ERIK DOMINGUEZ

As an immigrant growing up between two cultures, I felt firsthand the rejection and the ridicule that came with being different. I quickly got the message that not having the "right" words, the same knowledge as everyone else, or the ability to say what I wanted to, meant being an outcast... A crippling fear of being judged changed me from a confident, communicative kid to someone comfortable with staying quiet. That was until high school when an unexpected and fortunate series of events led me to join the high school speech and debate team... The secret to being a powerful communicator - the kind that makes you rethink how you perceive something or inspires you to reach higher - is confidence.