X’Zaeviun A. Sims, a 2025 graduate of Pine Bluff High School, received several lessons in leadership at a young age. The eldest of eight siblings, he was determined to be the best role model he could.
“Looking back, that was the first team I ever had to lead,” he said. “When you’re responsible for your siblings, you must be accountable for them. That means whatever you do, they’re going to do — so you have to get it right.”
Sims was raised primarily by his grandmother, Trena Sims, whom he credits with instilling values of service, perseverance and leadership.
“During my freshman year, my grandmother went on medical retirement,” he said. “When I explained that I wanted to contribute to the household, she supported my goal to find a job.”
Because he had to go to school immediately afterward, Sims showed up to a job interview at Chick-fil-A in his JROTC uniform. He said he is grateful to Katie Branch — the owner and operator of the franchise in Pine Bluff — for taking a chance on him, giving him his first job and seeing his leadership potential.
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“I worked my way up from team member to trainer, then to team leader at 16, eventually becoming an assistant manager,” he said. “At first, I fell, and I fell a lot — but I kept getting up. Eventually I was thriving. I could pretty much run the front of the store by myself.”
In his first year at Grambling State University in Louisiana, Sims is balancing a workload larger than that of the average college freshman. In addition to managing the coursework for a degree in secondary education and teaching, he is also serving as the president-elect for Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), representing more than 80,000 students nationwide.
JAG is a nonprofit organization that helps young people of great promise pursue postsecondary education or training and secure quality employment through career-focused programs. In his role as president-elect, Sims serves as a student ambassador and leader, helping guide national initiatives such as leadership development, technology integration and member engagement.
Advice from his mentors keeps him motivated when his undergraduate assignments and responsibilities as president-elect stack up.
“Even when times get tough, you have to keep going,” he said. “Whether I’m the leader of a project or acting as a supporting team member, I smile and keep going. Leadership isn’t about putting up a facade of positivity – you simply must make the environment worthwhile for the next person.”
As he adjusts to the responsibilities of his national role, a lesson from Branch — his Chick-fil-A manager — continues to resonate with him.
“Leadership is not only about rising up,” he said. “It is also about lifting others up as you climb.”
To put this philosophy into practice, Sims recently helped launch monthly officer webinars that now connect more than 2,000 state and local JAG leaders nationwide. The meetings give students a space to share challenges, exchange ideas and learn strategies from the national level.
LAUNCHPAD FOR LEADERSHIP
Sims’ leadership journey with JAG began at Pine Bluff High School, where it is offered as part of its career and technical education pathway, giving students not only academic and career-readiness skills but also hands-on leadership, employability training and community service opportunities.
Ross White, career and technical education director for the Arkansas Department of Education, said Sims is a strong example of how Arkansas students are turning classroom experiences into real-world leadership. He said in the past five years, Arkansas has produced 10 national career and technical student organizations officers (CTSOs), a reflection of the strength of its career and technical education programs.
“With CTSOs embedded in robust pathways, students gain a competitive edge and become truly success-ready,” White said. “Through our State Officer Leadership Academy, we equip young leaders with skills in public speaking, workshop facilitation, membership engagement and community involvement.”
White said CTSO participation is more than an extracurricular — it’s a launchpad for leadership, professional growth and real-world experience that prepares students for enlistment, enrollment and employment.
“We are proud to see Arkansas students seizing these opportunities to lead their peers and shape the future of their industries and communities,” he said.
Sims has also reflected on why multiple students from Arkansas have recently been elected to serve as presidents of national organizations. He believes this achievement is a testament to the drive and devotion of the state’s teachers.
“Although they may not always have the financial or curricular support they need, our teachers instill the most important life skills,” he said. “For example, they stress the importance of listening closely and looking someone in the eye when you talk to them. They don’t just teach by the book — they give you the skills you will need to be successful.”
MENTORS MADE THE DIFFERENCE
Sims said several teachers at PBHS set him up for success by helping him build the qualities of an effective leader.
“In my freshman year, Mr. Calvin Thomas, my college and career readiness teacher, invited me to volunteer with JAG,” he said. “He saw some untapped potential that I didn’t see in myself. And he put me to work.”
During his time in the JAG chapter, Sims participated in community service activities such as food drives, Salvation Army donation campaigns and reading books to children. He also helped peers get to school on time when transportation was an issue.
“Through going into my community and serving those who had less than me, JAG showed me that people come from different walks of life and that all are worthy of respect,” he said. “Mr. Thomas taught me the importance of empathy, which was challenging at first. He showed me that you have to be patient and courageous, and it’s okay to admit when you’re wrong as long as you fix the problem.”
Sims eventually became JAG chapter president at PBHS. He said he and Thomas speak to each other daily and are practically family at this point.
After the pandemic, Sims took a chance on joining Pine Bluff High’s Air Force JROTC and accepting a leadership position. He credits Master Sgt. Michael Murray with helping him find his voice.
“Sergeant Murray helped me hone my leadership skills, teaching me not to lead by title, but by working with others and giving them an example to follow,” he said. “He also challenged me to speak at our public Veterans Affairs or Memorial Day events. Thanks to him, I learned giving speeches is something I am completely capable of.”
Sims said he chose to enroll at Grambling because of its strong education program and Air Force JROTC presence, which will help with his plans to be commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. Eventually, however, he wants to return to Arkansas to pursue public service. His long-term dream is to become governor of Arkansas.
“Arkansas is home,” he said. “We have vast and diverse programs across our state that aren’t being tapped into — in some communities, students are missing out on opportunities they deserve. I feel I can bring about the needed change. If you invest in me, I will return that investment.”
