Meet De’Jae: Youth of the Year for At-Promise – Southwest Boys & Girls Club

De’Jae 

Club membership: 6 years

Post-Secondary/Career Interest: “I want to attend Georgia State or Clark Atlanta University to pursue my pre-med studies, majoring in Biology or Chemistry. After completing my pre-med, I plan to take the MCAT and begin four years of medical school to become a licensed pediatric dermatologist.”

Why is your Boys & Girls Club important to you? “My Boys & Girls Club is important to me because, without them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”

How does it feel to represent your Club as Youth of the Year? What does it mean to you? “Being given the opportunity to represent my Club is a blessing. I know that many of my peers and those around me often go unheard, so I can be their voice.”

Meet De’Jae: De’Jae is a 17-year-old senior at D.M. Therrell High School and a member of the At-Promise – Southwest Boys & Girls Club. She plans to attend Clark Atlanta University to major in biochemistry, with hopes of becoming a dermatologist. Dee values her Club as a safe space where she can learn, have fun, and support others. 

Representing her Club as Youth of the Year is a great honor for Dee, allowing her to be a role model for younger members. The Club has supported her through tough times, like grieving the loss of a friend, and has helped her prepare for college and her future career. Dee hopes to give back by helping others and making a lasting positive impact on her community. To her, a “legacy of impact” means creating change that continues to help people long after you’re gone. 

“My Club has really helped me with my goals for college and my future career. They’ve given me lots of guidance, resources, and chances to meet people who can help me along the way. It’s been really reassuring to have that kind of support!”