Stanley's Story

Stanleys

YOUTH OF THE YEAR 2019 "I was that young person who needed inspiration the most."

What is your earliest memory? Mine was living with my mom and brother in a shelter in New York City, sharing bedrooms with total strangers. I grew up in the Bronx and moved from shelter to shelter, not knowing if I would eat each day or be placed in foster care, which had become an all too familiar scenario for me. Being homeless for eight years denied me many of the opportunities that most other kids have, yet gave me a unique perspective on the possibilities that lie ahead. Four years ago my mother, brother, and I left the Bronx and moved to Connecticut to be closer to family. We lived in the St. Vincent DePaul Mission Shelter, located directly behind the Boys & Girls Club of Bristol Family Center. I was convinced by the Shelter’s staff to take a tour of the Club. That night I thought to myself, this might be it…my ticket to a better future. The Shelter offered me a full membership to the Boys & Girls Club, expressing to my mother that it might be a good opportunity for me. They were right! Although meeting new people at this point in my life scared me, I participated in many Club programs, the very first being an Entrepreneurial Program, where I learned carpentry and horticulture. I adapted easily to my new environment and eventually became the Vice President of Keystone Club, which focuses on leadership development and community service for youth. My experiences expanded over time to a lead role in the Club’s Break the Cycle Film, which premiered at the Bow Tie Theatre in Hartford and was part of the Club’s Edge Film & Production Academy Program. However, I think my greatest Club achievement was being named Youth of the Year by the Club at the 2019 Youth Recognition Dinner. The Boys & Girls Club of Bristol Family Center has changed my life forever. Today, I’m proud to be a student at Trinity College in Hartford, majoring in Economics, with a plan to pursue a master’s degree in business administration. I know what it is to overcome obstacles in life, and thanks to the Boys & Girls Club of Bristol, I’m on my way to becoming a leader of tomorrow.