Laura Lord-Blackwell is just one of a number of Valencia graduates to be featured in the Say It Forward advertising campaign.

The magnetic power of a story. Whether on the silver screen, the radio, television or between the pages of a book, stories captivate us. They inspire, intrigue, surprise and touch our hearts.

Stories can take us to faraway imaginary places, but the journey each of us takes in real life makes for tales just as fascinating. It’s the stories of these journeys that drive Valencia College’s new “Say It Forward” campaign.

Laura Lord-Blackwell tells her story of finding a career and a passion while a student at Valencia. The 2007 graduate was an officer in the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. “Through Phi Theta Kappa at Valencia, I gained leadership skills. Our chapter was involved in a lot of community service projects and that really sparked my interest in serving others,” she says. Laura went on to the University of Central Florida where she was inducted into Golden Key International Honour Society and led the organization’s outreach efforts.

In the nine years since she graduated, she has taken students to Costa Rica on 10 separate occasions in a partnership with the Costa Rica Language Academy. She stresses that any U.S. college student can go on these trips, including those enrolled at Valencia. “We go to the remote villages and work with school children there. We mostly focus on teaching hygiene. Hand washing can prevent disease and the spread of viruses, but it’s not something they’ve been taught,” Laura says. “Their families are more focused on trying to put food on the table. They’ve not had any education about hygiene issues.”

While a student at Valencia, Laura earned a leadership internship with Orange County government and, at the end of that period, was hired for a paid internship before joining the staff full time. Today, the newlywed leads the county’s internal communications efforts. “If it hadn’t been for Valencia, I would not be in this job today,” she says.

Is Valencia College a part of your journey?  If so, Say It Forward. Visit valenciacollege.edu/sayitforward. The story you tell could be the one that reassures someone who is struggling with challenges you’ve overcome or gives hope and inspiration to someone who doubts his or her ability to succeed.