As high school seniors celebrate graduation, many also face uncertainty about what comes next. For students like Hudsyn, support from United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) and its nonprofit partner agencies like Hope Ignites provides stability before graduation and reassurance for the road ahead.
“My gratefulness for Hope Ignites is something I can’t put into words,” said Hudsyn. “I know how lucky I am to have this support. It’s amazing to have them be part of my journey.”
UWGSL’s programs, partnerships and initiatives help agencies like Hope Ignites support youth from middle and high school through post-secondary education and into their careers.
After overcoming adversity, Hudsyn is building a brighter future filled with hope and opportunity.
Hope that inspires
Hudsyn’s journey with Hope Ignites began in middle school, a crucial point in his childhood. His school counselors recognized his potential and ambition, but saw how his surroundings narrowed his vision for the future.
Some of Hudsyn’s family didn’t finish high school and often struggled to meet basic needs, making college and a fulfilling career feel out of reach. Knowing he needed a change of scenery to improve academically and mentally, his counselors recommended Hope Ignites.
Through Hope Ignites Student Life and Residential Living program, Hudsyn was provided shelter, meals, supervision, and necessities – giving him a foundation for acceptance, growth and opportunity. For the first time, Hudsyn felt like he had someone in his corner that was determined to help him succeed.
“We have therapists in one of the buildings who would always reach out to me to schedule meetings and appointments to just talk about whatever I needed to talk about,” said Hudsyn. “Then with tutoring, my freshman year of high school I was struggling a little bit with some classes, but they made sure they kept up with my grades and encouraged tutoring – not as a punishment, they just wanted to see me do better.”
Hudsyn’s challenges didn’t stop in the classroom his freshman year. He had trouble fitting in, making friends, and forming any meaningful connections with any of the students, faculty or staff at school. Hudsyn felt lost, but Hope Ignites remained a valuable source of encouragement and guidance.
After ongoing conversations about his struggles with his therapists and counselors at Hope Ignites, they felt the best course of action was for him to transfer to Maplewood Richmond Heights High School, where he began to flourish.
His grades, mental health, and emotional well-being improved, and sports also gave him a way to socialize and make friends.
“I’ve always played sports and I use that as a way to connect with people,” said Hudsyn. “From the very first practice, people who I never met before accepted me and treated me like I had been on the team since I was a freshman.”
That sense of belonging extended beyond the field. His housemates and staff from Hope Ignites regularly attended his games, showing up in ways that felt like family.
“It was really motivating for me, they could have been playing video games or going to the recreation center, but they chose to come out and support me,” said Hudsyn. “It showed me that I had people that cared about what I was doing outside of my academics.”
For the past six years, this army of support gave him the academic, social and mental empowerment to accomplish something that once felt uncertain – graduating from high school. And this fall, Hudsyn will be attending the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) to study mechanical engineering.
Given the adversity he endured, reaching this moment feels surreal.
“This feels like a dream come true,” said Hudsyn. “There were a lot of times that I didn’t even know if I would make it through high school. My parents allowing me to go explore my educational values at Hope Ignites has really set me a part and given me a good step forward into graduating high school and going to college.”
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