Hi, I’m Xavier May, a sophomore at Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, Missouri. I’m in a highly competitive academic environment where there’s little downtime. Playing sports (football & basketball), as well as other extracurricular activities I’m committed to, means even less time to take a break and focus on well-being. My classmates and I feel we are missing time to be teens and enjoy life because we are focused on the future. That’s in addition to feeling misunderstood and not being able to express ourselves without being judged. I’m encouraged SEL is providing a path, space and platform to bring new opportunities for active learning and student engagement that could inspire students to have a more meaningful learning experience. I joined the Youth Leadership Council because I have unique views I’d like to share and make sure student’s voices are heard. I am committed to supporting the program to continue engagement in our community, make a true global impact and be a force multiplier for change.