Leonid

Hello! My name is Leo and I was raised in Kherson, a port city in southern Ukraine. Along with my brother, we live with our mom and step-father. Without a strong sense of direction or confidence, I was easily led off course by my friends as a child, investing little time in my schoolwork and participating in activities that were leading me nowhere. However, when I was fifteen, my family began visiting a church. Uncertain of what to expect, I was surprised to find true friends for the first time in my life. We grew in our faith together and learned how to encourage one another to not only pursue God, but to value and work towards our future as well. It was through this experience that I began excelling in school and learned the reward of hard work. I am driven to meet teens in my community right where they are and show them they are loved and that their life has meaning and purpose.

Now, a Developing Global Leader, I am applying myself to pursue a career I never believed to be within my grasp. I am pursuing a degree in information systems and technology from Kherson State University and hope to one day work in web design and application development. As a DGL scholarship recipient, I want to honor this opportunity by working diligently on my studies, open a new club in our community, become an excellent leader with a burning heart for teens, and give my best to God’s ministry and young people. I am engaged to be married and try to better myself daily as I prepare to provide for my role as provider and spouse as well. Additionally, I will be the first person in my family to graduate from university.