Kayla Gerdes
Kayla currently works at Dairy Queen in Petersburg. She is active in band, choir, jazz choir, and church youth activities.
As VicePresident, Kayla attended the Leadership Development Conference in September. Kayla is very proud of her accomplishments in JILG. She feels she is more of a leader than she first thought.
Kayla main ambition is to help others, so she plans to attend college in the fall and major in psychology.
Kayla Gerdes
PORTA High School in Petersburg, IL
What will your major be in college?
I will be majoring in psychology because I would like to help as many people as I can. I love giving advice to those who are in need.
Where do you work?
I work at Dairy Queen in Petersburg. I am a cashier, food deliverer, and an efficiency cleaner.
How many hours a week do you work?
I work part-time and work an average of 15 hours per week.
What is one thing you think you will miss the most about JILG once you have graduated?
I think I will miss being a leader. This organization was the first for which I have held an officer position. I feel like more people listen to me – I will miss being in the core group that makes JILG happen at our school.
Kayla Gerdes
JILG has definitely given me more leadership skills. I am able to have an even better impact on other people I meet because JILG has boosted my confidence.
What is the one thing that you learned in JILG and how has it helped you?
I think I have learned more on-the-job skills. Having a job, I thought that I knew how to act while working. But from JILG, I have taken to my job how to be professional for when I get a more serious job.
What advice would you give a new JILG student?
My advice would be not to hold back. Do a lot of community service hours and you will feel much better about yourself. Get as active as you can while being in JILG—in the long run, it will help you.
