My experience with the Campus Y gave me the first opportunity to be a leader. I stumbled into a position where I oversaw recruitment, training, and supervision for 60 work/study students putting their work/study hours to use as tutors and mentors for an after-school program on the Delmar Loop. That split-second decision to accept a Program Leader position was one of the most - if not the very thing - that set me on the career path I'm on today.

Now, 16 years later, I am serving in my final months as board chair for the Campus Y's Board of Advisors. As much as my time as a student introduced me to leadership, my time at the helm of the Board of Advisors has been a growth experience all its own.

The common factor in both of these stories is the positive, support-filled community the Campus Y cultivates, encouraging growing leaders to take risks, aim high, and achieve great things. Program Leaders share their experience with a cohort of their fellow leaders, and the Campus Y's Program Directors provide much needed support for students facing situations that may be brand new to them.

I still remember the hours I would rest in the Program Director's office after a particularly stressful day. Not once was her door ever closed to me, and never did I shy away from going to her with a problem I was facing. That type of support is absolutely critical to young leaders, and I'm hoping you'll help me help the Y to continue providing that support.

Feel free to let me know if you want to know more!  :-)

The Y is committed to ensuring everyone can enjoy the Y and makes financial assistance available. We offer a great variety of programs and activities that help people of all ages and abilities grow in spirit, mind and body, and we work to strengthen community.