Congratulations to our 2021 Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana Youth of the Year - Joshua Brown! Joshua is a 16-year-old junior at Salmen High School who has been a faithful member of our Slidell Unit for eight years and counting. He enjoys helping fellow members with homework, working at the front desk and Club cleaning. Way to go, Joshua!
In Joshua's own words:
Originally, I came to the Boys & Girls Club because my mother enrolled me in the summer camp. I didn't want to go. But I soon realized that my mother wasn't waking me up to go to the Club. I woke myself up, eager to get to the Club.
I come to my Club now because it is my second family. It's not just a place where I'm forced to go. It's not just a group of staff and other kids who are forced to b emy friends. It's a place where I choose to go. My Club has helped me strengthen my leadership skills and confidence tremendously. I was given the opportunity to become a regular Club helper to work with my fellow members to lead activities and help alongside the staff. I became the person who you would see when you walked into the doors.
I learned how to communicate properly with adults, memorize Club members' numbers, and make sure that my Club stayed clean. I became the person that the staff asked for if they needed something done. And most importantly, I was given the chance to become someone that the younger kids looked up to - and I did exactly that.
My fellow Club members know that if they need something, they can come ask me and I will help them in anyway I can. And the person who helped me along the way was my Club director, Mrs. Cynthia. She was the person who has really got me to where I am today. She is the one that watched me come out of my shell. When I was in the hospital being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, she came to visit me and kept my spirits up. She is the one who gave me all the opportunities to become a leader and a mature person. My club has overall helped me become a more confident person. My Club family has made me who I am right now.