A Blog by Kayla Reynoso, AzFBN AmeriCorps VISTA
“The desire to reach the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise and most possible.”
Maya Angelou
This quote (by one of my favorite storytellers and civil rights activists) resonates with me — I want to be remembered not only as a woman whose radiating energy was felt in every room but, more importantly, as someone who kept her word, showed compassion, and remained steadfast in illuminating the truth.
It’s taken some time since February to sort through my thoughts about the different women in my life, and how they have influenced me to feel this way.
I’ll start with my older sister, Aidaly. She’s the epitome of “wearing your heart on your sleeve.” She is genuine, humble, kind, and respectful, qualities that I and many others strive to embody. Since I can remember, she’s always emphasized, “Don’t ever let anyone dim your light. Show up in any room as yourself, and if people don’t like it, so be it.” This phrase has always stuck with me!
In a world filled with criticism, unkindness, and people threatened by others’ successes, confidence, or positivity, it’s easy to succumb to a negative narrative.
From a very young age, I noticed my mom was someone many people gravitated toward. I used to think it was her elegant (yet fiery!) personality and strong Bostonian accent. But as I got older, I realized it’s much deeper than that. Mom shows up unapologetically as herself. She has a heart for truly seeing people. I don’t mean visually — she acknowledges people. Her way with words makes it easy for others to share their life stories. I’ve seen this happen with her coworkers, me (crying to her about feeling lost in life), and even strangers we met on vacation.
It’s what I admire most about her.
I’ve also had the privilege of working at an organization where I’ve witnessed a positive work culture, open communication, and a deep desire to serve people wholeheartedly, all while remembering that we are people first. Conversations have taught me the importance of humility, resilience, and being a voice for the voiceless to drive real, actionable change. Whether engaging with community members or collaborating with partners, my biggest takeaway from the female leaders at AzFBN is their commitment to leaving every conversation, room, and community they serve better than they found it.
I have been surrounded by intelligent, passionate women who lead by example. While they may not always say it directly, their actions make it clear: they want the next generation of leaders to take up space and remember that women, too, belong in these roles.
A heartfelt thank you to my network of many fearless women, especially the women who made it possible for me to be here – my mom and sister. They’ve provided me with so many gems, guidance, and bits of knowledge throughout my young adult life, and have rooted for me throughout my two-year experience as an AmeriCorps VISTA.
Like Maya wrote, I aspire to be someone who can reach hearts. For me, what truly matters is how you positively impact someone’s life and create space for them. I am excited to take all the lessons learned into my next chapter, wherever that may be.
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