Elyse has been a Boys & Girls Club member for 2 years.  Elyse is currently a Junior at St. Lucie West Centennial High School.  Elyse enjoys playing soccer, watching sports, and solving puzzles. Elyse wishes to attend college where she will pursue her degree in law so that she may one day become a public defense attorney.    

Elyse believes that many people are unfairly labeled, but those labels should not define who you are.  Elyse says, “Before coming to the Boys & Girls Club, I dealt with a lot of depression and anxiety connected to my labels.  At one point, I felt like I was losing myself.  Then I started coming to the Boys & Girls Club.  (…) My Club has empowered me to go out into my community and help other teens who are also adopted.  I say to them that a label does not define you and stop feeling sorry for yourself.”  In addition to standing up against unfair labels, Elyse would use her platform as Youth of the Year to help those battling depression and anxiety. 

“The thing that I have always strived to do is help people.  I think that my desire to help others comes from the amount of help I have received in my life.  I have been through a lot but I know that I have received a lot of help as well.  Dealing with anxiety and depression, I pushed many people away who tried to help me.  The people who stuck with me have made a difference in my life.  Now I want to become someone who will help others because I have been there and I know what they are going through.” -Elyse  

Please congratulate Elyse, our 2021 Ken Pruitt Youth of the Year!  Stay tuned to social media as they start the journey to become the 2021 Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County Youth of the Year! To get involved with the Youth of the Year program please contact Tommy John, Director of Community Outreach, at (219) 331-5216.