BEING IN THE BEST PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME - IT MUST BE WOW TIME!

Some days stay with you long after they're over. Generation WOW was two of those days. They were days charged with anticipation and filled with young women stepping into their own power. First in Orlando and then in Jacksonville, close to a thousand teen girls gathered with mentors and women with motivating messages who came ready to share their hard-won lessons from fields as varied as aerospace, healthcare, education, sports, and technology.

The energy was palpable as the Positive and the Possible, the ethos that embraces our WOW girls, was front and center for an afternoon of leadership, mentorship, and inspiration.  Jasmine, from Frank H. Peterson Academies, put it beautifully: "I had so much fun. It definitely brought something out in me that I didn't think I had. I got to express myself more than I thought I could today."

There's magic in that—for each of these girls to find a place to be fully themselves, to recognize that their voices, experiences, and ambitions are the heart of what we're building together is a very special experience.

The day was full of these beautiful "aha" moments. You could see it happening in real-time—girls pausing to consider a new possibility, mentors leaning in to listen and learn from the girls while finding something special inside themselves in the process. One young woman looked around the room and remarked, "We have everyone here—from NASA to nonprofit leaders; there are women who are changing lives every day. I didn't know I could be a part of that." Watching her connect the dots between who she is and who she might become encapsulates what Generation WOW is all about. Our hope is for these girls to know that they matter, that they are seen and heard, that their dreams can be big, and that they have a community ready to support them.

It is the resilience of these girls, whom we call WOW, that always fills me up. Many of them come to this event a bit uncertain, not sure what they were stepping into.  But it is not long after the opening musical act and a bit of dancing that the community of young women present begins to connect, trust, and learn together. Whether they want to be pediatric neurosurgeons, help women in Africa, work in the sports world, or teach, what continues to impact me is how these young women aren't just thinking about their future careers—they're thinking about the world they want to help shape. As they shared their hopes and aspirations, they also shared their challenges and pain. Sharing, caring, dreaming, aspiring, trusting—given the space to look within, to discover new friends, and connect with the women who showed up for them—it is something truly special.

I was reminded of something one of the incredible mentors shared during the event: "I think of the rose that grew from concrete. No matter what's around you, if you get the right support, you'll grow."

This year, it so happened that Generation WOW Jacksonville fell on Election Day—a day about choices. None of us knew how the election would be decided, but the choice we made was to spend this day together. Their excitement, their sense of possibility, and their commitment to the kind of world they want to create left me especially feeling hopeful. To every young woman who came ready to learn and every mentor who showed up ready to give—thank you for being part of this community. Together, we're building a future where girls, women, and communities thrive—where dreams grow and positivity turns possibilities into reality. My heart is full!

What piece of advice would you pass along to the next generation? Let's keep this conversation going—your story could inspire someone today.

Till Next Time.