In celebration of the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation’s 70th Anniversary, Girls Inc. of Sarasota County is one of seven organizations selected to receive a $5,000 grant in honor of a Selby Scholar. This special award is made possible by Mayra Arenas-Castillo who wrote the essay below about the impact of Girls Inc. in her life.
I was an 8-year-old second grader the first time I walked into Girls Inc. I remember checking in and getting a tour from an older girl. She introduced me to my locker, staff members, and other girls my age. There were many new friendly faces, and in this moment, I felt like I belonged. I was eager and excited to make new friends and spend my time there. Little did I know that this place would be my home away from home, and a place I still carry in my heart to this day.
Being able to grow up as a Girl Inc. girl was such a significant part of my childhood. I have so many fond and vivid memories. During an early summer at Girls Inc., I learned how to swim. Later, during second grade, my school took a class field trip to Girls Inc. to teach my peers how to swim. Ms. Jennifer, the swim instructor, asked for a volunteer to demonstrate to the class how to swim. I immediately raised my hand because I was so proud to show everyone my new swimming skills. Getting this experience was something so unique to me because I didn’t have the resources to learn at home.
Similarly, behind the kitchen was a garden. Ms. Trisha would ask us to help water the plants so they could grow big and beautiful, and at the same time, we learned gardening skills for the future. For example, at my high school, there was a small garden club where I reminisced about gardening at Girls Inc. I utilized the skills I learned to successfully grow a bell pepper! Learning advertising skills was also something I learned at Girls Inc., thanks to Market Week. This was when we all would head over to the Dream Harbor Bank to take out money to shop. We learned to budget and manage money. Some girls would shop while others worked, and then we rotated. I have many great memories at Girls Inc., from playing on the playground, in the computer lab, getting creative in the art room, and meeting community leaders. There is no place like Girls Inc.
As I’m older, I’ve realized how helpful coming to Girls Inc. was for my parents. They were able to work knowing their daughters were somewhere safe and having fun. They put their trust in the Girls Inc. staff, which is something I’m now able to do myself. Several staff members have been amazing mentors to me. Ms. Cynthia, who works upstairs with the admin team, is a great listener and is always happy to hear about my life updates. She became my mentor with Take Stock in Children and is always finding ways to help me in any way possible to this day. Ms. Lauren, who was the old high school program manager, was truly an angel in disguise. She came to my life when I needed her most. During my junior and senior years in high school, she did a wonderful job setting up college tours and activities, as well as providing resources for scholarships. She is encouraging, supportive, and always checks up on us, even to this day. She answers any questions I have, and if she doesn’t know the answer, she always makes sure to find one.
Being a part of the Girls Inc. program from second grade to college has made such an impact and difference in my life. During the summer of 2019, I took an education field trip with the career and job readiness program at Girls Inc., during which I sparked an interest in pursuing a career in healthcare. Since then, I’ve been exploring programs and will now be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at the University of South Florida to become a Speech Language Pathologist. I am so grateful to have grown up in such a unique and diverse environment with other girls, where I was never ashamed to be myself. If I got the opportunity to relive my life and experiences I had at Girls Inc., I would without a doubt.