A speech by Sabrina Leung delivered to a crowd of 220 people at Enterprise for Youth’s annual dinner celebration, Heroes at Work on May 1st, 2024. One of three speakers, Sabrina shared her personal journey and how Enterprise has impacted her life. 

“My experiences at Enterprise for Youth have made me realize that I want to help myself and others grow in an environment as meaningful and supportive as the one I had.”

Good evening everyone. Thank you for joining us tonight. It’s hard to believe that we are already five months into the year 2024, marking the halfway point of my university journey. Reflecting on this time, I feel fortunate to have been exposed to so many inspiring mentors and learning opportunities that have helped me become wiser, stronger, more compassionate, and have shaped me into the person I am today.

At the age of 10, I moved from Hong Kong to San Francisco. Adjusting to a new environment was challenging since I didn’t know anyone except my brother. At that time, I had no clear idea of what I wanted to do in the future. I felt quite lost and followed my brother’s lead, trying to stay motivated as we finished middle school. He introduced me to Enterprise for Youth.

During my freshman year at George Washington High School, I walked into my first summer internship with Enterprise in my 3-inch heels, even though I didn’t know how to walk in them! My only thought was to dress nicely and present myself properly. 

I worked at the Enterprise office itself, and as I continued to attend more workshops and spend time with Enterprise mentors, I found myself becoming more engaged because of their attentiveness to my needs. I learned about SMART goals and they guided me in finding my passion. I especially appreciated that the staff paid attention to our mental health, making the learning activities enjoyable.

After that first year, I grew to appreciate Enterprise’s mission of advocating for young people and decided to continue working with them throughout high school, becoming more involved in programs like the Youth Council and the Career Exploration Program.

“When we celebrated the end of the internship, I remember crying with Meghan because it felt like everything had come full circle, knowing that one of my mentors who guided me through high school was now watching me help others grow.”

In my second year, the COVID-19 pandemic made everything virtual. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from Kaiser Permanente that summer. Even though the learning experience was virtual, the internship was fulfilling. 

In just about one and a half months, I met over 30 professionals in the medical field—roles I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise. We spent time in small groups, getting to know each professional individually as they shared their experiences and emotions, giving me a new perspective on what being a doctor involves beyond just saving lives. 

Each speaker not only talked about their experiences but also gave great life advice and made an effort to get to know us. We shared our struggles and they related to us, making us feel at ease and not alone.

Fast forward to last year, my freshman year of college, I was again involved with the Career Exploration Program. This time, instead of being a learning intern, I was a lead program assistant responsible for organizing and helping other youths grow. While working behind the scenes, I experienced for the first time the impact of being in a mentor-like role. 

I wanted to keep the students engaged and interested because I wanted them to have the same fulfillment I did. I discovered that students learn best when they feel at home and are given individual attention. My past experiences made it easier to bond with the students as I saw my past self in their shoes. 

When we celebrated the end of the internship, I remember crying with Meghan because it felt like everything had come full circle, knowing that one of my mentors who guided me through high school was now watching me help others grow.

After all these years at Enterprise, I have grown fond of the human connections I’ve fostered, leading me to choose Sociology as my major at UC Davis. My experiences at Enterprise have made me realize that I want to help myself and others grow in an environment as meaningful and supportive as the one I had.

Over the past year, meeting students who are just starting out and are highly motivated has been like seeing my younger self exploring this new world of the workforce and discovering my own definition of success. It makes me feel grateful for everything I’ve learned from the Enterprise family and a bit bittersweet as I will always cherish the time and relationships I’ve developed over the past six years.

Even though my journey of self-discovery and finding my path hasn’t been the straightest, I will always be grateful for a really special person who is also here today, my mum. From the daily car ride pep talks to now pep talks on FaceTime, you’ve been my greatest pillar of strength. Thank you for always giving me your wisdom, belief, and unconditional love, even when I doubted myself, giving me the confidence to tackle any challenges that may come my way.

I’m very excited for there to be more opportunities for the new generation of young people to learn and grow at Enterprise, and that is why we are all here tonight—to give students experiences that will help them be the best versions of themselves. Together, we are making this possible.