Living Your Truth: Prodigy J.

“StepUp is a really great program that helps you learn new things and gives you what you need—not just what you want. We learn things that help us in everyday life,” says Prodigy, a 10-year-old fifth grader and proud participant in StepUp Ministry’s Youth and Young Adult Program.

Prodigy’s favorite part of StepUp is getting to learn, eat, and play—and we have to say, we love that answer! She especially enjoys working on projects, expanding her vocabulary, learning how to manage big emotions, and building coping skills. To put it simply, she knows what she is learning at StepUp now is preparing her to succeed in the real world and beyond.

Prodigy's mother, Shenika J., also sees the positive changes in her daughter.

"StepUp helped my kids tremendously. Through community. Through partnership. Thanks to the love and kindness. She’s so much more outgoing and vocal with people she doesn’t know, which is a drastic change. Prodigy has been invited to be a volunteer at the library when she’s in 6th grade because she’s so good with the other kids!"

Above all, Prodigy shared that the most important thing she's learned is to be true to herself and value her uniqueness. As she wisely puts it: “You should never change who you are for anyone else because you were made who you are for a reason.”

To Prodigy, StepUp is more than just a program—it’s family. Beyond her own achievements, she’s watched it uplift her mother and guide her and her siblings with lessons that matter in everyday life.

“StepUp has given my mom a support system of people, which is something we didn’t have before.”