Meet Dexter: Youth of the Year for Jesse Draper Boys & Girls Club

October 22, 2024 BGCMA

Dexter

Club membership: 3 years

Post-Secondary/Career Interest: “My career goal is to become a professional athlete and an entrepreneur. While I’m still unsure about my major, I’m leaning toward Communications because I love to communicate and discuss various topics. I hope to attend either UCLA, LSU, USC, or Georgia.”

Why is your Boys & Girls Club important to you? “My Boys and Girls Club is important to me because of the connections it provides. For example, as a JYOY, I was able to attend the gala even though I didn’t place, thanks to my personality and presence on the mic.”

How does it feel to represent your Club as Youth of the Year? What does it mean to you? “This is my second time representing my club, and my first time competing for the Sr. YOY. It means a lot to me that out of all the teens, they want me to represent my Boys and Girls Club.”

Meet Dexter: Dexter is a 14-year-old freshman at Westlake High School and has been a member of the Jesse Draper Boys & Girls Club for three years. He dreams of becoming a professional athlete and entrepreneur, with an interest in communications. Dex is considering UCLA, LSU, USC, or Georgia for college. The Club has helped him grow, particularly by improving his maturity and overcoming shyness. Representing his Club in Youth of the Year program is a significant honor for Dex. He hopes to leave a lasting impact and be remembered by staff and fellow members for his leadership and contributions.

“My Club supports my goals and aspirations by letting me get shots up, [playing basketball], telling me about programs I didn’t know about and helping me with real world problems.”