This is CEO member Raeleigh Rusk with my last goodbye post. I want to thank the Investors, Board members, Mentors, Facilitators, and Community of CEO for helping us achieve our goals and funding many of the activities that we have done. We could not have done it without the hardworking people who believed in young entrepreneurs like us. My favorite memory from this year was our “Bake It, Until You Make It” event. I had so much fun putting together something that Richland County would enjoy. Our hard work paid off, and we got to see many smiling faces. I've gained a lot from CEO, including patience, professionalism, hard work, dedication, and friendship. I learned that it's important to show up every day and do the best work that you can do. I have gotten so much better at communication, and have met so many amazing people through the program. One thing that I will miss about CEO is the feeling of accomplishment after an event or business that we created. After every step of the way, there was a sense of relief and pride that we all got from achieving our goals. If I had to give one piece of advice to the 2026 incoming CEO class, I would say that organization and time management are key. It makes the process easier and more efficient. The year goes by extremely fast, so enjoy every part of it. The good and the bad always count, because everything is a learning experience.