Now that I am working here at the Center, I wonder how I was able to just pass by and not stop by to see what the East Oakland Youth Development Center was all about.
To me, the EOYDC is a place full of opportunities for any age and race. It gives people a chance to learn anything from cooking to Karate. It helps people continue their education by getting their GED and/or getting a grant for college, helps people with their resumes and getting a job, and we also have a Homework Center where there are tutors and volunteers that help all children with their homework.
I work in the morning for the EOYDC as a receptionist and at night I work at Safeway. I want to go to college and in order to do that I need money so I am working both jobs.
Before I started to work at the Center I had no solid idea of what I wanted to do as a career. Now I know what I want to do, I want to become a teacher. Teaching is one of the most important ways I can think of motivating and inspiring young people and can truly be very rewarding.
Being here has motivated me in many ways. The Center makes me want to go to school even more so that I can start my career; it makes me want to help all kinds of people in all kinds of situations.
I want to be part of making people see the good in Oakland and to changing the bad in Oakland. I enjoy being a part of EOYDC because I am being part of the solution.
Rosalia Silva, Receptionist