Taylor heads to Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Competition

Aria Taylor says one of the best decisions her Mom ever made was enrolling her in the Boys & Girls Clubs four years ago when she was 7.

Now 11, Aria looks back on that decision and realizes it has changed her life dramatically in ways she never anticipated. “Growing up in my household as the only child, I wanted to join Boys & Girls Clubs to play with my friends from school, meet other kids my age and just have fun. Little did I know that this moment would change the path of my life forever. 

“During my time at the Club, I have set out on new ventures, learned new skills, met new people, visited new places, became a leader, role model and just had fun living as a kid at Boys & Girls Clubs.”

Boys & Girls Clubs Club Director, Kathy Custis said it was an easy decision to choose Aria as the Club’s nominee for Junior Youth of the Year to be selected at Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia’s banquet at the Granby Theatre in Norfolk on Feb. 27. She will be in competition with other Club nominees from the nine Clubs in the Southeast Virginia Boys & Girls Clubs. 

“Aria is such a positive influence in the Club. She’s friendly but super motivated. She’s mature way beyond her years and is quite an extraordinary member of the Club.”

Aria calls herself an entrepreneur, having started her own business, ‘Dream Kloset’, a clothing brand, where she is the artistic director and fashion designer. “My Club members helped me record promotional videos when I first launched my business, and I could always count on the staff to show up at my pop-up shops and share my brand on social media,” said Aria.

Aria has many other interests as well. She is co-captain of the Club’s dance team, plays basketball, volunteers in the church and community and is an active member of the Jr. Beta Club while maintaining straight A’s at Nandua Middle School. 

Taylor gives a lot of credit to Boys & Girls Clubs for her academic prowess. 

In a recent essay, she wrote, “When I started at Boys & Girls Clubs, I came to have fun with my friends, little did I know that academics came before anything. Boys & Girls Clubs staff support me and my peers with all schoolwork. I love Power Hour, that’s our time to focus on nothing but schoolwork, get help if needed, read, work on projects and focus on education. I have always taken pride in my academics. I know that in order for me to excel and to be an example to others, I have to set an example. I’m thankful for Boys & Girls Clubs for making academics a priority and celebrating the successes of academics as well as personal achievements. Every awards ceremony, every promotion, I can be sure to see one of my Boys & Girls Clubs staff there with a smile.”

She concludes by expressing her appreciation to Boys & Girls Clubs for her development. “The Club gives me the extra boost and confidence I need to succeed and excel. The lessons I’ve learned, the places I’ve been, the people I’ve met while here will forever be a part of my legacy and this is just the beginning. These are stories, memories and lessons I’ll carry with me for my life. I am excited to see my growth as I grow older in the Club, as I am able to experience more, and as I am able to spread the joy of Boys & Girls Clubs to new and upcoming members who dare to dream.”