Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend an event at my home chapter, Tri-Central in Tipton County, IN. The event was called the TC Ag Fest, and the night consisted of a chicken noodle dinner from chickens the chapter raised, a small career fair, and an SAE work experience auction. My teammate, Calvin, was able to come along too and was even able to serve as the auctioneer for the night. It was so much fun and very rewarding to see a lot of familiar faces and reconnect with old friends.
At the end of the evening, while we were helping clean up, a member of my chapter, Braiden, pointed out the wall where all the state officers who visit our school sign their names. It was officially my turn to sign it. This moment crept up on me and was not something that I was expecting to do while I was there. All at once I was hit with many emotions, but the heaviest ones were gratitude and pride.
Gratitude for my home chapter who sparked my passions.
Gratitude for the people who have poured into me.
Gratitude for the community who has supported me through everything.
And pride in being able to leave my mark on the place that has truly shaped me.
Being influential enough to (literally) leave my mark on a place that has influenced me so much was a surreal moment, and it made me realize that my influence was only possible because of those who had supported and pushed me into who I am today.
Who are the people that have poured into you and pushed you to be who you are today? I would bet that many of them work without much of a title, position, or praise, because sometimes true influence comes from those behind the scenes. The people who see every breakdown, hard day, and challenge. These people, our mentors, friends, parents, grandparents, teachers, etc. They are the ones who have left their mark on us, and they prove that most of the time it doesn’t come with a physical mark, but instead a feeling, change of behavior, or new way of thinking.
As I looked at my name joining the signatures of those who came before me, I couldn’t help but think about how each name represented a story, a season, and a legacy of impact. It reminded me that influence isn’t measured by how many people know your name, but by how many lives are better because you showed up.
Leaving your mark doesn’t require a title, position, or role. It takes encouragement, service, time, and dedication. Who will you leave your mark on?
Leaving my mark with gratitude,
Kaitlyn Maruszewski
2025-2026 Indiana FFA State President
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