Out-of-school programs create opportunities
“United Way and Girls Inc. changed my life by preparing me for a new world.”
Academically rich afterschool and summer programs taught Adalia to study better and inspired her to give back to the community.
Adalia grew up in inner-city Dallas and not only graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School but also went on to succeed in college. She explains how what kids do after school and during the summers can make a big difference in their futures:
If it wasn’t for United Way of Metropolitan Dallas donors, I don’t know what my life would have been like.
Would I have known that college would be possible for me? Would I have developed a passion for helping people and giving back to my community?
I could just as easily have become another girl with low self-esteem who didn’t make the most of her education.
But United Way donors created opportunities for me that helped me learn how to be a better me. Because of their generosity, I was able to start going to the afterschool and summer programs at Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas when I was 9 years old.
At Girls Inc., I learned that there are so many things I could do with my life. I learned how to study for classes and use the library wisely. I learned how to make smart choices and deal with many difficult problems.
One of my teachers, Ms. Annette, wanted the best for all of us. Whenever she saw an opportunity for us, she let us know as soon as possible and helped us make the most of it. Ms. Annette would always say, “Giving back to the community is a joy.” She loved being part of the community and inspired me to do the same.
United Way and Girls Inc. helped me improve my self-esteem, do well in school, think about my future, graduate from Thomas Jefferson High School and find the right university for me.
Today, I’m studying nursing at Texas Woman’s University. I love to volunteer at Children’s Medical Center, which I have been doing since 2006. The support of United Way donors and Girls Inc. helped me to become a responsible lady.