In a world where personal development is often overlooked, the Wake-Up Foundation Inc. stands as a beacon of hope and empowerment for the youth. At its helm is a leader whose journey from motivational speaker to business visionary is as inspiring as the foundation’s mission itself. Dr. Mykim Tran (Executive Director) stands out as one of the world’s most inspiring personalities to follow.
The journey of Dr. Mykim began as a motivational speaker with the goal of boosting self-confidence among teenagers and youths. Her education and professional paths have been characterized by a learn-as-you-go approach, making decisions based on current knowledge and then adapting as she learns more. For instance, the passionate leader found that the main barrier to physical wellness in young people was not a lack of knowledge but a lack of motivation. This realization led her to pursue a Master’s degree in health psychology to understand what drives people to improve their health, and eventually, a PhD in humanistic psychology to explore human potential and motivation further.
A friend of Dr. Mykim introduced her to the idea of becoming a business leader for the Wake-Up Foundation. After moving to South Sacramento, California, she met someone who recognized her potential to help the community improve youth mental health and well-being. Then, the passionate leader embraced this opportunity and, over the past 11 years, has been proud to grow the foundation into a valuable community resource. “The Wake-Up Foundation was one of the best professional decisions I have made in my professional journey. Wake-Up Foundation also helped me grow as an individual,” says Dr. Mykim.
Empowering Youth to Make a Difference
Wake-Up Foundation was founded with a mission: To help youths transform into authentic individuals and use their passions to make a social impact in their communities, creating a sense of belonging in the world and ensuring that what they do matters. The foundation offers two key services. The first is personal development, aiding youths in self-understanding, decision-making, and becoming authentic individuals through career guidance, self-esteem building, stress management, and wellness support. The second service helps youths find meaning and purpose by identifying their passions and using them to benefit themselves and their communities. Additionally, the foundation teaches creativity, mindset, motivation, and entrepreneurship to prepare them for community service.
A Hub for Mentorship and Creativity
The Wake-Up Foundation’s culture is built on mentorship and creativity. The foundation fosters an environment where staff, interns, and volunteers at all levels have mentorship and personal growth opportunities. This approach not only supports professional development but also encourages the cultivation of meaningful relationships within the organization.
Dr. Mykim believes creativity is a cornerstone of the foundation’s culture. Team members are encouraged to bring their unique perspectives and ideas to the table. This emphasis on creativity ensures that the foundation remains innovative and effective in its approach to youth empowerment.
Overcoming Challenges
The Wake-Up Foundation faces a significant challenge in educating youths about the importance of personal development and its impact on their life success. While many youths desire a fulfilling lifestyle, they often don’t realize that personal development is key to achieving this goal. Under the reign of Dr. Mykim, the foundation continually explores new methods to educate them, but the message isn’t reaching enough people yet. As a result, the rate of mental health issues among youths remains high and continues to rise.
“The thing that motivated me to move forward is that if I do not do this, who will? I believe that I am meant to help youths overcome this difficulty through personal development. What I do is not just a career; it is who I am. Helping youths transform themselves is my contribution to my community and society. I am blessed that I can support society in this manner,” says Dr. Mykim.
Reaching Youth through Modern Media
Under Dr. Mykim’s leadership, the foundation reaches out to youths through various media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Craigslist, Reddit, and Meetup, with the support of community awareness. Initially, young people are introduced to personal development through informal interaction workshops. Once they grasp the concepts and applications of personal development, they move on to the next step by enrolling in the mentorship and coaching program, where they receive personalized support.
Furthermore, Dr. Mykim believes that the challenge today isn’t a lack of knowledge and skills among youths but a lack of creativity in applying personal development to their lives. The mentorship and coaching program is customized to meet their specific needs, teaching them how to creatively apply personal development to achieve their unique definitions of success and happiness.
Finding Passion and Purpose
According to Dr. Mykim, today, youths continue to struggle with discovering their identity and contributing positively to society. Despite having many outlets for information and resources, not all of them are helpful, and this abundance often leads to confusion. Many youths are uncertain about which information and resources will best support their development and help them find their passion.
This confusion contributes to a mental health crisis, as youths lack the confidence to make sound decisions and often feel hopeless. Therefore, it is crucial to help them understand the importance of personal development. By addressing these issues, the passionate leader and her team can empower youths to positively impact and work towards eliminating mental health challenges.
Building Leadership On Passion And Perseverance
When asked to share her leadership style, Dr. Mykim replied that her leadership is built on passion, drive, and inspiration. Passion has fueled her career, helped the passionate leader tackle challenges, and found her purpose. Dr. Mykim’s journey and stories of overcoming obstacles show that with passion and perseverance, anything is achievable.
Success Mantra
When asked to share her success mantra, Dr. Mykim replied that, “I follow two key mantras to guide myself and others. The first is, “Be yourself, do your own things, learn and grow daily, and always have high hope and faith.” This helps me stay focused on personal growth and avoid comparisons with others, believing that true greatness comes from trusting your inner voice.”
She further adds, “The second mantra is, “Always be proud of yourself, never give up on yourself, and give yourself more credit because you have more potential than you think.” This mantra builds self-esteem and confidence, reminding me that potential remains despite failures and challenges. Both mantras emphasize the importance of perseverance and self-belief in achieving success.”
Future Roadmap
Looking ahead to 2025, the future goal of the Wake-Up Foundation is to offer a platform where youths can quickly test their strengths, talents, and passions. The foundation is dedicated to finding various opportunities and resources within the community to support youths. Promptly applying the strengths and talents of youths is crucial, as delays can lead to procrastination and hinder their potential. When youths wait too long to act, they are more likely to be influenced by external factors, increasing their doubts and confusion and leading to inaction. Taking action is essential for enhancing self-understanding.
Words of Wisdom
Dr. Mykim advises that life is a journey that drives personal growth and self-improvement. Setting goals is important, but the process of working towards them shapes your character and reveals your potential. Reflecting on your efforts allows you to take pride in your achievements. As you continuously learn and adapt, you tap into your inner motivation and recognize your potential. The journey of learning and growing never truly ends, as there is always more to discover and improve.
