Lessons learned with SYE

The more confident expressions on the faces of the 12 youths participating RDA's Summer Youth Employment (SYE) program attests to the programs efficacy. On Tuesday, the sixth of July, these youths arrived at RDA to collect the first paychecks of their lives.

Some pictures were taken, one youth danced a bit and one mother said that while her daughter was receiving a paycheck, she was getting a “reality check” that her daughter is growing up.

As the mothers comment implies, SYE does not just provide paychecks to the youths, but can teach important lessons about growing up.

After their first week of work Ivory, Anibal Garza, who is working at Rosedale Middle School, said that he was getting a lot better at getting up early.

Natalie Hill, who worked at Little Angels Daycare, said she was learning a lot about how to work with others. She said, “everybody is different and has different ways of doing things.” Learning how to work effectively together with a diverse group is an important lesson to learn for anyone who works with others.

Angel Perez, working in a janitorial position at Holy Name, believes that with all the cleaning he has done there, he will value cleaning his house more from now on. Angel has also taken lessons about money management given at the beginning of the program to heart, as he has decided to save all the money he has earned.

Martez Taylor, who is working at Carroll Seating, said, “working is fun! At least there it is.” Taylor also said that he had learned from talking to all the workers at Carroll Seating how important his education was for getting the job he wants in the future.

The work arrangements have worked well for the work sites also. Mr. Jenkins, at Holy Name, said that Perez is, “an excellent fit” and that he is a “hard worker.” A teacher at the Rainbow Mennonite CDF Freedom School – where two SYE workers worked in the kitchen -- pointed to the “spotless” kitchen to highlight the hard work of two SYE participants there.