My name is Keyla Gonzalez. I am 17 and a senior at Central High School in Providence. After-school programs are very important, and our elected leaders should know just whom they are affecting — young people like me.

I’m not just saying this because these programs give youth something to do, but because they can change someone’s life. I know that first hand. I am thankful every day that I got the opportunity to join Young Voices a year and a half ago. Young Voices is an after-school program that trains youth to be powerful advocates who meet with adult leaders to improve systems on behalf of all youth. Young Voices has given me the chance to do something with my life. It has given me hopes, dreams and the courage to try new things. I am not afraid to take risks and stand up for what I believe in. Young Voices gave me that extra little push that I needed to move on. It drew out something in me that no one else saw; that I had more potential than I showed.

Before I attended Young Voices, I felt like a failure who would never amount to anything. I felt that the best thing I could do was just stay quiet. I didn’t really care much about school. My grades were horrible and I wasn’t even sure that I could consider going to college. My mind was in a whole different world. I wasn’t headed in a good direction. Because I joined an after-school program all that changed.

Now, two years later, I am stronger than I have ever been. It’s amazing how so a short period can change your world completely. Now I push myself harder every day. With Young Voices I have a family, a place to call my own, but most importantly I have a future. I will attend college, become a teacher and use the skills that Young Voices taught me.

I couldn’t imagine my life without an after-school program. But what’s going to happen to those kids who don’t have it? What about those kids overlooked because they don’t seem that smart, who don’t know what to do and need an extra push and support?

They are going to get it from the streets and turn to a life of crime. I can’t stress enough how important an after-school program is to a young person’s life.

KELYA GONZALEZ

Providence

The writer is a member of Young Voices, an after-school program in Providence. She has been accepted by several colleges.