We recently connected with Kayla Willis and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kayla , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
It is a process to find your purpose. I thought that I would find mine as soon as I got to college. I was so excited to reinvent myself into someone new. As a high school senior, I was fortunate to experience extreme growth. By the time I went to college, so much had happened. I knew that I was meant to become someone new. This was my world.
I had gone viral earlier that year for various accomplishments. This resulted in my decision to start a program in June of 2019 called More Than Numbers (MTN). The goal was to have MTN focus on creating well-rounded students while preparing for their next steps. Later that year, I also began my career at Fisk University. I was eager to change the world. Unfortunately, I did not feel comfortable being myself on campus. As a result, I threw myself into MTN. It had become my safe space. It provided me with passion and inspiration.
By the time I left for winter break, I needed clarity. One of the first things I did was visit my former principal and mentor, Mr. Robinson. I knew that if I spoke with him, I would feel less lost. In addition, I would seek support from my family. I would find myself talking to my grandfather more, which deepened our bond. I needed time to find myself again. Once the next semester started, I had new goals: focus on enjoying school more, create life-lasting relationships, and get out of my comfort zone.
I did well. I felt liberated. The campus felt more familiar. Then, in March 2020, I received an email that we had to move out because of COVID. This would result in me spending the next two months confused, sad, and frustrated. How could COVID come and ruin my plans? How was I going to grow? How was I going to achieve my goals?
I would take a look back at my goal and feel myself shutting down. I threw myself back into my passion, which was still thriving through More than Numbers. I had students who looked up to me, wanted my guidance, and came to me for assistance. Although I was losing confidence, I couldn’t let them down. Despite all of the discouragement, it didn’t phase me. My world started to change. This is when I first caught a glimpse of my purpose. I was no longer focused on myself.
When it was time to give out scholarships, MTN had four standout students but only enough money for three. I remember crying to my family, “If I can’t help them, then why am I doing this?”. I was determined to not give up. This determination allowed me to give all four of the students a scholarship from the More Than Numbers Program.
This excited me so much that I decided to incorporate and register MTN as a nonprofit. I also wanted to take myself to the next level by serving as the Sophomore Class Senator, the Senate Secretary, and the founder of a club on campus. I became more comfortable with who I was at school. I was excited for things to come. By October, MTN had gained its 501(c)(3) status. I felt on top of the world; I was adapting into the Kayla Willis I wanted to be.
Then, in November of 2020, I got the text that Mr. Robinson had passed away. This was the first time I felt my world shift. Through this shift, I felt my purpose grow. The idea of helping others formed into impacting others. Mr. Robinson’s death allowed me to see how much his impact inspired me, and I wanted to do the same. That became my goal. Since my purpose had grown, I decided to live it. My life was centered around my impact on others. However, my purpose wouldn’t start to become fully established until five months later, when I got the call that my grandfather had passed away. It was then that my world stopped for the first time.
When your world changes, you feel it. The life that you have known up to that point isn’t as familiar. Your clouds are shaped differently, your birds chip slower, and your fish swim faster. Your purpose is forming. When your world shifts, it shakes you up. You gain an understanding of why the clouds are shaped that way, why the birds sing different songs, and why the fish swim more gracefully. It is faster to adapt, and your purpose becomes more clear.
Then one day, your world will stop. It is then that you are forced to navigate it. You’ll see mountains blocking trauma that you never addressed. You’ll swim through seas of emotions that you’ve never felt. You’ll feel the wind carry you to dreams you never thought you could achieve. Your purpose will become clear.
When my purpose became clear, it was no longer about who I helped or what impact I had. Those were the catalysts for creating my legacy. My legacy included helping people and impacting them in ways big or small. I decided to dedicate all of my endeavors to that.
Since then, I have been creating a legacy of Kayla Willis. Although it can be overwhelming, I am happy to say that I have found it. By living my purpose, I have my time at Fisk as a part of my legacy. By living my purpose, MTN is creating a legacy of its own. By living my purpose, I am supporting others with their own legacy. My purpose is not over, and there may be more aspects that will shape it. My world is expanding, and I know that when my world ends, it’ll help others grow. Through living my purpose, I continue to build a legacy that helps, impacts, and inspires.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
In May, I graduated from Fisk University with my B.A. in Political Science and Spanish, summa cum laude. Since graduating, my professional focus has been on my career and my nonprofit organization.
Career-wise, I completed an opportunity to work in the Senate under the office of Senator Raphael Warnock in Washington, D.C. This was a great experience. I am currently working under the City Management Department for the City of Douglasville, GA. I am actively applying to graduate programs with hopes of starting in fall 2024!
On May 9th, my nonprofit, The More Than Numbers Program, accomplished our first in-person ceremony! We were able to recognize the members of our College Preparatory Program, scholarship finalists, and partners. We were also able to give out over $4,000 worth of scholarships!
Recently, we just began our fifth season. We have accepted our 5th cohort of our College Preparatory Program, a program focused on providing Greater Atlanta metro students with the aid needed to get into a Southern School and HBCU while giving opportunities for growth, connection, and preparation. We have also accepted our 2nd cohort of our Team Members Program, which is a program to allow college students from HBCUs and Southern Schools to diversify their skillset through working with MTN! We are also launching a new program soon called the REACH Program!
In late September, we will launch our fundraising efforts. Our goal is to be able to give out $4,500 worth of scholarships this year! We are excited to be growing our organization, and I hope that it continues to thrive!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Although I am still developing my qualities, skills, and knowledge, many stand out. I am thankful that I am still developing these parts of my life to become better. If I had to pick the ones that were the most impactful, it would be my proactivity, adaptability, and being a woman of my word.
I am proactive by nature. I think that proactivity is the best way to create balance in life. It has affected me in so many ways. I learned how to manage my time better because of my proactivity. It keeps me productive, alert, and persistent. People see this in me, and it has allowed me to be presented with an ample amount of opportunities.
Sometimes our opportunities do not go as planned. This is where adaptability is important. There have been many times when I have been the most proactive, prepared, and alert person in the room but would have had to quickly adapt. I think adaptation allows you to always stay on your toes. It also forces you to change and grow, which can be hard, especially when there may be a plan. Since I am adaptable, I can easily change routines without getting too off-balanced.
It will take a lot to gain these qualities, but staying organized and keeping an open mind will help to develop them. The more assignments, duties, and plans are organized, it will help with their prioritization. This will help with setting deadlines and making time for extra activities. With an open mind, you can see the lesson with challenges easier. It will help you look at obstacles as areas for growth, so when they happen again, you can be better prepared.
The most important quality that I think I have is that I am a person of my word. If I say that I will do something, I will do it. This is a test of my character, and it shows how dependable I am. It helps people trust me and my work. In addition, it helps me keep my relationships because I can be counted on. However, I never overextended myself. If anyone is attempting to stay closer to their word, it is important to know when to say “no” and “yes”. This helps with learning your boundaries. In addition, you can learn how to make a better impact instead of doing things “just because”. It takes time to evolve, but learning yourself and staying true to your goals will help you further your journey.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Twelve months ago, I was depressed. I was constantly put down, feeling the most lost I had ever been. I would go in and out of this feeling until I noticed patterns. I would be let down, disappointed, and discouraged. Not only with myself but also with the people I was around. It took these patterns for me to begin the process of finding myself again. Some days, it felt like I had built myself up from almost ground zero. As a result, I went through the biggest transition I have had so far. I would cry, laugh, and reflect on the girl I was. I would learn how to stand up for myself. I would learn how to put myself first.
My issue was that I was lost, and I used this to put others before me. I found myself missing out on so many opportunities. I was putting others before myself, deferring my dreams, and reaching for something that was not going to work. It was never going to.
That was my biggest area of growth within the past 12 months. It heightened one of my worst habits: putting too much pressure on myself. I wanted to be the most perfect version of someone who was not meant to be perfect. My goal would be to reflect Kayla, but only the one who was perfect. The perfect friend, daughter, applicant, or girlfriend It took me to grow to learn that this was not possible. I could only be me, and anyone who couldn’t see that was not for me.
It took me a while to put myself first. I had to ask, “What does Kayla want?” and through that, I was able to find myself again. I do not regret anything. Without all of those lessons, I would not have gained the courage I needed. I am in a much better place. Some days are harder than others, but it is the joy of life. Now that I am learning how to put myself first, I can navigate these feelings of lostness better. Life has felt more clear. My goals are mine and no one else’s, and I am accepting who I am as a person. It is one of the biggest (and probably hardest) lessons of them all, but I am glad that I am living it. It has helped me grow into the woman I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mtnyouthprogram.com
- Instagram: kay.willis1 /mtnyouthprogram
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-willis-237856161/
Image Credits
Brett Kleiman, Marcus Willis
