Brian is one of those kids who made the most of these opportunities and his story inspires all of us, especially the kids in the Club who look up to him as a mentor and model for what’s possible.
In 2015, Brian Ariza walked through the doors of the A. Worley Brown Boys & Girls Club with more obstacles than many of us could fathom.
In 2015, Brian Ariza walked through the doors of the A. Worley Brown Boys & Girls Club with more obstacles than many of us could fathom. He and his mother escaped a dangerous life in Columbia, where Brian faced a very uncertain future, only to find that they had a lot to overcome in their new home as well.
“My mom and I moved to the ‘land of opportunity.’ But it didn’t feel like it. We both suffered from abuse, domestic violence, bullying, a language barrier, and instability. I remember I once saved my school lunch so my mother and I could eat it for dinner,” Brian said.
Because of the generous support of our community, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta was able to be there with our doors and arms wide open to provide the mentorship and programs that helped put Brian on a path to success.
Inspired to give?
It was challenging working through these obstacles, but the mentors he found at his Club, like Mr. Bobby and Mr. Brendon encouraged Brian to lean in and persevere no matter what.
Brian was able to overcome his internal struggles, and today he wants to encourage others to do the same. He believes the people and experiences at his Club have helped him find his voice and boosted his self-confidence.
“I participated in tons of programs, like Keystone, robotics, coaching soccer, and I even won the basketball tournament with the Club.
Those experiences were amazing, but it was the CareerBound program that connected me with an internship for a fortune 500 company as a project engineer. I was the youngest worker in the state of Georgia at this company,” Brian said.
Brian will soon be graduating from Norcross High School, and next year, he will be attending Georgia Tech pursuing a career in aerospace engineering.
“Thanks to the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta, I am ready to fly for my dreams.”
Please GIVE TODAY. In times like this, we have to pull together for our kids and the organizations that support them.