#BTE :The Unfiltered Side of Running a Youth Foundation

Imagine my head is on your shoulder... don’t make it weird.

Okay.

As I was saying, imagine my head is on your shoulder.

Because this is one of those conversations that makes me feel like my head is meant to be on your shoulder. The kind where we can relax, drop the “I’m finesss, it’s okayyy, no really I’m fine it’s okay,” and just be honest about how it truly feels to do something that’s “important” not just to others but to yourself.

Running a youth foundation has been one of the greatest blessings of my life, but it’s also taught me some hard lessons. It has taught me that following your dreams isn’t always picture-perfect. It’s not always perfect outcomes. Sometimes it’s planning that falls apart, people backing out, or moments where you sit staring at your notes wondering if you’re still on the right track and how exactly things went so left so fast. Sometimes it’s just wayyy too long nights, silent stress, and doing your best to hold everything together when there’s nothing you would like more than to drop everything, stuff it in the deepest corner where you can’t find, hear or even see ever again in your life (am I doing too much?? No really tell me …. I am, aren’t I?😀) And tears...lots of tears girl🤣🤣

People always say to me, “You don’t have to have it all figured out.” And they mean it. But deep down, you know there’s still that quiet expectation that you’ll be ready. Ready to lead. Ready to show up. Ready to deliver. And it’s okay… because that expectation often comes from love. From people who believe in you, who see potential in you, who trust you with something bigger than yourself.

That kind of trust is sacred. It’s a blessing. It’s a privilege. And I never take it for granted. But it also means carrying the weight of their belief, learning to show up not just because you’re confident, but because you care, because you have no choice but to show up, because you chose to do this and you have no choice but to see it through.

And caring deeply? It’s exhausting sometimes.

Plans fall apart. People step back. Things you thought were solid suddenly shift. And you find yourself being the one holding it all together, praying it works out while still smiling through it. You stay on “go mode,” always preparing for what could go wrong, always anticipating the next step.

But the truth is, I wouldn’t change a thing.🩵

Because every time I see one person uplifted, one person inspired, one person who feels seen, I’m reminded that the hard days are worth it. That ambition doesn’t always feel easy, in fact we’ve never been told that it was meant to be easy, but it always feels right.

Especially when you’re young, you feel this rush, like there’s a timer on your dreams. Like if you don’t do it now, you’ve missed your chance. But I’m learning that time isn’t the enemy. Time is the blessing. Some plans only bloom after patience. Some dreams need space to breathe.

So if you’re reading this, and you’re someone like me, trying to build something meaningful. Please, lean on your people. Learn to delegate (as someone that struggles with this in particular, trust me i know how hard it can be) , to ask for help, to let others carry the load sometimes, and to let go of things that hold you back. Take that break without guilt.

And most importantly, live in what you’re creating right now. Don’t rush past your progress trying to reach perfection.

Because having a reason to wake up every morning, and put one foot in front of the other is a gift. Being trusted with a vision this big is an honor. And even when it’s heavy, it’s life changing work.

~Love, Nadirah🎀