The National Hispanic Institute is a non-profit organization, that develops Latino youth to become potential world leaders, by training them in a series of programs for high school and undergraduate students. We challenge our talented youth to develop themselves culturally, intellectually, and socially, and encourage them to use their leadership skills to become better citizens and members of their communities. All training and programs are run by volunteers, such as myself. In an average year, I will spend a minimum of 500 hours training freshmen for the Young Leaders Conference, or staffing programs nation wide. High school freshmen participate in the Young Leaders Conference, in which, they have the opportunity to develop their debating skills in four categories: Mock Trial, Cross Examination, Oratory, and Extemporaneous Speaking. The topics of debate always are subjects that affect the Latino community such as, education, immigration, economics, and health. This year the topic is: Can freedom and equality co-exist? The freshmen will go through about 6 months of extensive training by coaches to are upper classmen in high school, and will participate in weekly meeting with their local chapters. Each team is after the same prize, the Silver Cup! High school sophomores and juniors are given the opportunity to participate in the Lorenzo De Zavala Youth Legislative Session. The participants are challenged to learn the entire legislative process in a week’s time and run for positions in mock senate and house chambers. Each session has a president or governor and bills are written and passed by the same principles that are used by the US Government. Students who attend the Texas program actually utilize the Texas Capitol to perform their legislative session. This program also has fun aspects to it such as, spending a week on a college campus, sleeping in dorms, a formal dance and bonding within small groups of large delegation, a talent show, and a trip to town. Outstanding participants are awarded Ernie’s (trophies) at the end of each session. High school seniors may attend the Collegiate World Series, which is a program that prepares students for applying to colleges and what to expect as far as your senior year in high school. Here, students go through their first graduation ceremony and this program is somewhat of a mini-reunion for LDZ participants. The participants compete for spots on teams of colleges (college representatives have a ‘draft’) and students then compete against each other in events that are related with college applications such as, resumes, interviewing skills, chants, and skits. In the end, only one team is victorious and claims bragging rites forever. In the four years I have actively participated within the National Hispanic Institute (NHI), I have grown as an individual, a leader, and in my Hispanic culture. I am more aware of my Latino community and the role I can play in making a difference for the future. I spend hours volunteering my time and energy in training extemporaneous debate, and receive the greatest reward, when my students go off to competition and do exceptionally well. I remember being in competition myself and feeling ashamed because I could not debate in both English and Spanish, and I did not know the popular Latino music and simple everyday slang. I made a promise to myself that I was going to change, I no longer was interested in being consumed by American mainstream; I wanted to learn and became a living, breathing, vibrant example of my culture. I was a new person upon arriving home, like most participants of NHI’s programs. My mind was open to think outside of the box, or the 3rd Reality, in which there are no limitations to what can be achieved. I polished my leadership skills and now utilize them in my day to day life. I will be forever grateful to the organization’s founder Ernesto Nieto and his wife Gloria De Leon for providing a series of programs that challenge and develop well rounded Latino leaders. I look forward to the summer time each year, so I can volunteer my time and do my part in insuring that the teens who participate in NHI's programs after me, will be able to have the same or a better experience then I had. This organization has truly become my passions and I plan to give back to it what it has given me. Recently, I was asked to train to become a Secretary of State at the Lorenzo De Zavala Youth Legislative Session for the summer of 2008. This is a huge honor, considering that I am only the second female to train. I have also been awarded other honors from the Institute including, All-Star Extemporaneous Speaker and the Major League Award and, I have made life long friends who live within the United States and other countries such as, Spain and Mexico. With the help of NHI I have touched the lives of over 500 teens just like me. Empowerment does not even begin to describe the benefits of participating in all NHI’s programs. With the skills I have developed I have achieved success in all of my endeavors, notably becoming one of the youngest associates ever hired by the CHISTUS Spohn Health System. This is only the beginning for me, and I plan to work for the National Hispanic Institute and give all that I have to ensure that the legacy created by its founders continue throughout the coming decades. For more information please visit: http://www.nhi-net.org/ To View Videos of the programs visit: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=national+hispanic+institute&search=Search