What is your favorite memory from your time in CTI, and why does it stand out to you?
Amazing question!!! I have so many great memories that come with being a part of this wonderful organization, but the one that sticks out to me the most would have to be the time I competed at the State Leadership Conference. This memory sticks out to me because it was during this time where I felt confident in my abilities, especially since the year before, in 2017, I competed in my FIRST State Leadership Conference and won 1st place in the Computer Apps category!!! So that following year, when I competed in this category again, I knew that I had it in the bag (I ended up winning 1st place in this competition for the 2nd time in a row!!!).
How did being part of CTI help you grow as a person or student?
Wow, another amazing question!!! CTI helped me grow as a student by empowering me to make good grades, so that I could participate in all the fun events we had whether it was Community Care Day, Acknowledging our sponsors by going to their businesses and personally thanking them for their support, competing at the Perry Fair or State Leadership Conference, etc. It helped me grow as a person by allowing me to take what I learned from it such as leadership skills, communication skills, life skills, etc and apply it to the real world. That way I could be equipped with everything I needed for my journey outside of the organization.
What was the most important lesson you learned while being in CTI, and how has it helped you since?
I’ve learned a lot being a part of this organization, but the main thing I learned and this is the primary mission of this organization, is to not let your disability, whatever it may be, define you or cripple you. But instead, see this as a gift, a superpower, and a strength that must be shared & displayed to the world. It taught me that I’m more than this and that this doesn’t take away from my life, it only adds to it and for this I’m thankful and grateful. Knowing this makes me proud of where I came from, who I am, and who I’m becoming.
Can you share a time when a CTI event or project challenged you and how you overcame it?
I love this question!!! A time when a CTI event or project challenged me would have to be when I competed at my very FIRST State Leadership Conference for the Computer Apps category. The project I worked on, for that year, was an animation video about Game Designing. The challenge I had with this involved getting the audio correct for the characters who were in it, that way the words I wrote for them would align properly with the movement of their mouths. How I overcame this was through experimentation. Instead of asking for help, I decided to play around with some of the tools that were inside of the browser I used to create the animation. I clicked a couple of buttons to adjust the audio and BAM I had solved the problem all by myself!!! This is another strength this organization taught me and that was how to be both self-reliant and efficient.
How did CTI prepare you for life after high school, whether in work, school, or something else?
CTI prepared me for life after high school by teaching me how to be my own advocate in whatever setting I was in whether that was college, work, etc. It taught me how to speak up for myself in order to have what I need to be successful.
Was there a specific skill or ability you gained from CTI that you use in your life or career now?
Some additional skills that I’ve gained through CTI, that I use in general, are both communication and empathy. It taught me how to speak in front of big groups of people without getting nervous, along with empathizing with others who would share their personal stories & journeys with me while I was a part of it.
How has being in CTI shaped the way you see your own potential or goals for the future?
Wow, this question hits home for me but in a good way!!! If I’m to be honest, sometimes I doubt my own potential, but after reading this question and being offered to do this interview, I’m being reminded of it and this is a powerful thing for me!!! Being reminded of my own potential lets me know that anything is possible and whatever I set my mind to I can do it without a doubt in the world!!! So thank you for this beautifully crafted and insightful question because I needed this!!!
What advice would you give to current CTI students about making the most of their experience?
I would tell them many things such as to enjoy it while it last, meet new people who can potentially become lifelong friends, put yourself out there by being involved in this amazing organization whether it’s through competing at the Perry Fair, State Leadership Conference, running for State Officer of the organization, volunteering in your local community, etc. I would also tell them to dance like nobody's watching lol (The dances we had at the end of the day, when all the competing was over, was to die for!!! Me and my district (Tift County) had a wonderful time at the dances, so I would encourage them to do the same!!!).
If you could thank one person from CTI for their support or guidance, who would it be, and what would you say to them?
This is another amazing question, one that is the perfect conclusion to this interview!!! For starters, I wouldn’t just thank one person but many people who played a significant role in my CTI journey. First, I would love to thank God for allowing me to be a part of this outstanding organization because it was/is a blessing to me. Second, I would love to thank Mrs.Donahue, Mrs.Phillips, & her daughter Julia Phillips for encouraging me & my State Officer Team of the 2018-2019 year, to be our very best and to shine bright!!! Lastly, I would love to thank my district which is the Tift County Chapter of CTI along with my ex-Coordinators Mrs.Tift, Mr.Paulk, and Mrs.Brownlee for being my greatest advocates, teachers, mentors, encouragers, motivators, and role models that a man like me could ever have!!! They showed their care (which they still do!!!) both inside and outside of CTI, and for this I will always & forever be thankful & grateful to have had them be a part of my life!!! Now that we’ve wrapped these questions up, I would personally like to thank you again for granting me and many other fellow Alumni of CTI, the opportunity to share our experiences with you. It always brings me joy when I think about what this organization has done for me, so talking about it with you just enhances it even more!!! Again thank you for this opportunity and I hope you take care!!!