Scoring Big On and Off the Field: Brook’Lynn’s Story

My Boys & Girls Club journey began like many others — needing a place to do my homework after school. My parents both worked full time, and it wasn’t always easy to pick me up after class. That’s when my mom remembered going to her local Club growing up, and I was introduced to Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota in St. Cloud.

From kindergarten through high school, my afternoons were consistent: I got a snack, enjoyed time with friends and tried new activities. Even as my family moved around, I kept up with the Boys & Girls Club at my school.

It’s been 12 years since I joined the Club, and I’m about to graduate. Looking back, the mentors and programs I’ve had are now a roadmap for how far I’ve come and where I’m headed next.

An Equal Opportunity to Play

I fell in love with basketball in second grade, but my school didn’t offer organized girls’ teams until fourth or fifth grade. At the Club, I didn’t have to wait — I got to play on a team right away.

The best part of playing basketball at the Club is that everyone is welcome to play — boys, girls, older kids, younger kids. Sometimes, I was the only girl among 30 boys. That’s what I love about the Club: everyone is given a chance to follow their passions.

I became a team captain at a young age and learned how to be a true teammate and leader. Losing games and dealing with injuries taught me resilience. I used to try and push through but realized that real strength comes from accepting and growing from your mistakes. I’m grateful that I got to learn those lessons early at the Club. My change in attitude inspired my teammates, too.

Now, I’m on the varsity girls’ basketball team and a youth volleyball manager at school. I also organize and referee sports tournaments between Boys & Girls Clubs in my community. Nothing makes me happier than helping more kids discover the joy of competing as part of a team!

Building Community Trust, One Goal at a Time

Sports have also helped unite my community. Our Boys & Girls Club often partners with the local police department to run youth community programs. For the last five years, I’ve co-led a kids soccer camp with police officers through the Club and loved every minute.

During my first year, I noticed that kids at my Club loved soccer but were hesitant to join the soccer camp because it was with law enforcement. I wanted them to get to know our local police officers better, so I explained that the officers started the camp because they care about the youth in our community. They saw kids in our neighborhood playing soccer and wanted to engage them.

Many kids took a chance and joined the soccer camp, and all I heard after their first day was how much fun they had! Now, several kids in our Club are more comfortable around our local police officers, even inviting friends and siblings to join the soccer camp, too.

Experiences like this through the Boys & Girls Club helped me discover a love for law and politics. I found great mentors while breaking down barriers between our community’s law enforcement and youth. That’s why I want to pursue a career in family law.

I’ve always been the type to stand up for myself and for others, and my Boys & Girls Club has given me many opportunities to advocate for youth in my community. We all have a voice, and I believe everyone deserves to be heard and feel safe.

Getting Ready for Graduation & Beyond

My Boys & Girls Club has helped me own my future from the start. I used to get easily distracted in class, but my Club’s Power Hour program set me up for success. In second grade, I was reading at a sixth‑grade level. By third I was doing middle‑school math, all because of that extra hour of homework help each day.

As I got older, the Club continued to open doors. I earned scholarships through the Youth of the Year teen leadership program. I learned about finances from Money Matters, a program covering topics like credit scores and the 30/20/10 budgeting rule. When I got my first job, I knew exactly how to save for my future. My Club even taught me life skills, from CPR certification to how to change the oil in my car.

Since the day I first went through my Boys & Girls Club’s doors, I’ve gotten so far ahead.

This fall, I will be a first-generation college student studying criminal justice. I want every kid to have that opportunity: to be the first in their family to dream of a STEM career, college or trade school. With the right support, it’s possible. I know, because I’m living it.

Be a National Teen Advisor for Boys & Girls Clubs

Each year, teens like Brook’Lynn join Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth Advisory Council to help inform afterschool programs at local Clubs and military Youth Centers. Learn more about the council and our current teen members representing millions of Club kids!