Students share how being seen as leaders gave them a sense of purpose – and a future

Students in IDRA’s Youth Leadership Now and Valued Youth Partnership programs were recognized for reflections describing how leadership opportunities, mentoring and tutoring experiences strengthened their confidence, school engagement and sense of purpose.

“Youth Leadership Now has helped me find my voice… YLN has taught me to not see obstacles as dead ends but to see them as puzzles to be solved.” – Carisma Vasquez, East Montana Middle School, Clint ISD

(May 14, 2026) Six students received prizes in a competition among participants in the IDRA Youth Leadership Now program and the IDRA Valued Youth Partnership program. Both are asset-based leadership development programs serving students who are deemed at risk of dropping out.

In a reflection contest for students in multiple school districts in Texas, the tutors expressed in essays, poems and videos how the program helped them do better in school and how they had helped their tutees to do better

IDRA encouraged students to submit their choice of essay, poetry, artwork or video. Winners from each competition are being awarded $200 for first place, $150 for second place and $100 for third place along with commemorative certificates and trophies.

See our booklet with the full winning reflections (pdf).

Youth Leadership Now Reflection Contest Winners

First Place: Emeline Pendleton

8th Grade, Robert C. Zamora Middle School, South San Antonio ISD

“Suddenly, school wasn’t just about tests and assignments anymore; school was about feeling needed, about showing up for someone who needed you… While working with a specific student who was called a ‘bad, disruptive kid’… I saw a bit of myself in him before YLN and realized I could help him find purpose like how YLN helped me find mine… I was at school more often, and I started caring again.”

Second Place: Israel Flores

8th Grade, Horizon Middle School, Clint ISD

Poem: “Without you [Youth Leadership Now], I would not know that this world is full and robust. You’ve taught me to learn from my mistakes… I am now a leader. I now climb hills that are steeper. From having nothing to having all of something. I’m willing to share. For I was taught to be a leader – not selfish, but fair.”

Third Place: Reyna Trujillo-Jimenez

Fabens Middle School, Fabens ISD

“I used to think no one noticed me, as if I didn’t have a purpose… Everyone in my class makes me feel so special and cared for. I finally have a purpose for school. These kids mean so much to me.”

Five students received honorable mentions:

• Angel Ianni, 8th Grade, Clint Junior High School, Clint ISD
• Esmeralda Martínez, 8th Grade, Robert C Zamora Middle School
• Diamante Mendez, 8th Grade, Dwight Middle School
• Daphne Saldivar, 8th Grade, Alan B. Shepard Middle School
• Carisma Vasquez, 8th Grade, East Montana Middle School, Clint ISD

Valued Youth Partnership Reflection Contest Winners

Three fourth-grade students at Franz Leadership Academy in Judson ISD, San Antonio, also received awards for their reflections.

• Kaileah Evans – First Place (Video)
• Jorge Marin Deler – Second Place (Poem)
• Brysin Ricard – Third Place (Essay)

Valued Youth Partnership – Leadership and Belonging

The IDRA Valued Youth Partnership has provided leadership experiences for students all over the country. It increases students’ connectedness, academic achievement, self-efficacy and self-esteem by placing students in leadership positions.

The program’s key philosophy of valuing youth’s gifts and developing social skills can provide leadership experiences for students who most need engagement.

The IDRA Valued Youth Partnership has demonstrated tremendous success in helping students focus on their education and increasing the school’s holding power by concentrating on students with the highest need of support. For four decades, VYP has kept 35,000 students in school and positively impacted the lives of 750,000 children, families and educators!

Learn more about the IDRA Valued Youth Partnership

IDRA Youth Leadership Now – Building on Success

Youth Leadership Now is an in-school program for middle school students that combines three winning strategies:

• IDRA’s Valued Youth Partnership with middle schoolers deemed high-need becoming tutors of elementary students;
• teacher mentoring to prepare students for high school; and YLN student works with tutee
• our family leadership model, IDRA Education CAFE™, that engages families and tutors in youth action research projects for their school community.

The teacher mentors also participate in professional learning community to impact the wider campus. The U.S. Department of Education funded the launch and study of this field-initiated, research-based program.

Learn more about IDRA Youth Leadership Now