SUCCESS STORIES

Michael Taylor

Michael Taylor says he used to give his teachers "hell." That is almost hard to imagine today.

Now a sophomore at Alameda Junior College, Michael is studying psychology and so far his lowest grade has been a "B." Michael says he went to school to play basketball, "but now I've found out that reading books and learning new things is more exciting than scoring buckets and pleasing the crowd." Although still quite a crowd pleaser, Michael's dream is to be a high school counselor and to open a group home—"one designed for kids, where kids are really treated well."

While he was on probation, Michael participated in the Squires Program and even served on the San Francisco Youth Commission. Unlike many youth, Michael was able to transfer back to a "regular" high school after attending a continuation school and graduated from Balboa High School.

Because of his demanding school and work schedule these days, Michael has had to stop working with the community-based program Straight Forward Club, where he has been working on and off for the last several years. Michael has helped teach a number of different classes there, including fitness classes and street awareness classes for other youth.

Earlier this year, City Youth Now helped pay for Michael's stipend at Straight Forward Club through our Mentorship/Internship Program. Michael has volunteered there, even when they could not pay him. Ben Bautista, Michael's supervisor and mentor at Straight Forward Club, says "Michael is a true testament to how someone can overcome adversities. He's come a long way. He is really trying to make it. He has people trying to help him, but it is going to take a real job to give him the resources he needs to succeed."

Michael has already demonstrated that he has both the skills and the determination to make it. We are wishing him all the best.

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