Club Impact / Alumni Testimonials
Stephany Osuji, 2006 Eastside Youth of the Year
I was never able to experience the average, care-free childhood most of us share. Because my mother had extreme social anxiety, I was responsible for most of the household tasks since I was very little. Luckily, I became a member of the Boys & Girls Club at age nine, and the staff at the Club became my second family. Staff at the Club instilled in me the importance and necessity of furthering my education. They worked with me throughout my youth to develop good work and study habits that have carried throughout my college career. Club staff also helped me socially by building my self-confidence and encouraging me to try new things. They were always there for me – from helping me fill out college applications, attending my high school graduation, and even moving me into my college dorm!
As I near the end of my college career, I can honestly say that I have truly "beaten the odds." I am the first person in my family to successfully obtain a college degree. I will graduate on time in May with a 3.2 GPA. Currently, I have a student worker position at MNDOT working with the office of External Partnering, and there is potential for a full-time position post-graduation. Looking ahead, I hope to someday have a job in sports doing marketing or account management. I'd like to thank everyone who supports the Boys & Girls Club for giving kids like me a jump start on a post-secondary education and the chance for a successful future.
Shadia Mohamud, 2006 Southside Youth of the Year
Since I immigrated to America when I was seven, my dream has been to become a doctor and go back to my home country of Somalia to start a clinic specializing in women's health care. Today, I am proud to say that I am in my fourth year in the nursing program at the University of Minnesota, and I have been accepted into a 10-week paid internship at the St. Cloud Hospital this summer, working with a licensed nurse doing patient care and everything else that a registered nurse does.
The Boys & Girls Club has helped me get closer to accomplishing my dream by providing guidance and assistance during my last two years of high school. The Club staff helped me with homework and gave me a chance to be a junior staff, which taught me the responsibilities of having a position of influence on other youth and helped me manage my time between school and work. I also received a scholarship through the Youth of the Year program. I am so thankful for the support I received from the Club to help me prepare for college and a successful life.
Tony Rose, 2002 Southside Youth of the Year
When I moved to the La Cruz community in St. Cloud, I started participating in Club programs offered in the community room, before the Southside Club was built. I loved the Club. The staff were always there for me, and they taught me important work ethics, like punctuality, consistency and commitment. We didn't have a computer at home, and the Club had a computer and staff to help with my school work. It was a safe, comfortable place I could go every day to get things done.
The most important thing I learned at the Club was what kind of person I wanted to be. The staff were so positive, and they were a great influence on me. They showed me by their actions how to be a positive person. I was recently hired as the Southside Assistant Unit Director, and my goal is to make the same positive impact on youth that the staff made on me.
