A Hootworthy Finish: Talisa’s Path to Valedictorian

Talisa is wrapping up her senior year as valedictorian, FBLA president, and Miss Albany Teen. It’s a lot, but she keeps it simple. Stay focused, stay present, and go all in.

In this episode, Talisa shares what it took to get here, from the sacrifices behind earning valedictorian to stepping outside her comfort zone in pageantry and leadership. She talks about her work with “CTRL the Future,” a cybersecurity initiative inspired by personal experience, and what she’s learned about helping others lead themselves.

It’s a real conversation about discipline, growth, and making the most of your opportunities.

Stay hootworthy, Talisa!

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

You know that overachiever in movies that feels slightly unrealistic? It turns out she's real. Her name is Talesa, Valedictorian, the Miss Albany Teen, the FBLA leader. We talk big goals, bigger responsibilities, and how she keeps it all grounded. Enjoy the show. You made it. You are here. Yes. So so graduation is coming up. So tell me uh when has the moment felt like real? Has it felt real yet? Like, oh my gosh, graduation, it's it's it's coming, it's here.

SPEAKER_00 0:57

The moment has not actually reached me yet. Um, I guess that's because of the refusal to believe that and to accept the fact that my childhood has come to an end. And I have seen like on social media the post that's like, oh my gosh, I can't believe class of 2026 is in stores now. Or when I hear like the good old days song, I instantly scroll. Like I click not interested, I don't want to look. And why not? Because I don't want to accept it yet. But I guess I know it's gonna hit me at some point. And for right now, I'm just trying to be present and that's taking the good and the bad that comes with it because I will never get this moment again.

SPEAKER_02 1:36

No, that's a great perspective to have. So you're wearing a crown, obviously. We're gonna get to the Miss Albany teen in more detail here, and then you're also here on Hootworthy because of Valedictorian. Congrats, that's incredible. And then we'll get to the details of that a little bit. But before we dive into those things, if someone were to meet you outside of pageants, outside of school, where you're obviously just like killing it, like what what do you think? Like, how how would you describe yourself?

SPEAKER_00 2:15

I would describe myself as a bright and full of life person. I'm carrying fun and uplifting, and I love bringing people together, whether that's for trying new restaurants, traveling, shopping, or just overall being spontaneous. Um, I really just love bringing people together, and that's like one of my favorite things to do. And when I've had something like I put my mind to something, I achieve it. That's the best way to describe me.

SPEAKER_02 2:40

Love it. When you were growing up, um when did you realize that you were somebody that liked to achieve, that liked to uh like set big goals? Because you were like, hey, I'm somebody that like achieves and wants to achieve. Like when you were growing up, when did you actually figure out like, oh my gosh, I am like an ambitious person?

SPEAKER_00 3:04

At a young age, I've always been a person that really draw like dived into their extracurriculars. I did dance, cheer, basketball, track, volleyball, acting classes because I really liked the challenge and push myself. A great example would be like in the first grade, I always kind of like won drawing competitions where teachers and students could use it for letters and they could send it back and forth. But I didn't do it because of the winning aspect of it. It was because I loved creating and really just trying my best at all that I'd done. And also in the fifth grade, I had a science fair project and it was about Jupiter. And I could have done like a normal model, but I did a 3D model and I used my pottery wheel to show like how fast Jupiter spins, and I just want it to overall feel real. And so I guess that really explains me because I really like to just try and give it my all everything that I do.

SPEAKER_02 3:57

Yeah, fifth grader using a pottery wheel for a Jupiter project. Yeah, that definite. Do you still use the pottery wheel?

SPEAKER_00 4:05

No, but my teacher did want to keep it, and I was like, you cannot keep it. I need it back. The Jupiter? Do you still have it? I still have it somewhere.

SPEAKER_02 4:13

I should have told you to bring it to the set so we could have Jupiter sitting right here. So you are valedictorian again. Congrats, representing class of 2026. Yes. Holy cow, we're in 2026. Um, what was that moment like when you found out? Uh was it a surprise? Like, how did you find out? Can you walk us through what uh how they how you even determine? Like, did you get a telegram in the mail, you know, where you just walk in around somewhere, like get a phone call? How did you figure out you get a cake delivered to your house and then someone pops out? How did you figure out you were valedictorian for GCA?

SPEAKER_00 5:00

Initially, the day before, I called my counselor because I'm the type of person I'm always asking what my rank is because I want to be valedictorian. And she was like, the person that's over transcripts is behind, you have to wait a week later. I'm like, that's suspicious because she usually tells me. But at the same time, she reminded me to schedule my graduation check-in, which was usually done for each individual. And so I scheduled it for the next day. I came into the meeting and immediately I thought I was in trouble. There was like admin counselors everywhere. To the fact I had my mic and my camera off, I was so scared. Like it was, I was like, oh my gosh. I was like, oh my gosh. And so they started off as like a random, like kind of normal video showcasing the dates for graduation, honor, honors, and prom. And then it skipped like this live breaking news, and I was like, what's going on? I was completely lost. Like, I didn't know what was going on. And then I see my name and I just completely like screamed. And luckily, the person that I wanted to tell first is on the phone, which is my mom.

SPEAKER_02 6:01

And so she was in the call, like the Zoom room.

SPEAKER_00 6:04

She wasn't on the call, she was on my FaceTime.

SPEAKER_02 6:06

Oh, that's hilarious. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 6:07

So she was looking at everything, and she actually thought I fainted because I was just sitting there shocked. And she was just screaming, Oh my gosh, I have to go get my baby. She fainted.

SPEAKER_02 6:16

That's hilarious. Well, why do you think you wanted to tell your mom first? Like, why was she the most important person for you to be like, I won valedictorian? I earned it.

SPEAKER_00 6:25

Because she pushed me to do dual enrollment. At first, I thought I wasn't smart enough, but it just I took it one class at a time. And once I saw the first A, I've been on go every single, every single semester.

SPEAKER_02 6:36

Let's shift gears to these different leadership roles that you've been in. So obviously, earning the valedictorian that's a huge academic achievement, but now the crown you're wearing, you uh were crowned Miss Albany teen. So can you tell me also this, if people can't see, is an FBLA uh necklace with all these pins on it. We can hear about that in a little bit. So you've done leadership for FBLA, the FBLA president, I believe, for GCA, and then also the Miss Albany teen. Um, can you tell us a little bit about your experience uh with the FBLA uh program at GCA, and then also your pageant experience as well.

SPEAKER_00 7:34

As for FBLA and the pageant experience combined, I would say that both of them really share the love of leadership. And I've learned that leadership is taking the courage to step up to get something done that needs to be done. And leadership is not just about leading people, but getting people to lead themselves. And every leadership role that I've stepped into, I was scared to do it, but I found that I should do it anyway because growth comes from being uncomfortable.

SPEAKER_02 8:06

Love that. And also the empowering other people. How did you see that play out in FBLA? And how did you see that play out in the pageant? Because you said you found that leadership wasn't just leading people, but uh getting people to discover to lead themselves. So like empowering other people. How did you actually see that play out at FBLA and then also in the pageant journey?

SPEAKER_00 8:28

In FBLA, I have the opportunity to not only network in my school, but to all schools in Georgia and across the nation. And being FBLA president, I've gotten to really learn all the roles within FBLA and how to really teach everyone how to work as a team, especially with different communication styles. When it comes to pageantry, I started my community service initiative, Control the Future, which is all about cybersecurity and digital literacy. And that teaches people to empower themselves and get literate within the technology aspect so that they can lead themselves and protect their futures.

SPEAKER_02 9:02

Okay, so you have a community service initiative that was with the Miss Albany thing, but also with work you do with FBLA. Yes. Because you're in like a category for computer science, right? Or something?

SPEAKER_00 9:16

Last year at State, I double placed, I placed at cycle in cybersecurity and computer problem solving that led me to nationals in California.

SPEAKER_02 9:23

Okay, so cybersecurity. So you went to Nationals in California. Yes. First person to do that at GCA.

SPEAKER_01 9:30

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 9:30

For FBLA. And that was for the cybersecurity. So I see this little like a book over here. Tell us about this book because I think it's uh tied to your compute uh community service initiative that you're talking about with the pageant and also with the FBLA. Connect that stuff with us and tell us about this book here.

SPEAKER_00 9:48

This book, I made it because I wanted it to be a tool for students and people for all ages so that they could understand cybersecurity and digital literacy. And it kind of takes them on like this Willy Wonka digital candy-filled adventure.

SPEAKER_02 10:04

So I should be kind of like careful with the stuff I post on social media. I shouldn't just be like all willy-nilly. So I should probably take down that post about my social security number. Then probably a bad idea, huh? Shouldn't be doing that. Tell me about the pins on this FBLA uh necklace. Why do you have all these pins? What are these? What are these here? I don't want to mess around with this, but maybe show us show us these. I want you to take that and tell us about those pins there. Like, what's the deal with that? Why did you steal these? What's going on?

SPEAKER_00 10:34

So, how this worked was I was at the National Leadership Conference in California in Anaheim, and I got to network with people all across the nation. And so some of these pins, you have Alabama, you have Arizona, you have California, you have Virginia, you have North Dakota, you have Kentucky. It's just so many Wisconsin. And a lot of people were trying to buy my pins like for$1,000. I was like, no, you can't have these. Yes. I I wouldn't take it as tempting, but no. They were literally like like crowd restrooms.

SPEAKER_02 11:09

What's your number? 10 grand? 10 grand a piece? Then you're take the pins. I'm just kidding.

SPEAKER_00 11:14

Nah.

SPEAKER_02 11:14

All right, fine. 100 grand a piece. No, I'm just messing with you. So you're networking all the so the the participants at in California when you did nationals. Yes. Y'all were all exchanging pins. Yes. Is that that's how it worked, as I understand it?

SPEAKER_01 11:29

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 11:30

Very cool. And you said you placed, so were you like first in your category in the or how did how did that work?

SPEAKER_00 11:37

I was second in computer problem solving and fourth or fifth in cybersecurity. I don't really remember, but I did not place at Nashals, unfortunately. But I did enjoy the experience.

SPEAKER_02 11:48

Yeah, you were there.

SPEAKER_00 11:49

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 11:50

And was the book a part of that competition? Did that was the book printed or it was that after the fact?

SPEAKER_00 11:55

That was the book came after the fact. It was released this year in January.

SPEAKER_02 11:59

Okay. And that's tied with the pageantry stuff.

SPEAKER_00 12:03

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 12:03

Okay, so we've heard a lot about the FBLA stuff. Can you tell us a little bit about the pageantry and tell me about the moment when they announced you won, Miss Albany Teen? What was going through your head?

SPEAKER_00 12:14

Just moments before they announced I was Miss Albany's teen. I just remember having pure adrenaline and just being really content with the fact that I knew I gave the whole competition my all. So they had different phases of competition, which was private interview, on stage question, talent, evening gown, fitness. And I just left it in God's hands to just see like whoever they called rightfully earned the crown. And when they announced I was Miss Albany's teen, I was just, oh my gosh. Like I literally sobbed the moment that they called my name.

SPEAKER_02 12:47

You sobbed.

SPEAKER_00 12:48

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 12:49

Like ugly cry.

SPEAKER_00 12:50

Ugly cry. For an hour. I could not pull it together. For an hour? Every picture is me crying.

SPEAKER_02 12:56

You couldn't pull it together for an hour.

SPEAKER_00 12:58

I couldn't.

SPEAKER_02 12:59

So you you you you were super surprised. You get it. They couldn't even put the crown on you because everything's so wet. You're just just kidding. But you you said that you went through a couple interviews, uh, evening gown, uh, fitness, uh, talent. Uh what what were the like interview questions like when you were there? Like what was it? It's like job interview? What is it? Like, how do you solve world peace? Is it that kind of stuff?

SPEAKER_00 13:27

Like pageant interviews. I honestly don't remember what they asked me. That's how fast it went. Okay. But pageant interviews is really more difficult than a job interview. Like, I've recently been interviewed for a job interview, and I was like, that's it. Like, that's all I gotta ask for. Y'all are not gonna like scold me about like hot topics or like my personal life or my community service initiative. So they really try to like dig into that to see how much you know about it and how you're implementing it. And I was just getting started, so I was kind of like scared, but it went really well.

SPEAKER_02 13:56

Awesome. Yeah, Ab, and clearly you got the crown to show for it. What about the talent? What'd you do?

SPEAKER_00 14:02

I sung Opportunity by Annie. I'm a vocalist, and that was my first time singing. It was really challenging because I had to overcome my like stage fright, and I would cry. I was so scared, like I was terrified.

SPEAKER_02 14:14

Wait, you cried on stage?

SPEAKER_00 14:15

Not for Miss Albany, but prepping for it, yes. I had one month to sing.

SPEAKER_02 14:19

So you were able to sing first time on stage in front of a public.

SPEAKER_00 14:24

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 14:24

Were you like, what have I gotten myself into? Do I really want to do this?

SPEAKER_00 14:28

Um, I always knew I wanted to be Miss America's teen or Miss America. And so I just knew like something has got to give. You have to do it if you want to be that.

SPEAKER_02 14:36

Yeah, you're like, I gotta do it. And then what's the what was the fitness piece? Did they have you like running through an obstacle course and like getting chased by lions and like what was that? Like American gladiators like jousting and boxing people? What was it? Tug of war?

SPEAKER_00 14:51

We just wear like fitness um attire and we kind of like model.

SPEAKER_02 14:56

Oh, I see. Okay, so it's more of like, okay, all right. I didn't know if it was like Olympic Games, but like Miss America style. So you won Miss Albany uh teen. What's next? Do you now go to like Miss Georgia or Miss America? How does it work?

SPEAKER_00 15:11

This June I go to compete for Miss Georgia's teen, and I'll be there for about 11 to 12 days competing. And when I win, um, the next two months I'll go to Miss America's teen. So hopefully I'll win and I can come back to Hootworthy.

SPEAKER_02 15:25

Yes, we're gonna be rooting for you, and then when you yeah, you're gonna repeat. You're gonna have double, double hootworthy here after you win. That's incredible. So tell me about this um this cybersecurity thing in the book a little bit more. Uh, why did you choose that cause? Because I imagine you could have chosen a couple different community service initiatives. Was there something particular about cybersecurity that made it personal for you or interesting for you? Why choose that and and go so far as to make this book?

SPEAKER_00 15:59

This cause was personable to me because my grandmother was a victim of medical fraud. And the result of that, she couldn't get the care that she needed. And in addition, my dad's card was being used overseas. And that's why I created the book as a tool to get the word out there. And also I launched Control the Future Ambassadors in partnership with ATT, which is like leaders all across the nation teaching cybersecurity and digital literacy in online and in-person classes.

SPEAKER_02 16:27

Wow, that's incredible. And that makes sense. You had family members that were affected, so you were like, Yeah, I'm gonna try and do something about this, do your part, so to speak. Um, when you look at Valedictorian, FBLA, pageant winner, I mean overachiever much. Come on, here may do better, Talesa. Just kidding. What do you think of those was like the most difficult, or the one that would you say like challenged or stretched you the most?

SPEAKER_00 16:59

Being a part of the Miss America organization has really stretched me and challenged me the most. As a home as a homeschool student, I had to really overcome and be confident in public speaking and just really being out there and being an entertainer. And what I have learned the most about it is that you really had to just kind of push yourself and just if you have a dream, just take the necessary steps in order to achieve it. And that's what I did. So, like today, I stand as a cybersecurity advocate and author and a software engineer and a public speaker. It's so crazy to say that, but that's what it has equipped me with so much.

SPEAKER_02 17:36

Yeah, I mean, you're doing it right now, you're doing some public speaking now. Yes, you're doing okay. You're not gonna start crying though, right? No, not yet. Not yet, and you have valedictorian speech to do. That's gonna be some people, and I'm sure you're preparing for that. What do you hope that people remember most about Talesa at GCA? The FBLA president, the Miss Albany teen winner, the valedictorian. What is it that you would hope people would remember about Talisa? People that know you.

SPEAKER_00 18:12

I hope that people remember me as someone that can kind of, I guess, do it all. A leader that shows them that they can do it all if they take the steps and really just dream big. I don't think that they should be in a box that real like reality and society try to put them in, because what even is reality? If I tried to do that, I would not be where I am today.

SPEAKER_02 18:33

Hey, that sounds like your valedictorian speech. If you need to like record that, write that down real quick. Write down it. Yeah, write that down. So uh thanks for coming on, Talesa. I mean, incredible achievements here. The FBLA president, got first one to go to nationals over there in California, Miss Albany Teen, crown wearer over here, valedictorian, you know, killing it. But before you get out of here, is there anyone you want to shout out?

SPEAKER_00 19:01

Oh, it's a lot of people.

SPEAKER_02 19:02

I know.

SPEAKER_00 19:02

I'm gonna keep it short though, but first I want to shout out to God because I wouldn't be here without him and my parents and my family and my friends and my teachers, and just GCA as a whole.

SPEAKER_02 19:15

Love it again, Talesa. Thanks so much for coming on the show. Thank you for having me. And and for just representing the very best of GCA. You're killing it out there, Miss Albany, FBLA, and Validatory and Craig. Congrats, and we will see you at graduation. Thanks.

SPEAKER_00 19:35

Thank you.