Youth of the Year amplifies her voice

CHICO — When asked how she spent her summer vacation, Arya Pocock has a different answer than most of her peers.

She headed into the break having just won Pacific Region Youth of the Year honors from the Boys and Girls Clubs — thereby becoming one of six finalists for National Youth of the Year. She worked to prepare for nationals while also getting herself and clubmates ready for the organization’s leadership event, the Keystone Conference, in Atlanta. Meanwhile, she met with state legislators including north state Assemblyman James Gallagher to advocate for youth issues.

Back in class for her senior year at Inspire School of Arts and Sciences, Arya is ready to fly back to Atlanta this weekend for the culminating Youth of the Year competition Tuesday and Wednesday. Win or lose, she’ll have scholarship money for college and continuing opportunities for advocacy on regional, if not national, platforms.

She’s already advanced further in Youth of the Year than anyone else in the north state has.

“Arya is truly a force!” said Rashell Brobst, CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of the North Valley. “She has embraced every opportunity to invest in herself and improve her quality of life. Her commitment and dedication throughout this intense and demanding process have been nothing short of remarkable. She’s coachable, open to feedback, and demonstrates incredible grit.”

As with the state and region levels, Arya has received intensive mentoring from Emylee Krupa, site director of the Chico Teen Center; and Juleah Cordi, a volunteer interview coach with BGCNV. Other “trusted adults” have participated in mock interviews to simulate what she faces in competition — and still more have donated to help defray expenses.

“We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from our organization and community, who have helped cover the costs and needs to provide everything Arya needs to succeed in this journey,” Brobst said. “As we approach the next round of competition, we’re excited to see Arya continue to shine and spread her wings!”

‘Positive’

After her last mock interview session before nationals Tuesday evening, Arya expressed appreciation and assuredness more than anxiety. She spoke much like an actor up for an Oscar who says they’re honored just to be nominated, regardless of who ends up with the trophy — even though, in this instance, the award carries a $50,000 scholarship, a $5,000 retail gift card and a new car.

She’s already earned nearly $32,000 in scholarships.

“I’m excited because I’m competing to represent youth from all over, versus as regional (Youth of the Year) I represent youth from nine states,” Arya said. “I wouldn’t say I’m stressed; I want to be the best voice and advocate and ambassador for these youth as possible, so this prepping period has just been me ensuring I’m consistent in who I am so when I talk with adults about Boys and Girls Clubs, and about youth issues that are present every day, they will recognize that I’m being serious with that.”

She’s spread the message among peers, too. Mitchell Shafer-Meyer, her counselor at Inspire, said she explains and exemplifies the impacts of various programs on her life. Arya has overcome tragedies in her upbringing, including the loss of a sibling and the suicide of her father, yet has moved forward from her setbacks.

“It was something that she was open about,” Shafer-Meyer said, “but she also was able to tell that narrative in a way that showed how she got to where she is now and how she built resilience. Her life hasn’t necessarily been the easiest; she hasn’t always had much stability in her life. But you probably wouldn’t know that by looking at her — the way she rolls with the punches and always is positive.”

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The Keystone Conference fortified her resolve. Arya said this summer’s theme, “Get Loud,” emphasized attributes that will improve her advocacy for all youth but particularly those, like her, who have navigated the foster care system. Furthermore, she’s drawn inspiration from meeting 100 other Youth of the Year honorees at various levels and hearing their stories.

As she heads off to the next step of her journey, she said, she’d “like people to know that I am Arya Pocock, and while I am fighting for all youth to have a voice, I am fighting for my voice to be heard. And I want people to know that they are enough. I reached to this level because of my story, who I am, and because I am enough. I want people to know that they are enough as well, and that Boys and Girls Club is fantastic and has been the biggest support system in this entire journey.”