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I came to Crossroads for Kids for the first time when I was 11 years old and by then I already felt like I was growing up a little too fast. Only a few months earlier I saw someone lose their life to violence on the same sidewalk where I learned to ride my bike. That was scary, but I tried my best to stay focused and do well in school. My middle school in Brockton nominated me for the Crossroads C5 program for exemplifying leadership in my class and I was really excited. The C5 interview process was fun and I got a taste of the diversity and strength of the staff. It was a good time to get away for a while, too. I was faced with homelessness for the first time during the interviews and getting away from that to focus on something positive was a great way for me to take a step back, make new friends, and taste independence.
From that first summer at Crossroads’ Camp Lapham, I loved the willingness of the staff to share their knowledge and experiences and love with me and others where I think other people could have seen us as stereotypes and made assumptions about us. I felt I could be myself, explore my interests, express my opinions, and try new things. The growth process was definitely challenging but we worked through those challenges together, and today my best friends in my life are my Crossroads friends.
The relationships that I made with the staff were bonds that have grown into loving caring friendships over time and their example is what gives me the drive and fire I have today as a staff member to keep coming back. Their advice and confidence in my ability to build my own future have given me such direction to where I am today- starting my third year of college at UNH and loving every minute!
At Crossroads I found a family I can depend on, consistency, love and the chance to be the change I want to see in children’s lives. Now my younger brother and sister are part of Crossroads too and will get to follow in my footsteps but also blaze their own trail. Crossroads is so important in our lives that I do everything I can to make sure all kids can have an experience like mine. That’s why every year I ride for Crossroads in the Rodman Ride for Kids; it is one of the highlights of my year. At UNH I have an annual Grilled Cheese fundraiser to raise money for Crossroads’ Ride Team. It has become famous - my friends at school are already asking about it. In true Crossroads spirit, everyone in the Crossroads family comes together to bring such passion and energy to the event and makes me never forget that this place truly gives me a foundation I can build my life around.
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I love school, but I also loving knowing that every summer I’m coming home to Crossroads because now I get to be a counselor and mentor for kids who were just like me. The greatest part about being a Crossroads counselor is seeing the long-term effects we have on the kids here. When they get off the bus and run to you the moment they see you… that’s awesome. But the ultimate payoff is watching them evolve into better people who develop positive skills through what we have taught them: seeing them help others, work as a team, or just listening to them while they talk and realizing how much progress they’ve made to articulate their emotions and ideas.