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Yvette first joined Boys & Girls Club of Greater Billerica as a Kindergarten Camper in 2013, and has remained active in Club activities for the more than 12 years. Today, as a member of the Keystone leadership group, she and her fellow Club members are a force for good in the community, volunteering at the Billerica Community Pantry, participating in the town-wide Clean-Up Green-Up Day, and more.
This spring, Yvette and fellow Keystone members collaborated with neighboring Clubs on a national anti-bullying service project, where they created a presentation and video encouraging others to be “upstanders” rather than bystanders.
Yvette has also discovered a passion for music through the Club, recently performing at the Club’s annual Hall of Fame Dinner in front of nearly 200 supporters. Bringing her Club experience full circle, Yvette now works as a camp counselor and Fun Club staff member, supporting, mentoring and inspiring a new generation of Club kids!
When asked to reflect on Yvette’s Club experience, the Club’s Teen Director could not have been prouder.
“Yvette spent her first summer in the Summer Youth Leadership program finding her voice, her confidence, and her love of music. She has since explored every avenue of our Club — both as a Drop-In member and as Club staff. She is the perfect representation of everything we hope for a Club kid to experience and gain during their time here, and I know she will continue to succeed wherever she goes.”
In addition to her Club involvement, Yvette currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Billerica Beat, the student newspaper, where she is gaining real-world experience in journalism and using her leadership skills to support her peers. Yvette will graduate from Billerica Memorial High School this June, and after being accepted to 16 schools, she has committed to attending Plymouth State University to pursue a degree in Communications and Media Studies.
Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. Each year, one exceptional teen is selected to represent the Club and its members. These teens exemplify the critical impact Clubs have on the lives of young people and serve as role models for their peers.
Teens are nominated through an open process, and a group of finalists is selected by the Club’s staff team to participate in the Youth of the Year Leadership Program, which includes essay writing, letters of recommendation and a formal interview. Criteria considered during the selection process include academic success, commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, overall character and citizenship, and a well-rounded Club experience.
During Yvette’s interview, she had the opportunity to reflect on what the Club has meant to her.
“The aspect of the Boys & Girls Club that has had the biggest impact on me is its community. The Club and its amazing community have become somewhere I feel comfortable being myself and fully supported no matter what I do.”
This past weekend, Yvette represented Boys & Girls Club of Greater Billerica at the Massachusetts State Youth of the Year competition at Gillette Stadium, where she also became the first Youth of the Year participant to ever perform live at the event.
When asked to describe what the Club means to her in one word, Yvette chose “possibility.” Club staff are honored to have played a role in helping her discover new interests, deepen her passions, and prepare for the adventures that lie ahead. We are excited to see all the amazing things Yvette accomplishes in the years to come and are so proud to watch her transition from Club kid to Club alumna as she explores all the possibilities that lie ahead.
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