In the course of a year, Afia went from living in a group home and being in trouble with the law to receiving a Values Award from the YMCA Academy.

The Values Award is given to people who represent the YMCA values of Caring, Health, Honesty, Inclusiveness, Respect and Responsibility. That’s a big change from where Afia’s been.

When she started at the YMCA Academy, she only had one high school credit, which she got while she was living in a lock-down facility. Her relationship with her family wasn’t good. Things were really unsettled in her life and Afia had almost given up on returning to school. That is until she found out about the YMCA Academy.

The Academy is so different from other schools - the teachers really care about her as a person, not just a student. It has changed Afia’s whole life. Now she has 21 credits, is on-track to graduate next summer and is thinking about going to College.

Afia is happy where she is in her life now. She’s working hard at the YMCA Academy. Her teachers see her effort and they are doing everything to help her succeed not just in school, but in life. We know she will!