As Dalyn Small approached his senior year of high school, he was facing big setbacks. His challenges with family were growing, he was uncertain about housing, and his GPA had dipped dangerously low. Dalyn was smart and worked hard, but life had gotten in the way of his plans. He wanted to change his course, but wasn’t sure where to start. He turned to his Boys & Girls Club for resources and support to get back on track.
After talking with staff at his Club, Dalyn pushed himself. “I signed up for every possible thing at my Club, and if I had the slightest bit of interest, I committed.”
Dalyn became an active member of College Bound, a program that prepares teens for SAT and ACT testing, helps them navigate the college application and scholarship process, and introduces them to campus life. He doubled down on his work with Keystone, a service and leadership group aimed at teaching teens the power of their voice and the value of giving back. Dalyn remembers, “At my Club, I saw a million opportunities to become the person I hoped to be.”
Dalyn found peers who cared about the same things he did. He started to build his leadership skills. After lots of hard work, resume prep, and interviewing, Dalyn got his first job as a counselor at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro
Atlanta’s Camp Kiwanis where he mentored younger campers and assisted staff with key initiatives.
As graduation got closer, Dalyn signed on with CareerBound – a new program at his Boys & Girls Club that extended the options available to teens. The program educated him about paths like traditional four-year college, but also opened his eyes to other options including technical school, apprenticeships, two-year college, and the military.
Dalyn found exactly what he needed in Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta’s partnership with Herzing University. The program was targeted toward Club teens whose chances of affording college were slim. Five spots were available and Dalyn jumped at the opportunity. He started in Herzing University’s online campus with a full-ride scholarship!
During his classes at Herzing, Dalyn discovered his natural talent and passion for computer science. He put this passion to the test during a paid IT internship with BGCMA and began a certification to apprenticeship program through a partnership with TreeHouse to get certified in web design and coding.
After only a few months in these programs, his school and BGCMA recognized his capacity and recommended him for a special opportunity to study abroad in China.
Dalyn is currently studying in Zhuhai, China through Herzing University, while also completing his Treehouse certification online. Upon his return and at the completion of his apprenticeship, Dalyn will be offered a full-time, full benefits career at MailChimp as a front end developer. The company, known for its supportive culture and exceptional growth, brings in more than $500 million in revenue each year.
Dalyn Small is going on to do big things. He is following his passion, supporting his city, and broadening his horizons – all because he found his path and people who believed in him.