For a long time, my identity was tied to the opinions of others. I came to Michigan from Nigeria. So, my idea of what high school would be like was shaped by what my parents told me. It was also shaped by my experience in Nigeria at my secondary school. The secondary school I went to was pretty competitive. Every semester when we got our grades back, classmates would ask me, “What position did you get?” In comparing myself to others, I learned that I was more than insecure. I was clueless as to who I was. I asked myself, “What is different about me? What is wrong with me?” From colorism and racism, to being bullied, I oftentimes used makeup as a way to mask my pain, not to highlight my beauty.

I knew I had to get good grades. I knew I was competing for scholarships. I knew I had to excel and succeed, no matter what. I did what others expected me to do. I ran for offices because other people wanted me to. I strived for titles and positions simply because others said that was the definition of success.

But none of those things properly defined me. The truth is, at the time, I couldn’t accurately define myself. I had neglected to define me.

By the time I graduated high school, I wanted to be able to say, “I know who I am, and I know what I represent.”

That one summer after my junior year changed everything. The summer I was introduced to You Are the Gift.

I wanted to be my authentic self. That summer, I changed how I carried myself and how I saw myself. I changed how much I valued myself. I learned to think bigger than my circumstances. I walked into my senior year with a different sense of confidence. Through You Are the Gift, I learned that I didn’t have to operate in the imposter syndrome. I didn’t have to impersonate someone else. I could simply be myself, and I learned to be okay with that being enough.

Derschaun always told us, “You can’t be what you can’t see!” Once I entered a world where people were allowed to be their authentic selves, cultivate their gifts within and discover their natural beauty, I knew I no longer had to settle for someone else’s identity. Derschaun taught us that whenever we walk into a room, people should feel our presence. We were taught to carry ourselves with another level of confidence. Sometimes simply putting on a blazer gave me a new sense of self. I began to hold myself at a higher standard. I realized that I am the gift. I simply needed to start acting like I am the gift.

After my time of transformation in the program, I realized that I couldn’t keep this level of greatness to myself. So today, I who was once a mentee have now become a mentor. It’s my duty to give back. Even if it’s just for one year, I feel like I owe it to the girls and Derschaun. There are young girls who are in the same position I was when I came into the program. I know I’m making an impact as a mentor. The more I serve as a mentor each and every year, the more I grow into a greater version of myself. Even if I don’t make an impact on all of my mentees, if there’s just one person who needs my help, one person crying out for help, then it’s all worth it. Every girl will leave the camp knowing they are beautifully created and wonderfully made. They will leave knowing that they are the gift, that they are the whole package.

~ Kema Dauda