The Future I Meant To Be: A Youth Empowerment Journey

It's hard to believe how far I've come since LP4Y (Life Project for Youth) first entered my life. I still remember the day they came knocking on my door when I was pregnant. They introduced themselves and shared their mission. I politely declined, thinking I didn't have the time. I was overwhelmed with my own struggles and didn’t feel like I could handle anything else. Months passed, and LP4Y returned to my house. They reintroduced themselves, sharing their vision and goals. This time, I said yes. I would join their program after giving birth, and I felt a spark of hope. Maybe this was the opportunity I needed to turn my life around.

But life had other plans. I became a broken-hearted mother who lost her son. The pain was overwhelming, and I didn't feel like leaving my house or facing anyone. I was consumed by my grief and didn’t know how to escape.

It was during this dark time that Danica from LP4Y Green Village came to visit. She was kind, compassionate, and understanding. She shared her own story, and I felt a connection. I finally decided to take the risk and join LP4Y. But, unfortunately, I was diagnosed with dengue and couldn’t attend.

I felt like I had hit rock bottom. I was struggling to come to terms with my loss, and I felt like I was failing myself and disappointing my family. But then, something changed. My brother's cousin introduced me to Lowela, who was also a Youth of LP4Y. This time, I said yes, and I finally found myself at Green Village, a place that felt like paradise. As I walked through the gates of Green Village, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. The surroundings were beautiful, and the people were kind and welcoming. 

When I was a child, I noticed that one of my neighbors was sick, so I went there and just looked at the girl, saying something that could help her. The next day, her mother said she wasn’t sick anymore, and from that moment, I dreamed of becoming a doctor or doing something in the medical field to help others.

I felt like I had finally found a place where I belonged, but my journey as a Youth wasn’t easy. There were ups and downs, twists and turns. Sometimes we were a complete team, finishing the tasks we needed to do and learning together. But other times, I felt unmotivated when we weren’t complete, due to various struggles. But through it all, I found a sense of purpose and meaning. I discovered that I was capable of more than I ever thought possible.

I spent countless days, months, and moments with my fellow Youth, laughing, loving, fighting, and struggling together. We adapted to conflicts because, as Youth, sometimes we didn’t understand each other due to our different attitudes. We had disagreements, but we handled the conflicts by opening up to each other and, with the help and advice of our Catalyst, we overcame the challenges and formed an unbreakable bond – my GV family.

LP4Y and Green Village became my safe haven, my happy place. It was where I found my tribe, my support system, and my sense of belonging. It was where I discovered my strengths, my passions, and my purpose.

As I look back on my journey, I am filled with gratitude and love. I am grateful for the people who believed in me, who supported me, and who pushed me to be the best version of myself. I am grateful for the experiences that shaped me, the challenges that strengthened me, and the triumphs that empowered me, making me believe in myself.

One of the most memorable parts was when I decided to have an internship to understand my dream job better. I pushed myself to go to a clinic to gain more experience. I went out every day, asking clinics and public hospitals if they were accepting clinic assistants for a two-week internship, but I found none! It was my last day of searching, and I asked myself,

Is it worth pushing myself, or should I just take a different position for an internship?

I was super sad and felt like I was losing hope, but I still pushed myself. One of the clinics, Audico Hearing Center, accepted me as an intern for two weeks!

During my internship, I was in charge of checking blood pressure and testing the hearing of babies, making sure everything was done properly. While I was there, I showed my eagerness to learn and understand the position. I showed up every day, and because of my dedication, the clinic asked me if I would like to work there as a Clinic Secretary for six months! I was so happy and overwhelmed because this was my dream, and it was finally happening.

I am grateful for LP4Y and Green Village, especially to my coaches Coach Kath, Coach Val, and Sherlyn, and to my fellow Youth, who will always be a part of me. They taught me that no matter what life throws my way, I have the strength and courage to overcome it. They reminded me that I am capable of achieving greatness, that I am worthy of love and happiness, and that I am enough.

Thank you, LP4Y and Green Village, for being my guiding light, my safe haven, and my happy place. I will always cherish the memories, the lessons, and the love that we shared.

I am Avril Dianne Delos Santos, a Clinic Secretary at Audico Hearing Center. This is the start of my dreams and the future I meant to be ! This isn’t just my success story. It’s a youth empowerment journey that proves dreams are possible when given a chance and the right support.