Science and International Affairs is what I should pursue.

Q&A With Dana

  • What inspires you as a young leader?

    I have always looked up to those who struggled against adversity in order to achieve their dreams: Jackie Robinson, Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony and Martin Luther King Jr. for starters. I have always wanted to push through barriers and I look up to these people as examples of strength and perseverance. We are all human and we all have the same capacity to do great things if only we have the courage to put our minds to it.

  • What was the highlight of your Envision experience?

    The information and experiences I gained from my experiences during NYLF National Security were truly priceless to me, but I have to say that I enjoyed the company of the other scholars above all. It was wonderful to be surrounded by like-minded teens who were as dedicated and driven as I am – individuals who became like family to me in the six short days that we were together.

  • How was attending the program different than learning in a traditional classroom?

    Attending the program was different than learning in a traditional classroom in the way that is was more hands-on. The overall feeling of being in the capital in itself was breathtaking for a government nerd like myself, but greatest difference was the amount of expertise we were exposed to. Every day, we were exposed to many opportunities to meet extraordinary individuals who were well-versed in their fields and wonderfully willing to indulge every question we asked.

  • What was the most important/interesting thing that you learned while attending?
    I learned a great many things while in DC, from all the ins and outs of a diplomat’s job to where the best Greek restaurant is. But, I think that the greatest lesson learned is that there is nothing that gets the job done better than – corny as it sounds – teamwork. The best journeys (to anything, whether it be through high school or to success) are those taken with friends. 
  • What would you tell other students who are interested in attending an Envision program?

    The one thing I would tell anyone is DO IT - put away all doubts you have about signing up for the trip, and then just do it. NYLF National Security was probably one of the greatest weeks I’ve ever had and I honestly learned so much from those few days.

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