Riverview Student Uses Personal Experience to Motivate Young People with Disabilities

News Report

Becoming a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army requires focus and drive. Fortunately for him, Kyle Chubb has both. Despite his struggle with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the 19-year-old University of South Florida freshman from Riverview knows what he wants and has the determination to get it.

Currently a member of the USF Army ROTC, Chubb plans to join the National Guard to help pay for college. With an expected graduation in 2014, he can become a commissioned second lieutenant in the U.S. Army after four years and then serve active duty.

As a student at Newsome High School, Chubb felt most at home with ROTC and his experience as a part of the Florida Youth Leadership Forum (YLF). 

“When I saw people in high school who didn’t have any friends, I wanted to help them,” Chubb said. “I wouldn’t want to do high school over again, so I understand. YLF is where I fit in.”

Late last month, Chubb served for the second time as a staff member for nearly 50 high school delegates coming from across the state to participate in the 2012 YLF held annually for the past 13 years in Tallahassee. The forum is hosted by The Able Trust, a statewide nonprofit organization with the mission to be a key leader in providing Floridians with disabilities opportunities for successful employment.

It is designed to teach students with disabilities about personal leadership through workshops, social activities and mentoring opportunities. Chubb attended YLF for the first time as a delegate in 2010 and again as a mentor in 2011.

Since the beginning of YLF, more than 500 students across Florida have traveled to Tallahassee with hopes of cultivating leadership, citizenship and social skills. Each year, YLF alumni eagerly return to the program as junior and senior staff members to share their experiences with the new YLF delegates.

Various events, such as an etiquette dinner and a career fair, equipped participants with tools needed to thrive in the workforce. The career fair gave students the opportunity to meet face to face with employers from various career fields to learn about job options and employment opportunities.

In addition to professional training, students participated in a variety of social events – including meetings with dignitaries at the State Capitol. Formal events, along with fun activities like a dance and talent show, allowed them to interact with each other on a personal level and gain long-lasting relationships.

“Leading at YLF makes you feel like you’re doing something for those kids who are still in high school so they understand they’re not any different from anyone else,” Chubb said. “When they go back, they can use those tools to guide them through tough situations and problems.”

Chubb has made a habit of helping others. In addition to working two part-time jobs —one at Kmart and one at RGIS, a global inventory services company —he is active in his church as a youth ministries leader for middle school and high school students.

Young adults with disabilities from around the state return to Tallahassee each summer to provide their high school peers with the same network of support and relationships that they received during their first time participating in YLF.

“One of our goals of The Able Trust is to ensure that young people with disabilities have the skills and confidence they need to pursue college or a position in the workforce after high school, and we believe the Youth Leadership Forum helps to do just that,” said Dr. Susanne Homant, president and CEO of The Able Trust. “Students are given the tools and knowledge they need to go back into their communities and pursue their goals. YLF is a life-changing experience for not only the students, but for the volunteers, mentors and businesses who participate as well.”

For more information about the Florida Youth Leadership Forum, visit www.floridaylf.org.