Evolvement ❘ Promoting a tobacco-free New Mexico

Hi, I am Diego Romero and attend Arrowhead Park Early College High School. I have been in Evolvement for 3 years and on the Leadership Team for 2. The Leadership Team has been a great opportunity and I am grateful I have participated in it. From the opportunities and experiences I have gotten to be a part of, to the friends I have made along the way, the Leadership Team is the most wonderful experience and I believe I have learned a lot of different skills and become more passionate about advocacy work because of it.

Within Evolvement I have gotten to participate in a range of activities, from attending Leadership Summits to even getting to meet with legislators during Day at The Capitol. Summit is where you get to learn about all the different aspects of being a leader in Evolvement and not only is it informative but it is also fun. One minute you are learning how to give a site visit presentation and the next you are participating in an air band concert with fellow leadership members to see who can play the air guitar the best. Getting to meet with legislators, speaking to the people who make policy changes, and seeing what they do in their everyday lives is a great experience. It’s important to educate those who make these decisions so that they know what’s going on and what they can do to make our state happier and healthier.

I think that Evolvement has taught me skills that I can continue to use in my professional life. Some examples include how to be a better communicator. I want to continue to become an Electrical Engineer and communication is key in a work environment like that. From the different presentations I have gotten to do I think I have greatly improved upon these skills to the point that I can confidently say that it’s easy once you know what you are doing. I have also learned some other skills that are important like networking. At this last summit, we learned a lot about networking and how important it can be. Networking is also a very important skill to have since having connections can always benefit you in the end.

The Evolvement leadership team is truly one of the best things I could participate in. From learning life skills I can carry on into the rest of my life to advocating for change, I feel the work I have done will have a lasting impact that will affect future generations and current. The leadership team has made me a better leader and I am grateful for that.

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