Three years ago the unit director of the Midvale Club-- Billy Swartzfager-- noticed a trend in high school age Club members: more high school drop-outs than high school graduates! It was disappointing, frustrating, and something to worry about. Billy created a program-- Teen Turnaround-- with the hope to intervene with failing students and help them get caught up in their classes. It was not an easy goal and many of the teens still did not see a point in trying. It often felt like they were pushing back as hard as we were trying to push them forward.
However, not all of the teens turned us away. There was a small group of seniors who really took advantage of the services we had to offer. Billy and the teen staff members worked hard to identify juniors and seniors who needed an extra push-- extra love and support. We met one-on-one with those teens and had frequent meetings to evaluate their progress.
In previous years, there had only been one or two high school graduates coming out of the Midvale Club teen program. By the end of our first year implementing "Teen Turnaround," we celebrated the accomplishments of 5 high school graduates. The Midvale staff members attended the high school graduation and enthusiastically greeted each teen afterward and congratulated them on their hard work. It was exciting to be able to post 5 new pictures up on our "Graduates" wall and feel a sense of pride in all that had been accomplished that year.
The teen program has continued to change and improve over the past 3 years. Billy's initial vision was great momentum to send us moving forward with an educational perspective. I took on a new project in 2010 to implement a new "Power Hour" (homework help) program that requires all Club teens to participate daily. Rather than focus only on juniors and seniors in high school, we provide educational services for students 7th-12th grade. It is just as important for teens to learn good habits in middle school as it is to be caught up on credits in high school. Although Power Hour is not necessarily a highlight for every teen who comes to Club, it is now a well-defined part of the teen program and has helped many students increase their GPA.
I was pleased to attend Hillcrest High School's graduation this year on June 5th. Steven Guzman (Youth of the Year 2010 & 2011) was graduating and I wanted to be there to support him. He would be the first high school graduate in his family! That's a pretty big deal. In addition to Steven, there were several other Club teens (past or current) who were graduating. I counted at least 12 names in the program of teens that had participated in the Midvale program and benefited somehow from the efforts of the Club. What an exciting discovery! What used to be 1 or 2 teens has expanded to at least 12 teens graduating... and that is just in this one school.
I had a huge grin on my face as the names were read and our Club teens walked proudly across the stage to accept their diploma. I got a little choked up as I thought of the path that some of these kids traveled to work hard to get to that point in their lives. I was even super surprised to hear one name read (that I hadn't noticed) and feel so excited that this girl actually made it. :) Overall, I was proud to be there as a representative of the Boys & Girls Club.
I only found 6 of the 12 teens after the ceremony for pictures, but this is what I got:
Makayla M.
Antonio (Tony) V.
Amesari V.
Crystal P.
Steven G.
Cristal M.
Here's to many more years ahead of Power Hour, homework, tests, tutoring, grade checks, incentives, celebrations, frustrations, accomplishments, commitment, blood, sweat, and tears. :)
Congratulations Class of 2012!
--Bree (Midvale Teen Program Director)
