My name is Leila Lewis and I’m from Orlando, Florida. I’m a 2nd generation American and the daughter of two army veterans. Growing up in a military household has always been special to me, and I feel as if it has shaped my brothers and I to be ready for the grueling aspects of life.
Starting from elementary school, I was involved in Girl Scouts for about 3 years, which was primarily focused on giving back to my community. For all three years of middle school, I also volunteered for Junior Additions, which involved helping out a kindergarten classroom every morning. And finally, I joined MCJROTC in high school. This gave me a feel for the military as its primary focus was leadership and discipline. These experiences taught me the importance of giving back to my community and gave me the opportunity to lead and set an example for my peers.
Graduating high school in the midst of a global pandemic was not at all how I expected to transition to college. However, this experience has aided in gaining a new perspective on life as I’ve had plenty of time for introspection. Though, politically, 2020 has been especially mentally draining, I feel as though it really shaped my understanding of the world and reminded me that we as individuals really do have a voice and it is important to use it, especially in situations of injustice. These experiences have been especially important in helping me transition into adulthood and I plan on continuing to be more involved in my community through Agnes Scott College and beyond.
