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Before I ever put on a red shirt or knew what "LMC" even stood for, I was just trying to survive. I was working at 14. Not because I wanted to stack up money for shoes or games, but because I had to help my family with the big bills. We moved around a lot, from family member to family member. My mom was doing her best, but it was tough. We didn’t have much, and it was on me and my mom to make sure we had something.

So when I heard about Lookout Mountain Conservancy, I wasn’t thinking about leadership or growth. I just needed a job. I joined for the paycheck. Simple as that. But it didn’t stay that simple for long.

When I first came in, I didn’t talk to people. I didn’t really know how to open up. I kept everything to myself. I figured no one would understand what I was going through anyway - not having food sometimes, not having new clothes, constantly moving, not knowing what’s next. 

That kind of pressure makes you quiet. I stayed in my head, stayed close to the few people I already knew.

But something started changing. 

I started realizing I wasn’t alone. Everybody here had a story. Everybody here had struggles. The more I saw that, the more I opened up. I started talking to people, started learning how to communicate and build connections. That was new for me, but it felt good.

One of the people who really stood out to me was Tez. From the beginning, he was like the opposite of me. Outgoing, confident, always cracking jokes, but also locked in when it came to getting work done. He didn’t just say he wanted something, he went for it. No hesitation. 

Watching him made me realize I had that same potential. I just needed to get out of my own head. I saw in him the kind of person I could be if I stopped letting fear control me.

There were other people who helped too. Hector. Ms. Robyn. They didn’t just see me as another intern. They challenged me. Taught me how to carry myself. Taught me how to lead.

And I started stepping up. One of the first moments I felt like a real leader was when I taught my mentees how to use some of the tools we work with. I remember showing them how to safely use the weed eater, how to stay alert and do the job right. It wasn’t just about the task. It was about being someone they could trust, someone they could learn from. That made me feel proud. 

That’s when I realized how far I’d come.

There’s one moment I won’t forget. The Sloppy Joe video. It was such a small thing, just me being goofy for a second, saying "sloppy joe" in a funny voice like my granddaddy used to do. Ms. Robyn filmed it and shared it, and next thing I know, people loved it. That little moment brought in support for the program. Just me being me. That was a real confidence boost. It showed me that just being myself had value.

But it hasn’t all been perfect. I made mistakes too. There was an incident - I won’t go into details - but it was something I had to own up to. I had to take accountability in front of everyone. I was nervous. Embarrassed. But Ms. Robyn told me I needed to make it right, and I did. That moment taught me 

a lot about growth, about maturity, about being responsible even when it’s hard.

Before this program, I didn’t really see college in my future. I thought I’d just keep working whatever job I could find. But being here showed me I have options. I have goals now. I want to study business, learn how to market, build something that’s mine. I want to be a self-made man. Not just for me, but so I can give back to my mom. She’s done everything for me. She deserves that.

One of my favorite projects here was uncovering a stone border that had been buried under layers of mud. At first, it just looked like dirt. But the more I chipped away at it, the more the real shape came through. It reminded me of my own journey. Messy at first, but the more work I put in, the more of myself I discovered.

Another big one was the rock wall project. At first, nobody could agree on anything. People were frustrated, arguing. But over time, we started listening to each other, working together. That wall took forever to build, but we got it done. And when it was finished, it looked solid. Like something we built as a team.

That’s what this program has given me. Skills, yes. But more than that, it gave me a voice. It gave me confidence. It gave me the understanding that I

have value, and I have a future.

To anybody thinking about joining LMC, I’d say this: don’t come in just thinking about money. Think about what you can learn. Be open-minded. Be ready to grow. If you let it, this place will change you. It changed me.

Now, I’m graduating high school. I’m wearing the red shirt. I’ve got goals, plans, and something to be proud of. I know I’ve still got work to do, especially on shutting down the doubts in my head. But I’m getting better at that every day.

I came into this program just trying to get by. I’m leaving it knowing who I am, and who I want to be.

-Jimmie