Milton Hershey School Senior Finds Network Through Leadership Academy

By Celeste De La Rosa ’21

This school year, Milton Hershey School’s Student Government Association (SGA) hosted a Leadership Academy series in partnership with M.O.L.D. Mentoring program, where MHS alumni came back to present on topics to Senior Division students. These academies provided me, as a senior, with unparalleled insight into the world of leadership. As a person who enjoys learning, I tried to soak up as much knowledge and advice from the presenters that I could.

Being at MHS has given me countless opportunities to become my greatest self. Not only has MHS instilled in me strong core values, but the school has allowed me to share my knowledge with others, especially younger Milts.

As a senior graduating this spring, I want our underclassmen at MHS to understand that leadership is difficult, but worth it. I know it’s hard, but being a leader on campus has given me the confidence to enact change and solidify my own core values. The lessons that I have learned during my experience at MHS, I wouldn’t trade for the world. To the underclassmen, my advice to you is to believe in yourselves and never fail to do things that will make you proud.

Being a part of SGA has given me the opportunity to network with the MHS alumni family such as Tiffani Osborne ’09, Julie Viera ’09, and Arman Asemani ’11, and get to know these amazing professionals. I think it’s an honor to learn from those who came before me as an MHS student. The SGA Leadership Academy has provided me with the ability to do just that.

After graduation, I plan on attending Dartmouth College to pursue a career in the dental field. MHS has helped me to break out of my shell and embrace every part of me. It is crazy to think that just nine years ago I arrived at MHS with many dreams, and now, I get to see them all come to life because of Milton and Catherine Hershey.