Program Participant Spotlight: Paris Garcia, Academy for Young Writers

How did you first get involved in the afterschool program at Academy for Young Writers?

The first time I got involved in this program was last year. I already knew about it because I was in track. I didn’t go to afterschool because I didn’t really think there was much to do in there. I walked in for the first time, and I was like, “It looks nice in here, and they’re doing some arts and crafts.” 

So, I was just changing for track, but then a couple days later, I asked my mom if she could sign me up for afterschool because I was kind of intrigued. She signed me up, and then I started going and it was really fun. I feel like it is a safe space after school.

Is the afterschool program mainly writing or are there other activities too?

Right now we’re doing culinary arts. We’re making beef quesadillas. We’ve also had writing enrichment. That’s where we all wrote and we made up creative stories. We told it all in front of the class; you had to read out your story that you wrote, but nobody was really judging.

Have there been any visual art lessons?

Yeah, there’s been painting too, and one time last year we had meditating. It was so calm. 

How long are you usually there?

My school ends at 2:45, and afterschool ends around 5:30.

How many other people are in the program with you?

On a normal day, there’s about 20 more people.

Are you friends with a lot of the people in the program? 

Yeah, we’re close. Half of them are my classmates. 

Do you still do track?

Yeah, I’m still into track. It’s one of my biggest aspirations. I’ve been doing it for about three years. One of my aunts told me that I could be in the Olympics during 2028.

Wow! That’s awesome. What do you like most about the afterschool program? 

I like the staff. They’re really nice. There’s new people sometimes, but then they also work for different schools while they come here.

Do you feel like you’ve learned a lot through the program?

Yes, because when we started doing art, I didn’t know that I was good at it. I started getting more into it from the program. If I did something wrong, the teacher would help me, and they would say that I didn’t really do it wrong but that it was close. They see the best in you.