2023 Alumni Award Winner, Julie Kennedy – The Student Has Become the Teacher

Good evening, everyone. My name is Julie Kennedy. I am so grateful to accept the 2023 NAF Alumni Award and share my story with all of you tonight. NAF has impacted my life in ways I never expected.

My journey with NAF started when I was growing up in Miami Beach, Florida. I was raised by a single mother, who worked in the hospitality industry for over 30 years. She also acted as an  advisory board member for NAF’s Academy of Hospitality & Tourism when I was a kid. My older brother joined NAF when he was in high school, and I followed in his footsteps, enrolling my sophomore year at Miami Beach Senior High School. 

I thrived in my academy, because the curriculum wasn’t limited to lectures and textbooks. It took me outside the classroom and connected me to the real world. We participated in hands-on learning activities and opportunities that most students don’t get to experience at a young age, like getting a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of hotels and learning directly from professionals at their workplaces. 

Additionally, NAF helped me develop interpersonal skills and taught me to strategically take risks. When I was younger, I was very shy, and hated public speaking. A speech like this would’ve been a nightmare for me, but because of NAF I was able to build my confidence, come out of my shell, and network with industry professionals. It was this program; my teachers, my fellow students, and everything I experienced that helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, which has impacted how I have dealt with other challenges in my life.  

After I graduated from high school, life didn’t go as I had originally planned. I have had a chronic illness for 23 years, and at times, I’ve had to step back and watch everyone else live their lives and achieve their dreams. I’ve felt stuck in the moments where my health put a pause on my plans, but I’ve learned that it is powerful to embrace those moments and visualize what I intend to accomplish when I reset and move forward.

Getting through tough challenges is about pinpointing your next milestone, which often starts with a single step. Knowing where I want to go and focusing on those next actions help  motivate me to move forward in the face of obstacles that feel insurmountable. 

Once I was able to start moving forward, I resumed my career in hospitality – an industry that offers tremendous upward mobility and opportunities – just a few reasons why I love it! Some of those experiences will always stay with me, for instance the time I was working the front desk in the middle of a Hurricane with no power, learning all about celebrity aliases when checking them in, and the endless characters you meet from all over the world. When the recession hit in 2008, there was so much uncertainty in my field, and that is when my former teacher, Dr. Diaz, called me up and asked me if I would be interested in part time work while I figure things out. My role evolved into a full time position in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. This was originally supposed to be a temporary transition, but I was already taking next steps into what quickly evolved into my lifelong passion, providing high school students with the tools to succeed in college, career and life. It wasn’t just a job, it was a calling. 

Coming back to NAF was truly a full circle moment. After a few years, I earned my teaching certification and was promoted to NAF Career Academy facilitator, stepping in for Ann Fields, following her retirement. Ann Fields helped launch the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism 35 years ago, and graciously helped guide my path as one of my mentors– now I get to carry out her legacy by continuing what she started. Without this program and her mentorship, I would not be here today, so thank you Ann. Can we give her a round of applause after 54 years of dedicating her life to educating students. I also want to thank Dr. Diaz who was my high school NAF teacher, and current supervisor, who continues to support my growth to this day. And lastly, I want to thank my mom and my husband for lifting me up each day.

I am so grateful that every day at NAF I get to support students like me. Seeing graduates accept their certificate of completion in their caps and gowns and receive scholarships reminds me of why I felt called back to NAF and education, this is where I belong. It keeps me energized and keeps me moving forward. 

My path to where I am today wasn’t always easy and definitely wasn’t traditional… but I am now proud to say I will be graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2024. The decision to go back to school and pursue higher education was not an easy one to make, but it was always a goal I aspired to achieve. Tonight, I want you all to know that success looks different for everyone and that is okay. If you aren’t on a traditional path, know that your dreams are still attainable. 

Our challenges do shape us, but they don’t have to be the defining factors of our story, just a part of our journey. I can now proudly say that the student has become the teacher. 

Thank you.