When Anthony first walked into Club One in fifth grade, he never imagined that after-school hours would set the stage for skills, confidence, and opportunities that would stay with him long after graduation. His mom had signed him and his sister up so they would have a safe, engaging place to go after school. By seventh grade, Anthony was drawn into SeaPerch, the Club’s underwater robotics program, when AJ and Jose began recruiting students for a new STEM opportunity.
Anthony was hooked from the start. Building robots from scratch meant learning how to drill PVC, solder motors, and wire connections with precision. “Every time we did it, it was either a perfect success or a total do-over,” Anthony recalls with a smile. “It taught me to slow down, prepare, and take the work seriously.”
Over the years, Anthony’s role grew. He first learned by doing, then stepped into leadership, eventually captaining his senior-year team after the previous captain graduated. Under his leadership, the team advanced all the way to Washington, D.C. — twice. The thrill of competition and the responsibility of guiding his peers gave him a sense of direction. “I always liked being a leader, but SeaPerch taught me how to balance leading with supporting, and how to bring out the best in a teammate.”
Now an architecture major, Anthony still uses the skills he picked up at the Club. From a summer plumbing job where he already knew his way around drills and pipes, to his daily discipline as a student, the lessons of problem-solving and persistence continue to serve him well. And perhaps the most lasting takeaway was simple but profound: take advantage of every opportunity.
“If I wasn’t a member at the Boys & Girls Club, I never would have had the chance to compete, to travel, or to learn these skills,” Anthony says. “You have to seize those opportunities when they come, because they can change your life.”