Two days that make lifelong changes

Laila Lloyd came to Central Michigan University at a challenging time for an introvert. It was 2021. In-person events were taking place, but lots of things still happened online. Then, IMPACT helped break her out of her shell.

IMPACT takes place over two days before Fall semester classes officially start. New students from marginalized communities are paired with mentors to help them get acquainted with the CMU community and the university’s campus.

Lloyd connected with the program’s community-building aspect. She drew inspiration from the experience. It taught her to look at herself differently.

“I realized that I had the ability to connect with others on a deeper level and be a leader,” Lloyd said.

She also realized she possessed the personality and skills to provide mentorship. Everything she learned gelled the second year she was a mentor.

“Junior year was transformative,” she said. It was her best IMPACT yet.

IMPACT’s programming might take place over two days, but the relationships are lasting. Lloyd checked in on her students throughout both years, she said, ensuring they stayed on the path to success.

“I kept in touch with my mentees because their growth was important to me,” she said. Some were introverts like her, and she said she felt gratified watching them spread their wings.

They’re active on campus. Some mentees are involved in the student organization Lloyd founded with her roommate, Lloyd said. Some of them have followed her into mentorship roles with IMPACT.

Lloyd has a new IMPACT-related challenge this year. Now in her senior year, she is part of the event’s core staff. She was tempted to do a third year of mentoring but was encouraged to apply to help organize the event instead. She again pushed out of her comfort zone.

She’s attended Fire Up Fridays and spoken in front of groups larger than 100 people. She also works information tables, answering questions and sharing her IMPACT experiences.

Pushing herself hasn’t just helped her develop new skills. It’s filled her with the confidence to meet new challenges.