My name is Malik Best, and I am from Wilson, North Carolina. Last December, I was selected to represent the Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center at the Job Corps 2.0 Leadership Summit: Students Today, Leaders Tomorrow in Washington, D.C.

I was selected to go to the leadership summit because of the responsibility I’ve shown, my position as a leader on campus and my hard work in my painting vocational trade. Student representatives and center directors from Job Corps Centers from across the country were invited to take part in the Job Corps 2.0 Leadership Summit.

I enrolled in Job Corps to further my trade skills and develop my leadership skills. I wanted to learn how to be independent in life and Job Corps was my first choice to learn how to do that and pursue my goals. At Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps Center, I am enrolled in the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades painting program. I am a leader in my dormitory and a member of the Student Government Association.

Joining the SGA changed me for the better. It taught me how to become a better public speaker and how to lead other students. My time on the SGA also taught me about accountability and taking responsibility for myself and others—whether good or bad.

The Job Corps 2.0 Leadership Summit was a fantastic experience, and it afforded me great opportunities. It was exciting to see students from across the Job Corps programs. We, Job Corps students, were the focal point, and had the opportunity to advise Marty Walsh, secretary, U.S. Department of Labor, on how the program is being run. Secretary Walsh was a pleasure to meet. He was engaging and respectful. He listened to everyone’s concerns and took them into consideration. His message was heartfelt and he spoke about how we can make a change if we put our mind, spirit and body into it.

There were a variety of speakers, including Job Corps National Director Rachel Torres, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and other supporters of the Job Corps program. Students who’ve graduated from Job Corps also spoke. They gave us, current students, encouragement on finishing what we started and on not straying from our primary goal of making our lives better.

During the summit, participants had the chance to tour Washington, D.C.’s, historical sites. It was thrilling to be in some of history’s great buildings and the experience changed my perspective on life and leadership in general. These opportunities taught me valuable life lessons. It was a time that I will not forget.