I began coming to the Club my first year of high school. At the time, I was growing up on the west side of Red Bank, the oldest of three kids, with my own personal struggles at home. I come from a low-income immigrant family, and being the oldest was tough, specifically because English was not the main language at home.
When I first came to the Club, I had no idea what to expect. I remember walking in the first day and seeing all of these bright colors and happy smiles. I immediately realized that the Club was going to be a safe space for me to be myself. It wasn’t a school—it was a place for me to be a kid, all while doing my homework, having a snack, watching movies, and having dinner. I began coming every day after-school, and I would help the younger kids finish their homework after I completed mine. I began building new friendships with the other Club kids. Soon enough I developed a support system among the BGCM staff. The Club had become a critical part of my daily routine, and without realizing it, I had established a family.
Looking back, I know now that the Club recognized and nurtured something in me that I did not see myself: my potential. I was first offered the opportunity to volunteer at the Club, which I gladly took advantage of. Then I was asked to become a summer camp counselor. I see now that the Club was shaping me to become a leader. They believed in me and helped me to become the woman I am today; they saw a kid with goals who just needed empowerment. The Club helped me build my resume and develop leadership skills that I never thought I had. I was named the Monmouth County Youth of the Year my senior year, which afforded me even more opportunities. When I decided to pursue post-secondary education, my Club family was the first to cheer me on and tell me to reach for the stars. They truly helped me become the best version of myself.
Today, I am proud to say I am a first-generation college graduate with a Master of Social Work. I am living proof that the Club is beyond the building; the Club is the mentors and role models who shape the lives of every child that walks through their doors. I am happy to say that the Club was and continues to be the place I call home.
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