Through the Youth of the Year program, not only have my dreams of going to college and meeting the President of the United States come true, but I’ve been blessed with many opportunities presented to me through different people I’ve met in my journey as Southeast Youth of the Year.
I had the privilege of participating in the National competion in Washington, D.C., and met four amazing youth who are like my best friends. We were there for a week and every day was filled with a new surprise and a new opportunity.
This exciting week included: media training; helping other teen keystoners raise money for the troops; going on a scavenger hunt with BGCA staff around historical monuments in D.C.; having a BBQ picnic with Tupperware staff and BGCA staff; meeting the judges and going to Capitol Grill in D.C. for dinner; meeting with our senators; meeting Mr. Denzel Washington and Ms. Ashanti; topping it off with meeting the President Barack Obama.
Through all of this and more, BGCA has opened not just opportunities for me to meet such incredible and successful people, but it has allowed me to see that dreams are never impossible to reach. It has taught me the value of always giving back and the importance of education. Because it doesn’t matter what you go through, but the way you overcome things that counts the most.