Yumma:

I am a former participant of NYS who is now in my mid-20s. As an adolescent, I attended the “Center” pretty much every day. I saw it as a place to hang out with my friends, eat free snacks, and go on fun field trips. There were times that I got into trouble and wasn’t very interested in doing the “right” thing.

After becoming a mother while still in high school, I continued visiting NYS, but I looked at the program a lot differently. It became a place of opportunity, experience and most of all, support. Staff assisted me with homework, looking for a job, finding items for my new baby and identifying programs that helped teen moms.

The support I got from the people there prompted me to pursue a career in human services. I went to college and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After graduation, I joined Americorps and obtained my current position working at NYS. Being here as a staff member, I have begun to understand how much effort and care goes into working with youth. I now appreciate all of the patience, empathy and flexibility that is required. It has solidified my desire to pursue my PsyD in Clinical Psychology while doing volunteer work with youth.