Jo'Elle Sengsourichanh

Why continuing an education is so important to her:

"The first time someone confided in me about suicidal thoughts, I was sixteen years old and standing in the hallway after a Bible study.

Most of the students had already gone home, but one young woman stayed behind. As we talked, she shared that she had been struggling with thoughts of ending her life. While she spoke, I kept thinking about the younger version of myself who once wondered if anyone could understand what I was carrying. I knew what it felt like to smile on the outside while quietly fighting battles no one else could see.

That conversation changed the way I viewed education. I no longer saw college as the next step after high school. I saw it as preparation.

Over time, I watched that same student become connected to a community that genuinely cared about her. Through friendships, mentorship, faith, and support, she discovered that she was not alone. Today, she is one of the leaders of Chosen Generation, the very student organization that helped her find hope during one of the darkest seasons of her life. Watching that transformation taught me something I will never forget: support can change the direction of a person's future.

As co-founder of Chosen Generation, I have helped organize Bible studies, prayer gatherings, and worship nights that bring students together and create space for honest conversations. I also founded The Covered Bridge, a youth-focused initiative designed to connect young people with resources and support before their struggles escalate into crisis. Through both experiences, I have seen how many young people are searching for someone willing to listen, encourage, and guide them toward help.

Those experiences are why continuing my education is so important to me. I plan to pursue a degree in psychology because I want to do more than offer encouragement. I want the education, training, and professional expertise necessary to help young people navigate trauma, mental health challenges, and life's difficult transitions. Education will equip me to expand the work I have already begun and serve others on a greater scale.

Golden Women Foundation believes education is a foundation for improving lives and strengthening communities. I have witnessed firsthand how one person's support can help another choose hope over despair. By continuing my education, I hope to become the kind of woman who not only transforms her own future but helps transform the futures of countless others."

Jo'Elle proudly supports:

The Covered Bridge

Law for Dummies Club

Dacula Chosen Generation

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

Jo'Elle, describe something that is plaguing young women today and explain what can be done to turn it around? What can you do to help?  

“For a long time, I thought I was adapting to different situations. Looking back, I was losing sight of who I was.

Around high-achieving students, I tried to be more impressive. Around confident people, I tried to be bolder. When friends were struggling, I felt like I had to be the strong one with all the answers. I became so focused on fitting into different spaces that I stopped asking myself a simple question: Who am I when no one else is around?

That is why I believe one of the biggest issues plaguing young women today is a loss of identity. Every day, we are surrounded by messages telling us who we should be, what we should look like, how we should act, and what success should look like. Social media has made comparison constant. Many young women feel pressure to create a perfect image while quietly struggling with anxiety, loneliness, insecurity, and self-doubt. The more we compare ourselves to others, the easier it becomes to lose sight of our own value.

I know this struggle because I lived it. There was a time when I measured my worth by how useful I was to others and how well I met their expectations. Eventually, I realized that constantly changing myself to fit different situations was leaving me exhausted and disconnected from who I truly was. Through faith, counseling, supportive relationships, and honest self-reflection, I began learning that my value was not based on other people's approval.

I believe turning this issue around starts with creating spaces where young women can be authentic without fear of judgment. We need mentors who listen, communities that encourage growth, access to mental health resources, and opportunities to have honest conversations about the pressures young women face. When people feel safe enough to be themselves, healing and confidence can begin.

This is one reason I helped co-found Chosen Generation. I wanted students to have a place where they could ask questions, build friendships, and support one another through life's challenges. It is also why I created The Covered Bridge, an initiative focused on helping young people navigate trauma and mental health struggles before those challenges become crises. In the future, I plan to pursue a degree in psychology so I can continue helping young people develop healthy identities, access support, and recognize their worth.

I cannot solve this problem alone, but I can be part of the solution. Every conversation, every mentoring relationship, and every safe space created for young women is an opportunity to remind someone that they do not have to become someone else to be valuable. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can help a person discover is who they were created to be all along.”