Club Member Taking Step Up to Help Other Teens Plan for the Future

Sophomore helping to establish 4th Annual Los Amigos Conference on Higher Education

Shakya Wheeler, a 10th grader at Nashua High School North, knows what it means to be a leader. Currently involved in the Club's Keystone Club and Los Amigos Multicultural Group, she has seen what teens can do. This weekend, Shakya will be representing the Northeast Region as a member of the 2008 Los Amigos Conference Steering Committee.

At the Los Amigos conference, teens interact with youth development, university and corporate professionals who educate the youth on what is necessary for them to prepare for personal success, as well as understanding and completing the higher education process through a series of general and interactive sessions. Members also have a chance to gain information regarding many of the colleges in the area and meet with their representatives through a formal college fair. Social opportunities are also provided to allow Club members to interact with those members from other Clubs, talk about pertinent teen issues, and enjoy the excitement of such social events.

By having the opportunity to participate in a conference such as this, teens are encouraged to become lifelong learners, investing in both their education and their futures. This will benefit the communities where these youth currently reside. The goal of this conference is to promote higher education opportunities by bringing together teens of all races while interacting and having fun in a successful, experiential learning environment. Each year, a steering committee comes of 12 youth come together to plan the conference and represent their fellow teens and any issues that they are currently facing about post-secondary education.

With Individual Services Director, Tracey Jackson, Shakya and 11 other youth will work over the weekend to plan the entire conference from its theme to the sessions and workshops offered to youth. This year, the host organization is the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester (MA), and the college site is Clark University.

For information about the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua, please contact Bridget Cooley, Area Director, at 883-0523 x228 or bcooley@bgcn.com.

Posted January 17, 2008.