Why should you engage in LEAD initiatives? 
Peer scholars share their perspectives.

How did LEAD impact your academic, professional, or social development and success?

The lead learning community helped me get ahead of the curve by giving me direct opportunities to learn from alum and professional engineers. The learning community also helped me make life-long friends as a freshman. – James, Mechanical Engineer

LEAD programs have been beneficial for me because it has given me a view of what it is like be a professional in engineering. Academically and socially it has helped me meet other minority engineers within my major and guided me to so many resources that I did not know about before. – Andrew, Computer Engineer

LEAD has been pivotal in my success at Iowa State University first as a mentee and now a mentor. I have learned what it means to be a leader that benefits those around me by being a mentor. Furthermore, I have gained many opportunities as a mentee to network with professors, companies and alumni. –  Majeste, Chemical Engineer

LEAD programs offer a safe space to talk with peers from similar experiences and backgrounds. – Billie, Materials Engineer

LEAD provided me with a community that wasn’t offered to me back in high school. It was difficult to find like-minded people and I felt alone, somewhat isolated. The LEAD programs have become like my family. – Sharice, Aerospace Engineer

LEAD prepared me for what college would be like. I didn’t have to try as much in high school and LEAD helped push me to be a better student knowing that college is harder than high school. – Sheldon, Mechanical Engineer

Why did you choose to participate in LEAD?

I moved to Iowa for school and didn’t really know anyone. Lead programs were my first chances to make friends with other multicultural students and remind me of my diverse home. I also saw that the community had an abundance of resources which have supported my progression through college. – James, Mechanical Engineer

I choose to participate in LEAD because I knew it would put me in places to meet engineers like me. As well as give me so many opportunities that I would not have had before. – Andrew, Computer Engineer

The LEAD program offered me a scholarship but it goes beyond that. I was able to live in a dorm with other minority engineers who shared the same struggles as me and encouraged me to succeed. – Majeste, Chemical Engineer

LEAD programs helped me adjust to college from high school, and since then is where I’ve met some of my closest friends. – Billie, Materials Engineer

Coming into ISU, LEAD was an opportunity to create a different perspective and meet other multicultural students like myself. If I could redo college again, I see myself becoming more involved in the program again. – Sharice, Aerospace Engineer

Coming out of high school I was a little bit concerned about not being able to meet new friends. Lead provided me with a group of people who not only became friends but family. We study, relax, struggle, and succeed together. –  Sheldon, Mechanical Engineer