Meet Jonas: Youth of the Year for Douglas County Boys & Girls Boys & Girls Club

Jonas

Club membership: Joined 2011 

Post-Secondary/Career Interest: Attend a four-year college, majoring in Business Administration. Become a high school business teacher or a sports marketing manager. 

What does the phrase masterpiece in the making mean to you? “Since the age of six, the Club has been shaping me to be the person I am today. To me, the phrase masterpiece in the making means that everyone has a vision of who they want to become. With support from family and friends, constant improvement, and involvement in programs such as Youth of the Year, I am becoming the best version of myself. Each day we should be better than the day before. We are all masterpieces in the making.” 

Why is it important for kids to use their voice? “It is important for teens to use their voice in today’s society so we can share our views about the community that we live in. For example, an emphasis should be placed on teen mental health. Our generation was severely impacted by the pandemic. We lost family members, and our sense of normalcy, and we weren’t properly equipped to deal with our emotions. At an age where we are already struggling with emotions, the added stress of the world’s problems and social media makes it important for us to voice our opinions about our mental health needs.” 

Short Bio: Jonas is a 17-year-old high school senior with dreams of becoming either a high school business teacher or a sports marketing manager. A Club member since age 6, Jonas is proud of being named his Club’s Youth of Year twice. He says his Club has supported him through continued leadership development and confidence building. “From the time that I became a member of my Club, I was given high expectations. I was expected to be as good as my brother if not better. I was expected to be smart and well-mannered since I was the son of a principal. Although I’ve had high expectations from the start, I’ve managed to exceed them. From playing a big part in community service projects to being elected as the Keystone president, I’ve been prepared for this moment to serve as the Douglas County Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year.”