DON'T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS.

because you do have a different lived experience as a person of color at a PWI (predominantly white institution). Coordinating was exhausting, but exciting,” she said. “You know, I’m not there for all the fluffy stuff; I’m not at everything. But when it counts, I’m going to show up, and I’m going to give you 110% and make sure things happen and that we don’t lose what’s important.”

Plenty of lessons have been gleaned over the years, but one in particular rises to the surface for Forte: Don’t jump to conclusions.

“I remember the saying, ‘Everything you need to know, you learned in kindergarten,’ and I’m starting to realize as I get older just how true that is,” she said. “Leadership teaches us that there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes the world will never know about. And it’s easy to assume what’s going on from what you read in a headline and hear by word of mouth. There are typically so many more things at play. I try not to assume, give people the benefit of the doubt, and really look into something before jumping to a conclusion.”

If she were to offer some advice to her younger self, Forte would assure herself that no matter the path, everything is going to work out OK—whether you believe it to be true or not.

“Oftentimes, you go through life thinking you have to have so many things accomplished. I’d spent so much of my life focused on thinking I had to do this one thing to make the next thing happen, and you realize life doesn’t actually work like that,” she said, emphasizing that for the majority of people, there’s no one straight line.

“Even then, your line isn’t the same as somebody else’s. Things work if you roll with the punches, figure things out, are flexible and decide what’s good out of whatever it is you’re experiencing.”

In her free time, Forte can usually be found near or in water, enjoying live music, cooking and baking, and listening to a good audiobook or three (at a time).

“You know, I’m 43. And you think to yourself, ‘You’re supposed to be an adult adult by now,’ and I’m not an adult yet. I know it. I’m not there. I haven’t arrived. I’ve still got stuff to figure out.” WMW

You can learn more about Baxter Community Center and getting involved by visiting wearebaxter.org.