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Helen Lopez Shares Her YouthBuild Story

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Helen Lopez, a 2020 graduate from our campus at RUTH YouthBuild in Canoga Park, shared her YouthBuild story with us during our Virtual Spring 2021 PD. Helen's story helped inspire our staff and is sure to motivate other students. Since graduating in 2020, Helen was hired by RUTH YouthBuild to serve as their Engagement Coordinator. We are so grateful to Helen for sharing her story with us.

Show Transcript

good morning everyone good morning and I apologize if I study a little bit I'm a little bit nervous but I get through it so yeah I like miss us Celine mentioned I am now working here I'm very excited and I just want to say thank you to the you still Charter School for allowing me to share my story with you guys today so when I first got here to Ruth youth build and I was very nervous very all over the place I didn't care about anything at all I was giving a lot of importance too many different things and at that time in my life I had just turned 16 I was just being a crazy Rebel child and I was going through those hormones and everything it was a it was a huge change for me because when I first got here remember, I don't know if you guys know her but miss Iris Silva I actually had a very different encounter with her I I came in with my mom and I actually I was rude I was just I don't really care about the school I don't care about you say I don't care about the uniforms I don't care about anything I'm just I'm wasting my time here and I remember specifically her telling me you're not going to get nowhere like that with attitude you need to change if you're not ready for that then this is not for you and I just walked out I left and you know I went I went off throughout the days and thought that week I was just thinking right and I remember back and I was like I am sorry I I wasn't trying to be rude I just have a lot on my plate and it's not your fault I just I don't know if I'm ready to even want to be here I don't and the fact that she didn't turn away from me the fact that she didn't give me her back and she showed me like it's fine we'll work through it is was just kind of like weird for me but it helped and it was just like okay you know what I'll I'll give it a shot you know I came here it was very different the mental toughness you know being so out of your comfort zone doing things that you wouldn't do at a normal like Traditional School was just like what that like you know like it was just crazy it was weird being here youth build I was able to you know address and eventually like I learned a few things about myself but I did and it was because of those people's fast up the friends that I had the the bonds that I created year are just amazing and and I couldn't be more grateful and you know as you can see here these are many moments that I've had and I was able to grow throughout refusal program yeah I was in and out I was always know I'm not ready no I'm not your yes I'm full of energy I'm ready to go but I burn out and I will at least you know I would hear a lot I'm a little roller coaster but I didn't want to give up I did not want to leave I remember getting up every morning at 5 in the morning to catch all those buses is the red line the blue line to orange line to come back to Roosevelt and Canal Park no matter how hard I tried to just do my own thing I couldn't I would always come back I was able to do like spirit week I was able to hold like you know like group therapy sessions after school and that little burst right there that was my first date being here at risk youth build and you know I've I've done like appreciation post to my to my teachers and staff as well I can't emphasize the fact that I love Disco so, I found my calling I realize that being at the school means so much to me that I don't want to let anyone down I don't want to let myself down and I feel like the reason why I've been in the so much was because throughout my my crazy times I've learned to realize I didn't want to let go because it was the only positive and the only good thing in my life that I knew that it was safe it was solid that was Reddit let it go so I was so scared of graduating so scared of being done even though could have been done all those years ago like I said I didn't want to let go so scared of you guys ready to let go and meet you and finally last year 7 months pregnant created in a in a world endemic and I pushed through I made it and I'm just so happy cuz besides the fact that I had my baby to look after I had my baby to look forward to I made it known I'm going to come work here I'm going to be here I want to help I want to be there not only as a friend but as someone you know who could be a mentor who could be there for you on a personal level I'm helping you with through Jen you know learning about the next steps after graduating I just I want to be all in I want to help and I've always told the staff here I was told Miss Miranda I've always told everyone like I'm going to get a job here you guys are not getting rid of me I'm going to come back like this is are stuck with me for life I don't care so thankfully I was fortunate enough to get a job here my position here is called an event coordinator I do the in Rome has the paperwork the intake not just that but if anyone has any questions or anyone wants to get a little insight of like what Ruth youthbuild is about and I just wish you felt but any useful I'll be talking to them because I I could tell them you know a little bit about where I've been through and what I've been able to accomplish here to letting them know to like Haley if you're in it if you want to meet me halfway I'm right there by you at 110% and everyone here to I'm really happy because this is exciting I come here every day and you know how you have that job I mean I feel like we've all had that one job where she was like man I have to get up to go to work now this isn't it for me up I'm here at doesn't feel like I'm working cuz just helping and just being here for everyone is is coming from a genuine place I enjoy what I do and it's it's not everyday that someone's going to get lucky enough to get a job like that and I'm thankful for having my drink. I'm here with you guys you know so I just it feels good and I am really happy to be here so explain a little bit about my wife came back but now I want to ask you what's your why how does working at still support your way because of people like you I appreciate you presentation thank you thank you so much you know I appreciate having this time and space to be able to talk to you guys I know that it is you know sometimes a little heavy on our shoulders to be a reach out and to want to be helped I know sometimes we're not ready for it but don't give up on us cuz I know there's a lot of people who just need that little extra virgin olive oil reminder that you as staff as friends as mentors are here for us and you know when we're ready we'll give you guys are all I mean even if we have sometimes our Downs like we'll be good and I just I hope that you guys don't give up unless I know I want to be just like you guys being here for everyone and even if I can just make a difference in one person's life that means a lot cuz I know that that's what the stock your did for me too so thank you thank you so much for telling look it up virtual Round of Applause

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