Alan

Alan is one of most recent graduates. We chose him as this quarter’s Spotlighted Student because of the leadership he exhibited his last year at CYD. Alan attended CYD AfterSchool and Tutoring every week. He battled a bad case of senior-itis, turning a failing grade into a 100% in just over a month. He has been accepted to Tuskegee University and Fort Valley University and plans to study computer science and/or engineering. He is a great friend and role model to everyone in the program.

Excerpt from his Graduation Speech: “I always knew that I was smart but because I was afraid of what people would say or think about me, I didn’t show it. I followed my friends around not being challenged and wanting more for myself. I felt unfulfilled because I wasn’t being pushed in school and I started not to care. CYD surrounded me with a lot of people that believed in me and saw my potential. As I got older, I started to have more confidence in myself because people kept telling me, “Alan you will be successful. You are smart but you don’t show it”. Every time I heard those words I became more confident. And I realized that I am smart and I can be anything I want to be.”