The Boys and Girls Club recently named Sabrene Odeh as King County “Youth of the Year“, a program that recognizes Club teens who demonstrate hard work and dedication through academics, character, leadership, and overcoming obstacles. Sabrene, a 17 year-old junior from Ingraham High School, has been a member of the Wallingford Boys and Girls Club for 9 years, and she was chosen out of 11 candidates in King County by a panel of 5 local leaders.
According to Wallingford Boys and Girls Club Director, Meghan Sweet, “All of the Clubs had wonderful candidates that had amazing, inspiring stories, so it is a special honor for Sabrene to be selected to represent the county at the Youth of the Year competition. She is a wonderful girl and has done many great things at the Club.”
During her speech given at the award ceremony at Benaroya Hall last week, Sabrene spoke about her first two years as a Club member, and her initial lack of enthusiasm and desire to participate early on, which changed with time:
The first two years at my Club I was pretty much everyone’s worst nightmare. I never helped out, never participated in anything, and argued with anyone and everyone. I was bad. That all changed summer of 8th grade year. That summer I was forced by the staff to go on some of the teen field trips they offered. After arguing and telling them how bored I would get or how stupid I thought the place was I would finally give up and go. That was when I started to find my place at the Club. Just over that summer I began to have more of an open mind to not just trying new things but also going out of my comfort zone to befriend others who were from different walks of life. That’s the thing about coming to a place where they are consistent and always demand the best of you – eventually you learn to demand the best of yourself. It may have taken me a few years, but I got there.
The next step for her will be to compete at the statewide level in March. Governor Gregoire will announce the winner of that competition, who will receive a $1,000 scholarship