What do you want to be when you grow up?
Linnette Figueroa wants to become a veterinarian. Tanisha Diaz wants to be a lawyer and an entrepreneur.
The Springfield, Massachusetts teens are bright, hard-working and ambitious. So why shouldn’t they reach their goals?
A Few of the New Black and Hispanic Achievers from Springfield
The YMCA wants to make sure that they do. A new program, coming to the Springfield YMCA next September, will focus on helping teens like Figueroa and Diaz who have set high standards for themselves. More importantly, perhaps, the teens themselves will be an encouragement to others in their community to set worthwhile goals and learn how to reach them.
The program is called Black and Hispanic Achievers. Quinton Mease first conceived the Black Achievers program at the Houston YMCA in 1967. In 1971, at the Harlem YMCA, Dr. Leo B. Marsh started a similar program, and the model quickly spread.
In 1987, the National Black Achievers network was established. Currently, more than 250 YMCAs nationwide have programs. They are variously identified as Black, Black & Hispanic, Minority and Latino, depending on the needs of the individual community. The purpose of the program is to motivate black youths to set educational and career goals. The Harlem YMCA sought to achieve the objectives by creating a forum to foster ongoing interaction between African-American youths and adults who had distinguished themselves in their professions. Mentorship remains a strong component of the programs today. Membership benefits not only the teens, but the adults, who can gain visibility within their local YMCA boards and companies, helping them to advance professionally and within their community.
Education statistics show that high school and college drop-out rates are higher among black and Hispanic students than their white counterparts. Research also shows that teens are more motivated to succeed academically when encouraged and guided by adults who are successful and who look like them.
“My goal is to complete high school and go to a four-year college, major in biology, and become a vet,” says Figueroa, a high school sophomore.
“My education is important to me; I am goal-oriented. I want to maintain a 3 or better average,” says Diaz, also a sophomore. “I plan to go to college and become an entrepreneur and lawyer. I’m thinking at this point of Boston University or Suffolk University.
The teens are excited about the program coming to Springfield, and agree that it is much needed.
“Springfield teens are minority, and don’t think about going to college very much,” says Diaz. “This program is about helping people to step out of their comfort zone. Yes, the dropout rate is very high. But even if you drop out of school, you can still have goals. Some people think if you get a GED, you can’t go to college. That’s not true. You can go to a community college. From a community college, you could go to any college or university. This program enforces that no matter what, you can achieve. If you have goals, the money will come. With all the stereotypes out there, students degrade themselves. It doesn’t have to be that way. If you have education and knowledge, there’s always a way. Success will come.”
Friday, March 27th 2009 at 6:35 pm |
I too have daughters and greatly desire to see them achieve. I consider myself to be a strong black father and teach them to be such. However, my greatest concern is for the young black males in America. It seems they are the ones in many cases overlooked by society, education, success and the legal system. Who will be there voice and what are we doing to preserve them and the future that awaits them. One final thought, women by nature are communicators. Mothers communicate with their daughters about their bodies and sisters communicate between their selves. It’s no wonder they are so in tuned within. However as men, especially black, we lack this this great art. We don’t talk!!!!! will there be hope for us or are we destined to fade away?