Nerves don’t vanish on their own, they get trained. We sit down with Ximena, the Boys and Girls Club National Youth of the Year, to trace how a once-shy student became a poised speaker, athlete, and community leader. The through line is trusting the process: more reps on stage, more honest reflection about identity, and more supportive rooms where teens can practice leadership without pretending to be perfect.
We dig into the playbook for Youth of the Year candidates and any teen aiming higher: know your story, name the people and places that shaped you, and get comfortable building relationships with mentors and CEOs alike. Ximena shares Keystone memories that broadened her world, from meeting teens on military bases to learning how culture and community shape character. Along the way, sports keep her grounded: volleyball, soccer, and track become training grounds for time management, grit, and humility while college applications stacked up.
This conversation also highlights the power of real support. Corporate partners upgrading tech centers, scholarships like Panda Cares, and opportunities to co-judge creative contests open doors that talent alone can’t. There’s joy, too: Two Truths and a Lie, meeting John Cena and Denzel Washington, and a dream dinner with Justice Sonia Sotomayor that speaks to representation and ambition. If you care about youth leadership, public speaking, and building confidence that lasts, you’ll find practical takeaways and a lot of heart.
If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs a push to take the mic, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find the show. Your support helps us keep youth voices loud and unmuted.
More About this Episode
Finding Your Voice: Confidence, Leadership, and Embracing Your Story as a Young Changemaker
Public speaking. Personal storytelling. Facing your fears and standing in front of a room full of strangers: CEOs, judges, other accomplished peers, and sharing who you are and where you come from.
For most people, especially young people, that sounds terrifying. But for Ximena, the National Youth of the Year for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, it’s more than just a challenge she overcame. It’s a symbol of growth. A testimony to the power of trusting the process and embracing your story, and it’s exactly what young leaders today need to hear.
This article dives deep into Ximena’s journey, passions, and insights, not just about winning one of the most prestigious youth leadership awards in the country, but about navigating the very real emotions, obstacles, and self-doubt that many of today’s teens are facing.
Let’s talk about confidence, community, and the power of being unapologetically yourself.
The Pressure of Public Speaking and How to Own It
Whether you’re preparing for a Youth of the Year competition or simply gearing up to present in front of your class, public speaking can be intimidating. According to Ximena, it is nerve-wracking, but it doesn’t have to paralyze you.
“The biggest thing,” she shared, “is to really embrace who you are and your story.”
This advice isn’t just motivational. It’s tactical. Jimena explains that once she became confident in why her story mattered, how her background, her family, and her experiences through the Club shaped her, it became easier to speak in front of anyone, whether it was a judge panel or a CEO.
It wasn’t about perfect words. It was about authenticity.
And authenticity, she believes, is what helps you build real connections, even in high-stakes moments.
Feeling Small Among Giants and Rising Anyway
One of the most relatable parts of Ximena’s story is how she constantly compared herself to others in the room.
“Everyone was so amazing. Great speakers, leaders… there were CEOs sitting in the audience,” she said. “It made me feel small.”
That kind of imposter syndrome is common, especially in spaces where you're surrounded by accomplished peers. But Ximena’s approach to overcoming it was simple, though not easy: trust the process.
Even when she didn’t feel good enough. Even when she doubted whether she deserved to be on the stage. She showed up, prepared, and let her story speak for itself.
This mindset, combining humility with determination, is crucial for young leaders to adopt. Success rarely feels certain in the beginning. But by continuing to say “yes” to opportunities and leaning into personal growth, Ximena proved that you can belong in any room you walk into.
How Sports and Service Build Strong Leaders
Outside the spotlight, Ximena stays grounded through sports, volunteering, and academics.
Athletics were actually her first connection to the Club. “I came in through sports,” she shared, explaining how her love for volleyball, soccer, track, and cross country helped shape her confidence and leadership.
Sports taught her structure, teamwork, and perseverance, skills that directly translated into her ability to succeed in high-pressure environments like Youth of the Year competitions. Even though the balance between college applications, schoolwork, and extracurriculars is intense, Ximena keeps coming back to what brings her joy: being on the field, staying active, and challenging herself physically and mentally.
And here’s the thing: she’s not competing to win. She’s competing to enjoy. “I’m not that good, guys,” she said with a laugh. “But I have fun. That’s what matters.”
This mindset, prioritizing passion over perfection, is a recurring theme in her story. It’s what gives her the energy to keep going and the perspective to keep growing.
From Shy to Spotlight: The Power of Growth Through Exposure
You might assume that someone like Ximena, confident, well-spoken, and comfortable on stage, has always been that way. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“I used to be so shy,” she admitted. “I wouldn’t talk to anyone. I didn’t smile. I was just super nervous around people.”
That all changed through consistent exposure and support from her Boys and Girls Club mentors. They pushed her out of her comfort zone, not by forcing her into the spotlight, but by encouraging her to take small steps toward it.
From co-hosting events to speaking at club gatherings, she slowly built the confidence that eventually allowed her to take the national stage.
Her advice for anyone who feels too nervous to try?
“Trust the process. Even if you feel scared at first, the more you put yourself out there, the easier it gets. And one day, you’ll look back and realize how far you’ve come.”
Why Representation—and Shared Stories—Matter
As National Youth of the Year, Ximena has met countless other young leaders from different parts of the country. Through programs like Youth of the Year Regionals, she’s been able to connect with peers who have completely different upbringings, challenges, and cultures.
And yet, through these connections, she’s realized how powerful a community can be.
“It’s so cool to see how people live so differently,” she said, referencing her interactions with youth living on military bases overseas and leaders from other states. “But at the same time, we all have this shared goal, making a difference, helping our communities, and just being there for each other.”
Representation matters. And platforms like Youth of the Year and Keystone bring that representation to life. They allow teens from all backgrounds to see themselves reflected in leadership, and to learn from people whose paths look nothing like their own.
Scholarships, Sponsors, and Support Systems
One of the most exciting parts of Ximena’s journey is the opportunity she’s received beyond the trophy.
From the Panda Cares Scholarship to remodeled Club rooms funded by generous partners like Coca-Cola, AT&T, and Wingstop, she’s seen firsthand how much these resources can uplift young people.
“These companies really want what’s best for these kids,” she said. “It’s not just about money, it’s about creating real change.”
And it’s not lost on her that part of her role now is to give back. She’s co-judging art contests, helping design new spaces for youth, and even preparing for a visit to Mario Lopez’s house for a special BGCA project.
All of these opportunities stem from her courage to share her story.
Advice to Her Younger Self, and You Too
If she could go back and speak to her younger self, the shy girl too afraid to speak up, Ximena knows exactly what she would say:
“It’s going to be okay. Just trust the process.”
That message rings true for any young person who feels unsure, insecure, or overwhelmed by the pressure to be “good enough.”
Your story matters. Your voice matters. And the more you embrace who you are, the more doors will open for you, not because you’re trying to impress anyone, but because your authenticity will naturally connect you to people, opportunities, and growth.
What’s Next?
For Ximena, the journey is far from over. She’s got big goals ahead, from co-hosting national events to preparing a valedictorian speech and navigating college applications. Whether or not she ends up at a dream school like Harvard, one thing’s for sure: she’s already leaving a legacy of leadership.
And as for her dream dinner? She’d love to sit down with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor at Chick-fil-A, of course, and soak up every bit of wisdom from a fellow Latina trailblazer.
If that’s not the definition of goals, we don’t know what is.
Whether you’re a student, athlete, volunteer, or aspiring leader, Ximena’s journey proves that you don’t have to be perfect to make a difference. You just have to start, right where you are, with the story you already have.
And who knows? One day, you might just find yourself on a national stage, making waves for your generation.