Summer is Here! Come and Join the Fun

By Sonia Ramos, LAYC’s Communications Intern/ Writer

As summer begins many of us get excited because we can work to earn money, we can spend time with friends outside of school and we can also spend more time with family members. Summer is my favorite season because I am able to work and have fun with friends --- something that many of us love to do.

I am now working at the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). At LAYC’s communications department, I am working on exciting youth projects which include documenting student’s experiences at the SYEP program, attending events and writing for the youth section of the website. Isn’t that exciting? I enjoy speaking to other youth and being part of the programs they are involved in makes it even more fun.

For those who don’t know, SYEP is a city wide program that works with low income youth to prepare them for the real world – this includes job readiness, college preparatory information, and speaking skills classes that allows them to become young leaders – have you heard of the program before?

Whether you have heard about the SYEP or not here is a good example of one of the students that has had many accomplishments through the SYEP --- maybe you know him.

His name is Nelson Quintanilla, an open-minded student with a lot of energy and high level of motivation to accomplish his dreams and hopes. He is currently attending Columbia University, where he is looking forward on pursuing a degree on Business Management. Wow, I know a lot of people from my school Bell Multicultural who will be majoring on some kind of Business career.

As Nelson spends his days at LAYC, he is acquiring skills on business management by working in the finance office with professionals who share his same interest. I talked to Nelson last week; he mentioned that he feels grateful to be a participant of the SYEP because it opens many opportunities in one’s life. I agree with him. “SYEP takes you to the top,” he said.

“SYEP takes you to the top,”

Nelson also told me that without the SYEP he would have probably not made the same decisions and that he would not find himself doing something productive. Instead he would have spent his afternoons at his house --- isn’t that boring?

I do not like to stay home on a beautiful summer day. Do you? Fortunately, this is not Nelson’s situation because he is working with the SYEP and is a very busy young man. “The SYEP was a life changing experience,” he said. And it sure is, hey I am in the program too remember.

Nelson has been working in the SYEP for three years and sends YOU a message --- You should join the SYEP program next summer because it is fun and informative!

And with that informative goal in mind, LAYC participates in SYEP.

Nakia Lynch, the coordinator of the program at LAYC explains that “SYEP serves to expose youth between 14-21 to different careers and job experiences.”

Since I started working through the SYEP, I have become aware about different opportunities. I have maintained myself occupied and engaged. I mean, I love experiencing new things. I have gone on field trips, have met new people and in the process I am learning a whole bunch of new things.

For those who thought that the program is boring, I can now tell them that is absolutely not the case. Let me tell you why:

First, there are many different activities that you will enjoy.

Nakia says that participants in the program seem to find it fun. “It is definite that no one wants to spend their summer at some boring program,” Nakia told me and she added that the coordinators of the program “want them to have fun. Yes you can learn but we will make it fun.”

So, there it is. It is a learning environment mixed with laughs and enjoyment.

The SYEP is undoubtly a program that needs to remain available for years to come. Nelson and some other students I have spoken to see staff members and fellow participants as a second family. I am sure many more students to come will feel the same way.

This program has attracted the attention of youth like you today, something that can be difficult at times. Spread the word and maybe next year you and your friends can join.

Alright, so what do you think? Nice program isn’t it? Visit LAYC’s youth page each week because I will bring you the latest on the SYEP program, vibrant stories about other students like Nelson who are benefiting from the program and reports on everything I see and learn. Besides reporting on SYEP, I’ll also write about other topics.

Tell me, what are you doing this summer? Give a holler through LAYC facebook page. Talk to you soon!

Sonia Ramos is a communications intern through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Sonia graduated from Bell Multicultural High School, DC in June and will attend George Mason University beginning the fall to pursue communications/journalism studies.