I was lost. But once I started opening up to Mariya, it helped me decide, ‘Yes, I do want to finish high school. I do want to finish the program. I do want to get my CDA.’ And now I have a career.

I learned how to overcome being my own saboteur and how to stay on a path that will open doors for me.

If my family wasn’t involved with SGA, I’d be under a lot more stress. I wouldn’t be able to teach my children strategies and they wouldn’t be as advanced as they are now.

John is an example of the perseverance and potential Opportunity Youth have when given the support to realize their potential.

I never knew what a strong person I was until going through the SGA program. It helped me so much, and I can show my kids there’s more to life.

My main goal was to show my family, especially my young daughter, that I could succeed.