Generally, the one factor standing between a youngster and a profitable future is a second probability. That was true for me. Earlier than I discovered the appropriate help, I didn’t have the instruments to navigate my future. However by JCCA’s Court docket-Concerned Youth Psychological Well being Initiative, often known as Second Probabilities, I gained the talents and confidence to form my very own path.
Second Probabilities didn’t simply train me how you can get a job—it taught me how you can advocate for myself and take management of my life. Each younger particular person deserves that very same alternative. JCCA, a nonprofit baby welfare group, relies on New York Metropolis Council funding to proceed this life-changing program.
After I first joined, I used to be nervous. Group workshops and one-on-one mentoring had been new to me, however I shortly realized this program wasn’t about judgment—it was about equipping me with the talents and help I wanted to succeed.
One of the crucial impactful experiences was a mock “shark tank” panel. We brainstormed invention concepts and pitched them to a gaggle, simulating a real-world enterprise setting. Presenting for my group was nerve-wracking, but it surely taught me how you can talk my concepts clearly and persuasively. Now, I stroll into job interviews feeling ready and assured.
This system additionally offered me with a resume, cowl letter, and interview observe. With the assistance of my mentors, I refined my job purposes and gained the arrogance to place myself on the market. At the moment, I work at Luna Park in Coney Island and am about to be promoted—one thing I by no means imagined earlier than Second Probabilities.
Monetary literacy was one other essential lesson. Budgeting workout routines and real-world cash administration tasks taught me how you can save, plan, and make knowledgeable monetary selections. Now, I put aside a portion of every paycheck and handle my bills responsibly—a useful talent that can serve me for all times.
However past the sensible abilities, Second Probabilities gave me a neighborhood. My mentors and friends turned a help system that stored me motivated. Each week, I met with the psychological well being counselor and realized methods to deal with a number of the private struggles I used to be experiencing. I wasn’t simply given a possibility—I labored for it, with the appropriate steerage and sources. With out this program, I wouldn’t be the place I’m right this moment.
For this reason Second Probabilities should proceed. Too many younger individuals, similar to me, want steerage and help to vary their futures. The New York Metropolis Council’s funding is essential to maintaining this program alive. Investing in Second Probabilities means investing in younger individuals, decreasing recidivism, growing employment, and strengthening communities.
I do know firsthand how highly effective a second probability may be. Now, I’m asking the Metropolis Council to make sure that others get theirs.
Mickalina Stewart, a younger girl from Brooklyn, obtained help from JCCA’s Second Probabilities program.
