There is a characteristic that makes everyone unique. What makes you unique? For a while it was my chipped tooth. I am Yaluris Torres and I am 17 years old. I attend Fort Pierce Westwood High School and currently exceed credits to graduate with the class of 2019. I will be graduating with my A.A degree from Indian River State College and would love to double major at Florida State University. I have a 3.59 GPA and leadership positions in various places, but this speech isn't about all my figures and statistics I'm here to tell you who I am what makes me ME!
I was born and raised in New Jersey and never would I have thought I was going to leave majority of my family to move to Florida. In Jersey, I was used to having a close relationship with my parents which changed when they worked opposite shifts due to the move. I get like I no longer had anyone to express myself with. I get alone and fell into deep depression. It was hard to connect with my peers because they bullied me for having an accent and having a chipped tooth. I had built up anger which I took out in aggressive fighting. The fights I got in at schools caused me to get expelled multiple times. I was bounced from schools all around St Lucie County due to my behavior. I hated going to school. But middle school I met my best friend, who introduced me to the Boys & Girls Clubs. The staff and club members made me feel so welcomed and amazing. From the first time I walked into the Club they never made me feel abnormal, unwanted, they even said they liked my chipped tooth because it made me unique. I had finally found somewhere that I belonged.
I have now been a member of the Boys & Girls club: infinity unit for 8 years. The director at the time knew I was enrolled in an alternate school. For those of you who aren't familiar, alternate schools are for students who can't attend public school due to behavior problems. Thankfully I was taken under the wing by Ms. Tanesha. Through time we built a trusting bond together. She helped me build a better stronger bond with my mother and showed me other ways to express my emotions. This mentorship helped me see the importance of academics and helped my personal growth.
The longer I attended the boys and girls club the more I grew personally. Through the boys and girls club I have taken part in programs like smart girls and power hour; which specifically helped me build my confidence, values and mental stability. Not only has it helped me with interactions at school but it has also prepared me for life as an adult.
I have aspirations to positively affect my community. I feel in order to change my community I need to start with this generation. I fee as if there were more outlets in high crime cities like mine there wouldn't be a high percentage of young adults in juvenile detention centers. If we had classes like boxing and wrestling-free of charge- they'd have a way to release anger safely, and keep them out of trouble.
My mother says that everything happens for a reason, and I truly believe trust god brought me to Fort Pierce to be positively affected by the mentors Pand staff at the Boys and Girls Club. In the past eight years as a club member I have changed from a young girl in alternate school and no direction in life to an intelligent, focused young lady standing before you today. The Boys and Girls Club truly changes whoever walks through the blue door, it changed mine!
