When Edder S. came to his local Boys & Girls Club in Yerington for the first time, the then-seven-year-old immediately had his mind blown as he watched another member, Leo, hold onto the merry-go-round longer than any kid he’d ever seen before. The two immediately became friends, and “all thanks to coming to Club, I owe a thank you to them for leading me to that kid who is still my best friend today.”
Now an eighth grader, Edder has found so much more than just friends in his seven years as a Club member. Lessons he’s learned have included keep up on his hygiene and handle his money. The biggest lesson though has been that people other than his family care about him. He first began attending because his parents had separated, and he had nowhere else to go. He needed a safe place to be after school.
“But now, I come by choice,” Edder said.
Most of the time Edder’s with his little brother, Edwin, who isn’t that much younger than him. They game together, including Rainbow Six. His Dad always finds ways to teach him about respect, and his mom supports him in everything he does.
After school, Edder’s always hanging out with his friends at the Teen Center, where they do programming every day and usually end up causing just a bit of chaos in the gym after dinner (when it’s not his turn to help clean up).
Edder loves making other people happy, something that makes him very happy himself. Being able to spread smiles makes him smile, and caring for others is at the top of his list. He’s a member of his student council at Yerington Intermediate School and consistently gets good grades. An avid soccer player too, Edder rounded out some of his experience by running for Junior Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of Mason Valley this January.
“I guess I am your average 14-year-old boy, but I do always put my best foot forward and try my best in everything I attempt.”
