What’s it like to Sponsor a Student?

By Patti Shule – Sponsor 

Being a sponsor to Kenia has been a tremendous joy for me since I received her first letter soon after she began at The Leadership Center (TLC).  Kenia wrote, “I want to tell you that I am very excited because I am starting a new chapter in my life. Studying at The Leadership Center is motivating me to continue learning and to accomplish my goals and dreams.” 

I have been blessed in the past 6 years to take 5 trips to The Leadership Center.   I have witnessed the amazing impacts in the lives of the young women who have completed their 2-year programs.  These women come from challenging backgrounds, but at TLC they quickly learn how to use their own capacities, skills, and passion to graduate and then facilitate successful community changes throughout the country!

It was wonderful to see Kenia’s initial excitement continue to grow during her first year. I have noticed the major improvement with her English by keeping in touch with letters and hearing about the activities she participates in at campus.  When I visited campus, I got to spend time with Kenia and we continued building a wonderful relationship by eating meals together, going on walks, participating in activities, and doing morning chores.  Kenia is an amazing young woman who consistently holds a positive spirit and exemplifies the students who attend and graduate from TLC with strong hearts, minds, and voices.  I look forward to our continued relationship and especially for Kenia’s future as I know she will follow her dreams, achieve her goals, and become a strong servant leader and change agent in her community and country.  

By Kenia – Cohort 13 

The first time I wrote to my sponsor, Patti, was my first experience writing a letter in English. In the beginning, I was a little bit nervous because I didn’t know what to talk about. Writing to Patti motivates me because I get the opportunity to share all the exciting experiences that have been happening on campus, and to learn about new experiences that she is having, as well. 

In March ‘23,  I had the privilege to meet my sponsor in person at The Leadership Center in Honduras. It was a lot of fun. As we worked together in the mornings and sat together at dinner, I had the opportunity to get to know her more and learn more about her family. 

Since coming to TLC, I have learned so much about myself. I learned that I have the ability to do many things. I just need to maintain an optimistic perspective of life and be positive in everything I do. Being a student can be challenging, but I am learning many important life lessons, like time management, and that my voice matters. I have learned how to share my opinions and ideas with my classmates. 

My first year is almost finished. As I think about going into my second year at TLC, my goals are to continue writing letters to Patti, perfecting my English, learning about new subjects like business and leadership, and work hard to grow in my capacity to achieve my goals after TLC. 

#stronghearts

The testimony of Patti and Kenia’s partnership is just one example of how partnership is a powerful tool that can be used to change a life. No matter what season of life you are in, we are designed to partner with others. If you’re interested in learning more about the impact of student sponsorship, email admin@leadershipmission.org. Ready to Sponsor? Click the button above to sponsor today.