One Voice from AASLE

My experience at AASLE was really amazing, and I must say that the African American Student Leadership Experience was indeed an exceptional life-changing experience. I was fortunate to have been a part of a blissful weekend of tutoring, learning, networking and fellowship. In the course of the experience, I learnt so many things, but two key points stroked my passion as a student leader and as an individual at that time. “I was made to understand how important it is to do more than I was already doing.” I would like to quote Dr. JaNay Queen, she said “some of us shouldn’t be here today based on statistics and predictions, but guess what, we are here. We are here because we are survivors, we are strong-willed, we have love, and we are the future.” I developed the consciousness of becoming a game changer; I knew I had to strive towards transformational leadership. I was taught that if I wanted to be a good leader, I had to be young and stay young. Not just young physically but young at heart…

Dr Njeri also shared that as a leader in whatever position, we learn a lot of life and leadership lessons, so we must have a goal, learn how to fulfill promises and also how to get people to share in our goal.’
“Today, I understand that running for a position is not about me or my self-interest, it’s about service and the people I want to lead.”

I left Washington, DC with a changed mind-set, I knew I had to consciously impact lives and leave a mark everywhere I went and that is what I have done. Before graduating from AUN, I served in several student leadership positions and represented the University around the World to the best of my abilities. Since graduation, I have started Kintsukoroi, a foundation to help out with counselling and empowerment for the vulnerable population of children and women displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency. God has really done so much for me, and the least I can do is to put smiles on every face around me and leave people better than I met them. I didn’t let my history determine my future, and today my testimony is boundless. I credit my experience at AASLE with opening my eyes and challenging me to be a better ME!

Respectfully Submitted,

Blessing Douglas, AASLE Alumna
American University of Nigeria