My Message
Hi everyone, I’m Brooke Lacilla. You may be wondering why I have a website all about myself. To share with you my interests, passions, and what makes me unique and a dynamic fit for your school.
I asked my closest friends and family to describe me in three words when they first think of me. All three answers were very similar. They described me as “Smiley”?, hardworking, and most importantly, caring. Yes, I did say smiley. Smiling has always been a part of me, it’s something almost molded into my face when I was born. Wherever I go, I bring a good attitude and my smile always seems to back that up. Every place and every situation I encounter, I carry a smile. Even when society had to wear masks everywhere, people could tell I was still smiling in my eyes. Believe it or not, I even won an award for smiling and having the best attitude throughout the sports season at St John’s School.
“Any Person Can Describe Who They Claim to Be but Evidence of Actions Provides the Truth of Who We Really Are” – Author, My Dad
I hurried downstairs, note in hand. “Dad, what does this mean”? He replied, “I want you to create a website about you, but there’s a challenge”. “What challenge, I asked”? He replied, “content Brooke, you need real content backed by long term execution. He calls this “The Evidence” which equals Authenticity. Making certain that my public and private life match up while accumulating real life skills over time through on the job training.
I was only fifteen, but I knew now was the time to begin my preparedness. As a fifteen-year-old girl I lacked confidence in many ways. First, who am I? Social media confused and seemed to want to define me. Second, what value could an employer ever appreciate in me? Instagram and Tick Tock made it appear as if everyone was perfect, so I played along, pretending I had it all figured out. But there was my dad’s note, playing over in my head.
So, I immediately immersed myself with five different purposeful jobs, beginning to accumulate what I thought was “The Evidence” my dad so wanted. Brooke the Barista, @ The Corner- communications, organization, and money management skills. Brooke the Store Manager, Rachel’s Consignment – inventory controls, reconciliation reports, customer service skills. Brooke the Ski Instructor, Mohawk Mountain– Instructing young children and lesson planning skills. Brooke the Art Gallery Worker- interpersonal skills and Brooke the Baby- and House-Sitter–child and home care services, highly organized and follow through skills.
For the past three years I was out there getting “The Evidence” puffing up my accomplishments so I can have my dad’s brag sheet and approval. No doubt I accomplished a lot by his standards. But what I discovered was that these skills didn’t bring a smile to my face. Just like social media, not everything is what we think it really is. Buy this, be happy, look like that, feel more confident, act like this, be more popular. Sure, my dad was correct that having these skills is necessary in the world we live in but that’s not what fulfilled me. What was it that made me happy?
Initially I made it all about how many skills I could list on my common application, I made the jobs and the accumulation of achievements about me. Like people trying to accumulate more stuff. The more stuff a person accumulates, are they happier? There’s nothing wrong with wanting to better oneself academically, socially, spiritually, and otherwise but nothing takes the place of making others feel valued.
The smile I create on someone’s face as their Barista when I make a latte with their favorite designer just sharing 5 minutes of listening to a story about their grandchild. The pretty dress from Rachels Consignment I help select for that women who can’t afford nice attire while telling her how beautiful she looks. Instructing that child at Mohawk Ski Mountain who can’t keep up with the other kids as I help her ski faster. And selecting that special piece of artwork for that family who wants to make that empty wall more inspiring, that’s fulfillment for me, making others feel appreciated and valued.
So, I met with my dad on SundaySeptember3rd, 2023, and made him his favorite latte as I watched him smile and said, “Dad, I have the evidence”. As I explained my journey to him his eyes welled up with tears and said, “Brooke, I think I need some of that evidence in my own life”, he kissed my cheek, got up and left, as I returned to my barista station creating more smiles.www.brookelacilla.com
I absolutely love my school, my friends, my teachers, and working in our community. I love everything about my Litchfield High School experience thus far and would not change anything about my educational experience.
Working is a huge part of my life and has always been something that I’ve enjoyed picking up and hustling to as many places as I can. Overall, I have gained so much knowledge throughout all of my jobs offering a different perspective of the world around me.
I would take my love for skiing to a new level, bringing myself beyond my comfort zone, I decided to teach and give lessons at Mohawk Mountain Resort.
Working at several jobs helped me understand the importance of working with people and making them feel valued. That inspired me to do something more important, helping our local community by giving my time to people underserved.