Erica's Story

Ericas

Cambridge Park Alumni "The one reoccurring theme that comes to mind is “opportunity.”

I moved to Cambridge Park aka Davis Drive when I was 7 years old, after my mother left my physically abusive father. For me, it was a completely new environment, one that I was not use too and at the time the neighborhood was riddled with gangs, drugs and violence. It wasn’t uncommon to go to the park or to walk around and find opened used syringes and/or baggies strewn throughout. My first couple of years were tough, despite having school friends, I was being bullied regularly throughout the neighborhood and many of my friends from my previous neighborhood were no longer allowed to play with me, because of where I was living currently. Eventually, I discovered the Boys and Girls Club and began participating in several programs/events offered. This allowed me to forge friendships with kids from within the neighborhood, looking back I think participating along one another helped all of us understand each other in a way. The programming helped to link our common interests and even our weaknesses which in turn made us relatable to one another. My initial move didn’t come without other struggles, my mother fell into a deep depression that lead to years of alcoholism. Her alcoholism at times made being in the house unbearable, luckily though when these times occurred I was able to frequent the Clubhouse and free my mind by participating in the various programming offered and even in the moments where maybe I didn’t feel like actively participating- I was able to literally “just be” and most importantly, be around staff who met me where I was at mentally/emotionally. I often times reflect on my experience with the Club, although there are many memories that continue to resonate today-- the one reoccurring theme that comes to mind is “opportunity”, the Club provided me with opportunities that I am certain I would not have experienced elsewhere. The Club allowed for me to get outside of the circle of our neighborhood. I was offered the opportunity to meet influential people, to develop relationships with people who because of where I was from, I would have looked at as foreign, I was able to go places I never thought possible then. The Club allowed for others to see each one of us as people and not just a product of our environment, the relationships built helped to bridge differing communities---it brought the outside world into ours and helped us get outside of our own circle. The Club helped unleash our potential, our talents and provided us with the opportunities necessary to develop our potential into hopes, dreams and goals. My experiences through the Club opened my eyes and mind to seeing that there was more to the world then just my day to day experiences within that confining circle of a neighborhood. I am forever grateful for the friendships and relationships Club participation has afforded me, some of which have seen me through and assisted me in some of my lowest and highest points of life, whether it be the passing of my mother, college graduation or the purchase of my first home etc. These relationships have transcended time and boundaries. "There is nothing more devastating to our success than the division between our potential and opportunity, for without opportunity our potential lies dormant within us”. ----Erica Pearson