Our community’s collective efforts to pour into our next generation of leaders is the spark blazing paths of opportunity, growth and success for our region’s youth. With the support of United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) partner agencies, Jaelyn, a shy teenager from Southwest Illinois, found the confidence to shine on a national stage.
Opportunities of a lifetime
Jaelyn’s journey with UWGSL partner agency, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) began in 2017 when she became a member. Their Bethalto Club quickly became a safe place for her to learn and grow, surrounded by mentors, volunteers, and Club counselors who encouraged her to explore her potential.
Although Jaelyn was naturally reserved, Kathy Wilson, Executive Director of BGCSTL’s Bethalto Club, saw early on that she had enormous promise as a student, Club member, and a future leader.
“She remained a really shy person, but staff could always get her to try something new which was one of the most amazing things about her,” said Kathy. “She was a really active participant in our SMART Girls program which really teaches girls about self-esteem, women’s health issues, and things that really boost you up.”
As Jaelyn grew, she was invited to participate in the BGCSTL’s Think, Learn, Create Change (TLC) program. TLC is a Boys and Clubs of America initiative implemented by local Boys and Girls Clubs like BGCSTL. TLC empowers teens to become community advocates and change agents in their communities. Through this program, they receive mentorship and resources to lead advocacy projects that foster community change.
Driven by her passion for teen mental health, TLC was the perfect opportunity to raise awareness.
“I wanted my project to focus on mental health because I wanted to have a way for teens to know that they are not alone in this,” said Jaelyn. “Mental health isn’t always talked about, so we wanted to show teens that their voices were heard.”
After extensive training in advocacy development skills, she was one of BGCSTL’s members selected to go to Washington D.C. and visit the U.S. Capitol. Jaelyn met with Club members from all over the country, presented her advocacy project, and even met with lawmakers to discuss her ideas and the need to prioritize teen mental health.
TLC gave her the opportunity to learn, grow, develop leadership skills, and overcome her introverted personality.
Jaelyn’s progress was so impressive that BGCSTL nominated her for an opportunity of a lifetime.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America partners with the National Football League (NFL) and through TLC, they gave Boys and Girls Clubs from around the country the opportunity to enter some of their standout members into a drawing for an all-expenses paid trip to Super Bowl LX.
Jaelyn was one of three Club members selected nationwide.
Last month’s Super Bowl was played in Santa Clara, California. Over the course of Super Bowl weekend, Jaelyn got to meet the two other Club members selected, LJ and Sinai. They attended NFL Super Bowl events and explored tourist stops that offered a perfect mix of fun, football, fandom, and a celebration of all their accomplishments that earned them this incredible experience.
Watch Jaelyn’s experience at Super Bowl weekend.
Today, Jaelyn has become a much more confident person, expanding her potential to do more great things. Her journey highlights not just a trip to the Super Bowl, but how the power of youth leadership, mentorship and opportunity can change someone’s life.
“She came back transformed, it was such a great experience for her,” said Kathy. “Her growth, comfort level and confidence in herself has blossomed. Her mom is so pleased, and [BGCSTL] is so pleased. Sometimes it takes years to see the results of what we do, and from 2017 to now, we’ve definitely seen those results with Jaelyn.”
Jaelyn will graduate from Bethalto High School in May, and as she transitions into adulthood, she said she’ll never forget everything BGCSTL has done to help her develop into the successful young woman she is today.
“My favorite part of being a Boys & Girls Clubs member is being in a good community and meeting new people,” said Jaelyn. “I came to Boys & Girls Clubs when I was six and I’ve met a lot of people who I’m still friends with today.”
Take action now:
- See more photos from Jaelyn’s trip to the Super Bowl.
- Learn more about how UWGSL is helping youth tap into their full potential.
- Share this story with family and friends.
