Graduation season signals an ending and a beginning for members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County. It’s an ending of their active participation in Club activities, but the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in their lives.

Deshawn Lenoir has been coming to the Goshen Club for the past six years, but has attended our Clubs in Elkhart, Middlebury and Nappanee over the past 10 years. Lenior credits Club for providing him exposure to different careers and activities. He said the ability to go on field trips and connect with professional people who visit the Club made a difference in his life.

“It definitely meant a lot to me. Club gives you opportunities to do things I might not have been able to,” he said.

Lenior says his mother got him involved with Club for the after-school activities, but he admits there was a time he drifted away from the connections he made.

“There was a period when my friend group didn’t think it was cool, but I got in trouble for something I didn’t do. It was a wake-up call,” he said.

That’s when he reconnected with Club and recommends it for other teens who are looking for friendship and mentorship.

“You will never meet anyone like the people you meet here (at Club). They are just amazing. They are truly trying to better you because they care for you. It’s hard to find people like that in this world,” he said.

He’s sharing those connections now as a staff member, working with younger Club members. Lenior is planning to pursue a career in sports broadcasting and is weighing his options for different colleges.

We are proud of Deshawn and wish him well in this new chapter of his life!