Jordan Sanchez, 17, is a Leader’s Aide at Sequoia YMCA Summer Camp program where he helps implement games and activities for the campers in a small group setting. In addition, he is responsible for the general safety and development, growth and skill achievement for the campers in his group. Jordan grew up in the Palm Park area of Redwood City attending Hawes Elementary School and McKinley Middle School. He currently is getting ready to start his junior year of high school at Summit. Jordan has been a part of the Y family since he attended our SPLASH Safety Around Water program when he was in grade school. Through this community program, his mother signed him and his sisters up for swim lessons. Jordan loved swim lessons and still talks about the influence CJ, Angelica and Alfonzo had on him. When summer came around, he begged his family to sign him up for summer camp. When he was in the 6th Grade, his parents enrolled him in Explorer Camp. His sisters attended High Five and Discovery Camp. His camp leader, Jesus Rivas (Jesse) was his role model. “Jesse was really cool, he put himself in our shoes, understood our point of view and made me want to be like him.”
Jordan returned to the Y this summer putting the leadership skills he learned in Leaders in Training to the test. He is placed with younger campers to help assist the directors, lead games, lead arts and crafts and sing camp songs. Jesse Rivas recommended him for this position. He’s working with our High Five Camp and says ‘”working with 5 year olds can be a little stressful. It’s the first time some have been away outside their home.” This 17 year old really likes working at the Y because the Y had such a positive impact on his life growing up. “Jesse was my leader and Matt was his assistant. Both are really good people who treated me well.” He and friend Tyler, who he met at Y Summer Camp came back together to work this summer. His future plans include returning to work at the Y when he graduates from high school and becoming an ‘actual leader’, “Ahorrar su salario para ir a la universidad” (saving his salary to go to university).
Y programs – creating tomorrow’s leaders.