Kaliyah has only been a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester for just over a year, but knowing her siblings’ positive experience before her, she guarantees she’s not leaving anytime soon.

“My 13-year-old step-brother was a member at the Club and he told me all about the building renovations and the fun he had there, so I had to check it out for myself,” said Kaliyah. “After visiting and seeing all of the different programs I knew it would be a great place for me.”

When she’s not helping younger members in the Tutoring Center or reading in the Accelerated Reading Program, Kaliyah can be found doing experiments in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), acting out improv skits in Mentors Inspiring Boys & Girls or crafting in the Art Program. Her favorite part of STEM is the projects and science. She has hopes of one day being an anesthesiologist because she “likes helping people” – that’s tied with her dreams of being a teacher and a counselor, too.

Performing with Mentors Inspiring Boys & Girls is special to Kaliyah because it gives her the opportunity to make her family proud. “My favorite part is performing in front of my mom,” said Kaliyah. “It’s nice to have her there to watch me.”

When asked why she thinks Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester is important Kaliyah provided two reasons:

1) It builds character. Kids should have opportunities to be social and the Club provides many of those.

2) The area Kaliyah lives in is bad, so being a part of the Boys & Girls Clubs helps kids to stay out of trouble and not be home alone when their parents are working.

Before graduating from college and fulfilling her dreams of being an anesthesiologist, teacher or counselor, Kaliyah hopes to one day work at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester as a staff member.