When you think about beginnings, you think about the freshness, the hopes and dreams, the struggles, and the vision if what lies ahead. Beginnings of anything are always hard. It’s those moments in time, and in life, that really test you and show you how bad you want—or don’t want—something. Lucky for us, Josh Mendrala, a sophomore at ThunderRidge High School and Colorado Young Leader, decided to follow his heart and stick with us since the very beginning.
Josh first met CYL’s President and Founder Nicole Mahobian before CYL was even a reality. When she decided to follow her dreams and create a non-profit that looked at leadership in a whole new way, Josh followed. Since the beginning, Josh has volunteered his time at a number of YL events, weekend getaways, and even donates 10% of all his paychecks to CYL. That’s not it though, Josh continues to inspire us as an author, already having written and published two of his own books, while doubling as a triathlete already completing six races this year!
He’ s on fire, especially when it comes to his love for CYL and it’s mission. He believes CYL is a fun, new way of doing leadership. He shared that a lot of other leadership groups that he has been part of during his school years are all about meeting the needs of those groups, while CYL takes it to another level and makes it a fun experience to meet the needs of others.
Surprisingly, before joining CYL, Josh didn’t like working with kids too much, but now, he loves it and considers it a huge passion of his life. Colorado Young Leaders has opened his eyes to pieces of society he had never seen before, and it allows him to truly experience – take place in it – while learning skills and knowledge he was lacking before. Most importantly, he states that he’s having FUN while doing it.
Josh, like so many other Young Leaders in CYL’s program, is following his passion and finding joy in helping others. He thinks it is important that people help support CYL and it’s mission because they’re the next generation, so in his words, “…we’re the future.”
Lastly, Josh believes the greatest impact Colorado Young Leaders is having on people, young and old alike, is the power of story. Last August, Josh and his CYL peers organized and lead a four day camp trip to Winter Park with kids in the Colfax Community Network, an organization that provides an avenue of hope for homeless youth and their families. Reflecting back on the this life-changing four days for both the kids and our Young Leaders, he shared that at the beginning of the trip, a lot of the kids were really closed off and shy. However, by the second or third day, Josh said it was so awesome to see them finally open up to him and trust him. To learn to gain ones trust and friendship was an experience he said he will never forget. By the end of the trip, they were all “best friends,” and the kids even surprised Josh with some fun birthday celebrations.
“It’s trips like these that really set CYL apart from other groups, and organizations. CYL cares about everyone, no matter who you are… CYL is helping young people find the joy in all of life.” Josh reports that he has changed in a lot of ways since joining CYL. He is “much more patient, way less biased, and doesn’t judge people anymore.”
Lover of graphic design, writing, cracking jokes, and competing in races, it is clear and evident that Colorado Young Leaders could not be more happy to have Josh as a Young Leader. From the beginning, he has stuck with us, and seen the beautiful triumphs that come with the journey.
Neil Gaiman said, “Face your life, its pain, its pleasure, leave no path untaken.” Thank you Josh for helping bring this quote to life!
Written by Hillie Brumfield, CYL volunteer & friend, and role model to all young activists