I like to believe my YMCA journey began at birth. Seventeen years ago, my parents received a call about a little girl who needed a home or she would be placed in the care of Child Protective Services. Unsure of what to do, they turned to friends for guidance. That pivotal call came from Alan Hostrup, then CEO of the YMCA of Greater Long Beach, who asked my dad, “Have you thought about how this will impact this little girl’s life?” That question changed everything. My parents opened their hearts and home to me, and with that, my YMCA journey truly began.

I spent my early years at the YMCA in Lakewood and Long Beach, California, and later at the Spring Family YMCA, where I joined summer camps, swim lessons, basketball, soccer, and volleyball. The Y was always there for me, a place to grow, play, and belong. When I was eight, my family moved to Boca Raton, Florida, and I soon found a new home at the Peter Blum Family YMCA. I joined afterschool programs in third grade, and it quickly became my second family.

Over the years, the YMCA has been so much more than a building or a program. It is where I discovered who I am and what I stand for. I have made lifelong friends, found mentors who believed in me, and learned lessons that shaped my confidence, compassion, and purpose. Whether through afterschool programs, summer camps, volleyball, or even teaching cooking classes, the Y has given me a safe place to grow and belong.

For the past six years, I have been a proud member of Leaders Club, a program that helps teens build leadership, service, and life skills while giving back to their communities. As part of the executive board, I have helped plan volunteer projects, mentor younger members, and make an impact through service. Through Leaders Club, I discovered my passion for youth advocacy, making sure young people have a voice and a place where they feel safe, supported, and valued.

That passion recently led to one of my proudest moments yet. I was selected as one of only 26 youth across the entire state of Florida to speak at the Youth Advocacy Conference in Tallahassee. I will be representing the YMCA of South Palm Beach County and sharing my story, advocating for foster youth and children facing hardship. I want to use my voice to remind leaders that kids who struggle, kids who feel like they have nowhere else to turn, need safe spaces like the YMCA. For so many, the Y is where hope begins.

Now, I am proud to say that I not only grew up at the Y, but I also work at the front desk and in Child Watch at the Peter Blum Family YMCA. Every day, I have the chance to welcome members, care for children, help families, and give back to the same community that helped shape me. Watching the younger kids laugh and play reminds me why I started this journey in the first place.

The Y has changed my life forever. As somebody who has dealt with their own struggles and picked up lessons along the way, I am proud to say that I am here today, and even prouder to be helping others along their way through their rough journeys.

Helping less fortunate youth is my biggest priority. I am passionate about raising funds not just for Leaders Club, but also to support adoption and foster care programs. The Y changes lives every day by offering scholarships, summer camp opportunities, and safety for children who need it most.

The YMCA has given me a foundation built on empathy, leadership, and service. Now it is my turn to pay that forward. Please join me in supporting the YMCA and its mission to create brighter futures for every child, because every kid deserves a place to belong and someone who believes in them.