Participants Joey and Daryn share their experiences from the John Deere Drive Your Future Academy!
This month, First Tee – Greater Washington, D.C. participants Joey and Daryn were among 24 representatives to participate in the John Deere Drive Your Future Academy in Detroit, Michigan!
This female focused event explored leadership development, remaining active in the game of golf, learning the value/impact of volunteerism, and recognizing the importance of teamwork.
Joey felt the experience was really introspective. “During my time at the academy, I discovered my higher purpose, focused on self-reflection, and talked about how I can become a better leader in my school and community. A guest speaker that really opened my eyes to what kind of leader I am was Sommer Woods. In her speech, she talked about what makes you special as a leader and building self-confidence. The academy really inspired me and will help me in leadership roles within school, my community, and First Tee.”
The Academy had several strong female leaders in the industry to serve as role models during the workshop to build a sense of community. Daryn “learned about different types of leaders and building your own brand, like what you would want to be known for. We talked about leadership within a team and working together. Being a leader of a team does not mean that the smaller stuff is left to the rest of the group but to do it all together.”
Joey and Daryn were selected for the Drive Your Future Academy, hosted by John Deere, through a national application process that scored applicants based on essays, letters of recommendation, and involvement in First Tee and other activities.
We are so proud of their recognition and look forward to seeing where their leadership skills take them!