 EarthCare and 21st Century Leadership Program recently wrapped up their annual convention down in Millageville, Georgia now. It's a program that's designed to teach high school students all about leadership. Well, Citizen Online got a chance to meet one and today we introduce you to Zoe McGee. Zoe McGee is a super talented honor roll student at Burke County High, a leader who's loved by friends. Other way, go up south and look at what you mean about the prophecy. That's what it looks like with Zoe. Maybe around 60 percent? A budding journalist who's admired by teachers. She's just got a lot of maturity for a young lady, her age. And an excellent example of the type of student Georgia Powers 21st Century Leadership Program produces. It is an amazing program. It is so worth it. 21st Century is a program where business and professional leaders collaborate to inspire high school students like Zoe to take on leadership positions, seek out opportunities, and give back to their communities by connecting them with a diverse group of enthusiastic peers and passionate professionals. She tells me the program simply changed her life. I mean, I wasn't always the shy person, but when it came to coming around a whole lot of new people, that kind of put me in like an uncomfortable zone or situation. That China slowly disappeared thanks to the program. It was exhilarating. It was amazing. I felt like at home, I felt as if I could be anything, say anything without judgment. And I was very, very welcome. I fit right in and I made like so many amazing friends who I'm still in contact with to this day. Zoe's growth was tremendous and her teachers took notice. She sets a high bar for everybody and does it so professionally. Because of it, it allowed me to basically open up my mind, open up how I see the world and everything around me. I've learned to be more aware. I've learned to be more hopeful and optimistic. But it wasn't always easy for Zoe to embrace hope. She was born to a teenage mom who struggled with drugs and men were costly. And put me in danger as well as her and my other siblings. We were homeless for a while. I remember even spending the night at the city park sleeping in the slide. It's not very fun. Despite the chaos, Zoe believes deep inside, her mom wanted better for her children and sent them to live with family until she could get help. After living with other family members who kind of really didn't want me as much as I needed them, I was finally taken in by her cousin. That's when life started to normalize for Zoe, thanks to her Aunt Terri Kelly, a Southern nuclear employee. I have been adopted and living with my new parents for about 11 years now. They've taken care of me. They've raised me to be the best I can be. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here. And they taught me everything that I need to know when it comes to going out into the big world. Zoe is grateful for her parents' love and her experiences with the 21st Century Leadership Program. She tells me they taught her a lot of real life lessons. Make the best better, always be hopeful, never give up. And if you fail, just get back up, try again and know that even though it was the big world out there and quite scary, you're always going to have someone there by your side that's going to help push you and help you go forward. Zoe tells me she's thankful for everyone who gave her guidance in the program and is looking forward to a bright future. For Georgia Power, I'm Craig Bennett.