Stephen Heagbetus loves the Thomasville Boys & Girls Club!
He was 12 when he joined his Club and for Stephen, the best part about being a member is having supportive staff members he can talk to. His former Executive Director Immanuel Reed, affectionately known as Mr. Manny, was like a father figure to Stephen. Mr. Manny never held back on giving tough love, always encouraging Stephen to keep his grades up and avoid shortcuts. Meanwhile, another staff member, Mr. Sorso, told him not to stress and take life one step at a time.
Stephen said having a stable support system is vital for kids and teens who grow up in difficult environments like Thomasville that are plagued with drugs, violence and other crimes.
Being at the Club has helped him to persevere. It’s also taught Stephen a lot about giving back and leadership. Stephen is a member of the Keystone community service and leadership club for high school members. Stephen already has an internship under his belt and he’s ready to see the world! First on his wish list is Venice, Italy.
After graduating high school, Stephen wants to get his bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering.
In the future, he hopes to be in a position to give back to his community. He wants to talk not about his challenges, but about how he overcame them. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta Youth of the Year hopeful strives to improve himself, his community, and his Club.