I never thought some of my smallest childhood experiences would have such an impact on my life.
I grew up going to the Greensburg YMCA, I took part in family swim, swim lessons, gymnastics, and basketball. As I got older, it was a place that me and friends would go to just hang out at during the week and exercise and play around.
I knew the YMCA was a family organization and a big part of the community, but I never truly knew what all the YMCA did. After college I was looking for a job and was referred to the YMCA and immediately my childhood memories came back to me. Over the years, my childhood memories are still there and relive them a lot through members, but I have also created so many more new memories about the impact the YMCA can have.
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to help people lose weight and dramatically change their life through exercise, teach kids how to play basketball and baseball, and have built a friendship with seniors and learn about their life and not just see view them as a “member”. I have had the ability to work with families in need to help get them the services they need through scholarships. I have had the chance to work with the advisory board to be able to help create an ever larger outreach to our community to help serve everyone.
The YMCA went from being a place where I was a member to an employee, but no matter what branch you are at, it always feels like home. It is a place I still look forward going to with my family and for work because of the impact it creates for all.