Get Connected/My Stories »

Everyone has a story to tell. Here is a collection of stories related to STLF submitted by students, parents, supporters, partners, and more. Explore the stories, post comments, and submit one of your own to be posted soon! Thanks for reading!

My Story - Dan "Sparky" Knapp

Posted on 14-May-13 14:02. Comments (0)

In this video My Story, Sparky shares his journey with a group of STLF college participants in a Celebration City! Check it out from the audience's perspective.

My Story - Ken Chong

Posted on 30-Apr-13 14:49. Comments (0)

"A person is a culmination of all the experiences they've ever had which are tied to all the experiences in the world...Sometimes we forget how connected we all are and instead get caught up in our own worlds."

My Story - Kevin Parkinson

Posted on 03-Apr-13 13:51. Comments (2)

"You don't have to solve world hunger or cure cancer to be a leader. My students were leaders the moment they sought solutions for problems in their community, big or small. My students were leaders when they saw the potential for change in themselves."

My Story - Ethan Boldt

Posted on 24-Feb-13 10:16. Comments (1)

"If you are someone who is reading these personal stories to address your apprehension that STLF might not be the organization for you, have no fear. I can say with confidence that, if you keep an open mind, the STLF community can become yours. It’s a community that changed my life for the better."

My Story - Sheila Lindgren

Posted on 24-Nov-12 13:29. Comments (5)

"I am a parent of my daughters who just got back from the STLF Pay It Forward Tour. I just want to say, from a parents perspective, that this is an amazing experience for them."

My Story - Joe Powers

Posted on 15-Oct-12 13:47. Comments (8)

"As I go on to lead ISU mystery bus 1 this upcoming spring I am ecstatic to help fellow students overcome their struggles while revealing their leadership potential. I want nothing more than for every participant to have an amazing experience gaining insight into themselves and their potential."

My Story - Lo Cassidy

Posted on 11-Jun-12 11:50. Comments (0)

“The mission of STLF is to reveal leadership through service, action, and relationships”. That isn’t a mission; a mission implies a wish for something. Consider that statement a promise. A promise implies fact. I can promise, if you let it, STLF will change your life. I know it changed mine.

Our Story - Audrey and Tyler

Posted on 04-Jun-12 11:10. Comments (5)

STLF students Audrey (IL) and Tyler (MN) met each other at Leadership Camp during the summer of 2011 where they created a remarkable friendship.

My Story - Joy McBrien

Posted on 30-May-12 12:20. Comments (2)

I could go on and on about the transformational experiences I saw take place on Laura Jeffrey Academy's first-ever Pay It Forward tour. I had been on 6 tours before, but this was my first time as a "community partner," as I worked to get the tour started out of the all-girls middle school in St Paul that I work at as an Americorps Promise Fellow.

My Story - Barbara

Posted on 17-Apr-12 12:36. Comments (1)

"It was a remarkable day during which I several times found myself overwhelmed with emotion. The world is due for a change and I think your group is helping that along."

My Story - Danielle, MSUM

Posted on 04-Apr-12 12:33. Comments (2)

"When I joined STLF this past fall as a freshman at MSUM, I was told by numerous people that going on the Pay It Forward tour would forever change my life. I knew it would probably be a humbling experience, but wasn't sure it would have that much of an impact on me."

My Story - Jack Baartman

Posted on 29-Mar-12 13:59. Comments (1)

"If you’re like me, you can probably trace a chain of major life events back to one single point. My point is that email. If I had overlooked it, my life would be completely different and almost assuredly not as great."

My Story - Ted Shibata

Posted on 27-Mar-12 11:46. Comments (4)

"It was at that moment, when we arrived back in Grand Forks that I realized I paid it forward. Not only to the communities we served but to anyone that felt the same way I did when I got off that bus four years ago. For anyone that is considering a bus core position, don't wait until your fifth tour."

My Story - Darci, Parent

Posted on 07-Mar-12 14:00. Comments (2)

"I have never seen such a genuine smile on my son's face, nor seen such immense internal happiness beaming through him. I waited to send this note to see if it was a temporary gift, but it is sticking! The impact is real!"

My Story - Erin, UMTC

Posted on 05-Mar-12 10:00. Comments (2)

"I can't lie and say I'm not nervous about leading about 37 of my peers on a Tour. I'm hoping I can give them the same awesome experience I had last year..."

My Story - Maryssa, ISU

Posted on 30-Jan-12 16:41. Comments (3)

Each summer STLF Chapter Core leaders choose a Word of the Year at our annual Summer Retreat. It is a word that unifies all of STLF and describes the year to come. This year the chosen word was Empower. Maryssa reflects on what this word means to her as we enter Tour Season!

My Story - Kari, MSUM

Posted on 19-Jan-12 13:33. Comments (0)

I encourage others to get involved in Students Today Leaders Forever and pay it forward when they can! It's very rewarding! "[STLF] cannot do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good the [STLF] can do." -Kari Stenger

My Story - Devin Hacker

Posted on 16-Jan-12 11:43. Comments (0)

"After going on Tour my life would never be the same. I became part of something bigger, I changed lives, I inspired others, I gave back and I became a part of a family."

My Story - Dasha

Posted on 19-Dec-11 12:24. Comments (1)

"Sometimes during this trip I thought, why aren’t there any non-profit organizations in Ukraine that just help people and make this world better such as STLF. I really felt sorry for my country at that moment. But one thing I realized is that I can make a contribution to my country and help Ukrainians to understand that they are a part of something bigger than themselves and they can change negative situations in their country through community service."

My Story - Leah Martin, UMTC

Posted on 12-Dec-11 12:15. Comments (1)

At home, every single day we go to class or work, living, collaborating, and interacting with other people and we make an impact on them. But more often than not we don't take a moment to appreciate how another person or group of people has impacted us. STLF not only builds and shows love, but it speaks it too.

My Story - Jessica

Posted on 06-Dec-11 12:47. Comments (3)

If I never found this camp, I doubt I would be the person I am now. This has impacted me in ways I never thought it could. It has impacted me to keep being the change that the world is ready to see and make a brighter future for myself; academically, and socially outside of my textbooks and classrooms.

My Story - Josh Hansen

Posted on 28-Nov-11 10:11. Comments (1)

"I believe that youth can change the world because those who came before me in STLF have completely changed my world. I'm merely paying it forward to those around me."

Alex Rongen

Posted on 02-Nov-11 14:54. Comments (1)

"Three has been a recurring number in my life. I was born on March third. I am one of three siblings. I have lived in three towns. I have three splendid best friends. And my life was changed on my third Pay-It-Forward Tour."

My Story - Amir Elabbady

Posted on 19-Oct-11 17:28. Comments (0)

Seven months ago Amir returned from his first Pay It Forward Tour... since then, he has been a member of STLF Camp Crew, lead a HS Pay It Forward Tour, and is in the process of planning his very own College Pay It Forward Tour!

My Story - Ashley Harris

Posted on 19-Sep-11 11:25. Comments (1)

"I shared with this student what STLF taught me: change takes time, but each small step counts. I also reminded them that each time we try and change something for the good even if we fail we will always succeed at making ourselves a stronger and better person."

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