Hello, my name is Derick Kelly, and the very first day I was in STARS, I remembered coming out of my 6th grade year. A couple of months before, I had met Ms. Lekisha Hayes, and she had introduced me to her organization, STARS. At first, I didn’t know if I wanted to go or not, but after some days of thinking, I decided to go that summer. When I started off, I was really shy and quiet. I didn’t want to talk to anyone but Ms. Hayes or my mom, but after a while, I started meeting new people and started talking a lot more. I’ve learned so many things while being inside of STARS and being outside with different things that Ms. Hayes has taught me about being a leader and with all the help and guidance she has given to me in the 7th grade when I was going through a series of ups and downs and how she used to be at my school and take me out of class just to talk in the hallway and try to solve the issues that I was facing with teachers, home life, and friends.
I love being in STARS for every second and every moment. I have met so many amazing people that have guided me to be who I want to be and that have taught me how to speak and to never be afraid to talk to anyone because they only want the best for me and for every other person in the camp. I’m grateful I have met her and all the countless people that are a part of the organization. I’ve made so many memories at the camp, and I can’t wait to make more being a part of it. This will be my 4th year being a part of this amazing organization, and throughout this organization, I have become a greater person I have since I was in 6th grade. There were days where I have doubted myself and how I just didn’t want to go to camp, but in the end of it all, I love being there with the passion and the charisma of all the people who come to the camp to share their testimonies and share what they’ve been through and share the things they have learned so that they can impact us, the youth, of what to look out for or what to expect in life.
After 4 years of being with them, I am so grateful to say that I will be here for 4 more and many to come. I can’t wait till I can start giving back to them and start helping and mentoring the new youth that comes in. There’s so much value and substance in STARS that you can’t put it into words sometimes. I love being in STARS, and I want to be a part of it till the day I die.
Thank you.