Youth Leadership Collier grads reflect on a full, fulfilling week

Thursday night, June 18, in a conference room at the Naples Hilton with Van Halen's "Right Now" playing in the background, 30 teens sat in a circle laughing and crying as their weeklong adventure came to an end.

Having just participated in the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce's Youth Leadership Collier, an intense program that begins with teambuilding exercises, follows with visits to local businesses and concludes with a graduation dinner, their emotion was expected. But what was even more amazing to witness was that in a matter of six short days, these young adults from different area high schools formed such a close-knit network you would think t they'd known one another since kindergarten.

Seventeen-year-old Cally Parks of Barron Collier High School said it best. "We were complete strangers a week ago, and by the next day we were all friends and family," she said through

t tears.

The point of Youth Leadership Collier is to empower students to become effective leaders and, by showcasing the community to them in a new way, encourage them to return to Naples to start their career.

Youth Leadership Collier Class of 2009 Victoria Barner, 17, of Community School of Naples, thought she'd just learn some new leadership techniques when in fact she learned so much more about herself, her fellow youth and her community. It was a visit to Arthrex during the week that really opened her eyes.

"You don't really consider Naples to be a huge hub of business," Victoria reflected on graduation night. "But to see a huge, global company headquartered in Naples was amazing."

Jaime Ceron, a 17-year-old from Palmetto Ridge High School who's still unsure as to what he wants to do career-wise, was happy to see all of the opportunities available to him right here, close to home. During the week the group had toured The Ritz-Carlton, Naples Community Hospital, Fun Time Nursery, Whole Foods, county government offices and the offices of D'Latinos TV station. He was also inspired to see business people not only doing what they love, but doing it to help others. "The Neighborhood Health Clinic gives so much back to the community. It's amazing to see that people who actually do that," Jaime said.

The Neighborhood Health Clinic also made an impression on 18-yearold Cindy Rivas of Golden Gate High School. "It's really hard for me to cry, but this place got to me," she confessed. Hearing Nancy Lascheid discuss her passion to provide medical services to the low-income, working, uninsured people of Collier County "touched my heart and energized me to think that whatever I do, it's going to be about helping other people, because that's the biggest satisfaction you can ever feel."

Since 2005, Youth Leadership Collier has been helping young adults to create networks and resources within their community. This year 76 students applied for 30 positions. The program is offered every June. For more information, visit www.napleschamber. org.

Youth Leadership Collier Class of 2009

Blanca Abney
Victoria Barner
Lucy-Marie Bruns
Catherine Calyore
Jaime Ceron
Alison Chauvette
Chelsea DeRose
Nasha Etienne
Adelene Exceus
Carolyn Flewelling
Franklyn Francois
Kevin Havemeier
Dillon Hazel
Emily Lamb
Olivia LeClair

Pedro Lora
Andrew McIntosh
Andrew Nelson
Anabel Ocanas
Tomy Olivarez
Tyler Paine
Cally Parks
Gabriella Passidomo
Cindy Rivas
Jorgia Stone
Kristin Tenreiro
Nicholas Thorstenson
Katrina Varela
Johnathan Wimberly
Sarah Zion