I joined SOS when I was a freshman in high school. At the time, I didn’t really know what to expect. I just knew it was something different from what I was used to, and I wanted to try it.
Growing up in Detroit as an immigrant, outdoor activities were not a big part of my life. I wasn’t around many people who went skiing, snowboarding, or camping, so those things felt pretty unfamiliar to me. SOS gave me the chance to try them for myself.
I remember being nervous at first and definitely not knowing what I was doing all the time. I made mistakes, laughed about them, and kept going. Over time, I got more comfortable with being new at something and not having everything figured out right away.
I didn’t realize it then, but that ended up helping me a lot once I got to college.
I’m now a sophomore at Michigan State University studying Criminal Justice, Interdisciplinary Studies, and International Relations, also minoring in Law, Justice & Public Policy. Starting college meant being in a lot of new spaces again. I started joining organizations, going to meetings, and sometimes being one of the youngest people in the room. After completing my undergraduate degree, I plan to continue my education and pursue a higher degree.
There were moments when I questioned whether I had enough experience to speak up, but SOS had already taught me that being uncomfortable at first doesn’t mean you don’t belong there.
That mindset helped me become more involved in the work I care about now.
I’m involved with the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Detroit Outdoors, and SOS Outreach, and I also serve as a Youth Advisor with Outdoor Alliance for Kids. A lot of my interest in outdoor access comes from my own experience. I remember what it felt like to not automatically see myself in those spaces, and now I care about making sure other young people feel like they belong there too.
This summer, I also interned with Rising Voices, a project of the Center for Empowered Politics, where I worked on youth engagement, outreach, research, advocacy, communications, and program coordination. I’m also a Youth Council Member with the Detroit Racial Equity Coalition, where I bring a youth perspective into conversations about racial equity and community issues.
The work I do now looks different from what I was doing with SOS in high school, but I still see the connection. SOS helped me become more comfortable walking into something new, speaking up, and figuring things out as I went.
It also changed the way I think about opportunities for young people.
When I was younger, I was the one being given the opportunity. Now I want to help create those same opportunities for somebody else.
That is one of the biggest reasons I’ve stayed connected to SOS and Detroit Outdoors.
I still don’t know exactly where my future will take me, but I know I want to keep working with young people, my community, and organizations that make opportunities more accessible.
When I first joined SOS, I was just trying something new.
Looking back now, I’m glad I did.