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More Than a Mentor

by Sian O.

n 2016 the Boys and Girls Club gave the Immokalee community demeanor and confidence. Ms. Angelique builds a safe and reliable
the opportunity to integrate and provide hope to young people. connection because it is something she is not new to, but true to.
I They opened their doors to help reach the hearts and minds of Being a part of the Boys and Girls Club has also played a major
every young person across our small town. The Boys and Girls Club role in my development. Through Ms. Angelique’s leadership within the
is a positive place where any circumstances as far as, who we are and Boys and Girls Club, I was able to experience opportunities that not
where we come from, don’t determine our access to experience or only shaped my personal growth but also allowed me to give back to
opportunities. The Club’s mission statement is: “to empower all young others. Ms. Angelique also mentions that Junior Women of Initiative
people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential (JWOI), a program she spearheaded, allowed her to apply her own
as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” The Club provides many ethics and teaching skills to a wider and older range of young women.
experiences that assure success within reach of every one of us that She was able to bring in mentors pursuing different careers. Ms.
enters the doors. The Club makes sure all of us members are on track Angelique invited the person who shaped her to grow into the captivating
to graduate from high school with a plan for our future, demonstrate woman she is, her mother. She went directly to the source and had Ms.
good character and citizenship, and live a healthy lifestyle. Angela Taylor come in and talk to a group of girls including myself
Personal growth does not happen alone; there are certain people about what it is to be a young woman going into this wide world and just
who come into your life and change the way you see yourself and wanted to give us some words of wisdom as she did to her very own, Ms.
your future. It is often someone that guides and believes in you before Angelique. Ms. Taylor expressed that there is a need for programs like
you fully believe in yourself. For me, that person is Ms. Angelique. Passport To Manhood, Smart Girls, JWOI, Art Club, Music Club, and
Someone who has played a major role in my personal growth an Upcycling Club to help members grow in a structured environment
journey by opening doors to new experiences and opportunities. to find their identity, build life skills, and promote mental well-being.
Ms. Angelique embodies all the qualities the Club strives to She reflected on a personal time growing up when she did not have these
demonstrate, helping individuals like me grow into more confident, tools to be able to speak effectively so she would come off as aggressive
responsible, and caring people. instead of assertive. Ms. Taylor says, “I am glad to be able to pass that
Ms. Angelique Viau helped me get out of my shell when I joined onto you guys because I wasn't taught that when I was growing up.”
her program that focused on empowering young women. I wasn’t shy, Ms. Angelique has had such a positive influence, I now strive to
just content with my own company. I didn’t realize it, but she helped me continue that same cycle of support and pursuit, helping others realize
branch out and befriend the other bright, young women in the Club. their full potential just as I was once encouraged to do. It is true the
To this day I will thank her for helping me be more approachable and Members here are rising adults but we are still young; growing and
not opposed to talking to people at the Club. Ms. Angelique taught learning, and we have someone here at the Club that acknowledges that
me that saying hello, goodbye, or have a great day never hurt anybody. and a lot of other organizations should strive to achieve that.
I didn’t always see my full potential, but having Ms. Angelique in The lessons I have gained from this experience go far beyond the
my life changed that. Due to this, I became more confident in myself present moment. Ms. Angelique has reshaped the way I approach
and my abilities. I started to see I was capable of more than what challenges, relationships, and opportunities in my life. I now understand
I was doing and once believed; I began taking initiative in ways I the importance of using what I have learned to create a meaningful
hadn’t before. In our interview she mentions that after her supervisor change, not only for myself but for those around me. As I continue to
petitioned for her to oversee the middle school class, acknowledging grow, I will carry these values with me, allowing them to guide my
that they need some guidance, she saw a significant shift in their decisions and influence the kind of impact I hope to make in the future.
.
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