“The Club is like a second home to me. It has impacted me in so many ways. They’ve helped me out, they’ve helped my family out, and I’ve experienced things that I haven’t before.”

Mayra chose to be featured in the pantry & kitchen because she spends most of her time there helping Chef Debbi prepare meals for the Club.

MAYRA

15 years old
Inukai Family Boys & Girls Club
Member for 8 years
Future counselor

What’s something you’re proud of?

I’m proud of being an Inukai member. I’m also in a mariachi band and I’m proud of that.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A counselor probably. Like Rachel  (Inukai Club Director).

Why do you want to be a counselor?

I like kids and I like helping, and giving advice. I like being with people and knowing their stories and helping them.

How do you think the Club will help you achieve that goal?

It already has kind of. It teaches me how to be brave. If I could talk to anybody I can come here and talk to the staff. And that’s what I want to be for other kids or adults or teens or anything.

If you could describe the Boys & Girls Club in one word, what would you choose?

That’s hard. I could describe it in several words. It’s helpful. It’s amazing. It’s a great experience. It’s a lot of things.

Why do you like to come to the Club?

I’ve been a member for a long time and I kind of know where everything is and I know everyone and I know how it’s like. I feel like it’s a second home to me. So when I come here I can just let everything go and be relaxed. It makes me happy. I also like it because I feel like the Boys & Girls Club has impacted me in so many ways. It’s helped my family out, it’s helped me out, I’ve experienced things with the Boys & Girls Club that I haven’t before.

What kind of things have you experienced?

We did a Disneyland trip and I was the first one to go. We’ve also gone to Cirque du Soleil, we went to Seattle with the teens for the LIT program, we’ve also done a lot of volunteering. I won a contest where I could get clothes for interviews, so I went shopping for clothes for interviews with Rachel.

How has the Club helped you and your family?

I used to not be able to go to the dentist. They have dentists and eye doctors come in once a year. It’s because I told Rachel one time that I couldn’t go to the doctor so she brought it here so I could experience that.

Also during Christmas when I was younger I used to live with all my brothers and sisters and there were a lot of us so we wouldn’t get  Christmas presents. They would help us out. Sometimes we didn’t have enough shoes or clothes and they helped us out a lot.

You’ve talked about Rachel a lot. What does she mean to you?

It’s hard. I could say that she’s amazing, and strong and bold. So many things. She means a lot to me. She’s helped me out a lot and I feel like she’s made me find my way of who I am.

What do you want people to know about the Club?

It’s a place for kids to feel safe and welcome. It helps a lot of families out by donating clothes and toothbrushes and things we need. They’ll always look out for you. Boys & Girls Club is like a family. My family.

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