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The best leaders don’t start with perfect test scores or spotless plans—they start with a clear why. Gary sits down with Chelsea James, a first-generation student at Florida State, to unpack how a COVID-era freshman became a campus leader anchored by discipline, mentoring, and relentless self-advocacy. She shares the real tools that moved the needle: a paper planner, firm boundaries, and the willingness to ask for help early and often.

Chelsea takes us inside JROTC’s impact on her leadership voice, from learning to command a field to navigating high school transitions with grit. We follow her into FSU’s CARE Summer Bridge, where community and structure smoothed the leap to college-level workload. From dorm dynamics and scooter thefts to presidents list wins and e-board funding victories, her stories show how persistence beats the initial no—especially when you prepare, document, and communicate.

We dig into academics without the fluff: turning an F from a misgrade into an A trajectory, leveraging AP writing for discussion boards, and choosing mastery over busywork. Chelsea’s roadmap includes teaching, certifications, and a long-term aim of superintendent—plus a parallel interest in educational law to advocate for teachers and students. She’s leveling up perspective through study abroad in London and an internship in South Africa, chasing lived context that textbooks can’t offer.

If you’re a student, parent, or educator seeking practical advice on planning, setting boundaries, and leading yourself, this conversation delivers a usable playbook. Bring your goals, your questions, and your courage to start now—not later. Do it for you.

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