Leadership Opportunities for Teens Through Tallo

By: Grace B., 10th grade student and SAC intern

What if you could get leadership opportunities and explore careers before even stepping into high school? My name is Grace, and I want to share how Tallo made that possible for me.

From K12-Powered Student to Tallo Ambassador: My Leadership Development Journey

I first discovered Tallo, K12’s partner career platform, in 6th grade after hearing about it through my school. At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was quickly welcomed by an incredibly supportive group of students with big dreams and professionals who were passionate about helping the next generation achieve their goals. Looking back, Tallo was one of the best decisions I made while with K12.

Building a Foundation: Student Leadership Development and Other Tallo Platform Benefits

Even when I was younger, I found myself pushing beyond what was expected, and Tallo provided the opportunity to grow as a leader early on. I was only 13 when I became an Ambassador for Tallo. My role involved serving as a digital mentor to nearly 2 million users. I gave students guidance and support to explore their next steps, whether that meant college, internships, certifications, or career exploration and planning.

I connected with students from around the world and helped guide them through important decisions about their futures. As an Ambassador, I was invited to speak as a panelist in sessions where students asked questions about my journey, career goals, and the advice I had to offer.

I also had the opportunity to work with companies like Lockheed Martin, where I was recognized as a featured member, and the University of Southern California, which sent me a USC sweatshirt in appreciation of my dedication to helping others.

In addition to mentorship, I contributed creatively by designing merchandise, including blankets, mugs, sweatshirts, and hats that were sent to students and competition winners across the platform. I regularly attended meetings with the Tallo team, contributed to the platform’s rebrand, and served as a student voice, especially for the younger members (I was one of the few middle school students involved at the time).

Despite my age, I was always treated with the same respect as the older students. I had the chance to mentor teens several years ahead of me while continuing to grow and learn myself.

Tallo was more than just a platform of career tools and resources for me. It was my first real opportunity, and it helped shape the kind of leader I am today, and I will be forever grateful.

Real Impact and Student Success Stories Through Tallo’s Leadership Opportunities

Tallo is a platform with a real impact on real students. As a mentor, I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the success stories. I recall a few students I had the chance to work with, such as Madi. I helped her decide which career she wanted, and in the end, she chose to enlist in the military as a pilot.

Or Steven, who was a fellow student ambassador, and now he’s a pharmacist. He founded the Tallo American Sign Language Club while we worked together at Tallo.

Tallo gives this generation of students with big ideas an opportunity to accomplish them. I was awarded Top Influencer every month for a year. I got to work with so many incredible students, and seeing them progress in their careers thanks to Tallo made me happy to be a part of it. I remember students recognizing my name and thanking me for my contributions.

That’s the kind of impact Tallo makes on students.

Tallo offers so many leadership opportunities for teens of all ages. Whether you’re a young, ambitious student like I was or an older student about to graduate, Tallo is there to help.

The fact is that students often get overlooked when it comes to leadership opportunities, especially younger students. Tallo was the first platform that gave me a chance. They gave me a way to help teach myself and other students how to be a leader, and that’s the best gift students today could ask for. Being given this opportunity at a young age helped me build my confidence and shaped me into who I am today.

Career Exploration for Students Made Easy

As a young student, I didn’t have much knowledge of life after school, but Tallo made career exploration simple with clear next steps to take. I was allowed to attend college fairs before even entering high school. I had amazing mentors and friends I met through the platform who helped me achieve so much more than I could have ever imagined.

Tallo connected me to many outside opportunities, whether it was colleges, certifications, or even celebrities. I was invited to virtual events where I got to meet Stephen Curry and talk about his book, I Have a Superpower, as well as Justin Baldoni for Boys Will Be Human. I have worked with major companies, including Boeing and Lockheed Martin. I connected with other students and professionals in my dream career field, and most importantly, I found a group of people who still support me today.

Where I Am Now: Building on Tallo’s Leadership Development Foundation

When I was 13, Tallo gave me my first real opportunity. Now, at 16, I’m accomplishing more than I ever thought possible. Over the years, many of the students and staff I worked with have gone on to new opportunities, including myself, but I’ll never forget how it all began.

If I could give younger students one piece of advice, it would be this: don’t underestimate what you can do just because you’re young. Age doesn’t define your impact.

And to the parents: sometimes all a student needs is one chance to grow. That early support can shape everything. As I continue to build my career, I’ll always carry the lessons and confidence that Tallo gave me.

Discover What Tallo Can Do for You

Tallo is a starting point—a launch pad. It helped me gain the experience and confidence to strive for more. It opened up so many opportunities for me, and I hope every student who reads this feels inspired to pursue their goals, and every parent encourages their child to chase that potential without hesitation.

Explore Tallo today to find leadership opportunities and other resources for your student.

They also have a fun summer career adventure program happening right now. Check it out.

Grace is a 2025 student at a K12-powered school in SC, and their statement reflects their experience at their school.