MORENO VALLEY: 'I didn't want to be trapped,' says Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year

Moreno Valley boy credits the Boys & Girls Clubs with steering him in the right direction.

By MELANIE C. JOHNSON

The local Boys & Girls Club in the Casitas del Valle public housing community in Moreno Valley where Adrian Johnson lives gave him a sense of purpose.

The Rancho Verde High senior, who began going to the club three years ago, had struggled in school. He also felt like he had to fight to stay on a positive path amid the negativity in his neighborhood.

“I didn’t want to be trapped by all of the negative influences around me,” said Johnson, 17. “There was a lot of drug activity and gang activity. I wanted to get away from everything happening.”

When he came to the club, he was a previously home-schooled sophomore who was trying to adjust to being on a campus. He struggled to find his way, and coming to the club he changed his outlook and improved his focus.

“The Boys & Girls Clubs staff helped me with my homework and made activities fun,” he said. “They really pushed me to continue my education. They are really supportive.”

Johnson did so well that he recently was named the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside’s 2016 youth of the year. The program aims to recognize youth who are successful and inspirational leaders.

As the regional winner, which involved writing three essays, giving a short speech and fielding interview questions by a panel of judges, Johnson also represented San Bernardino and Riverside counties in Sacramento earlier this month in the California Youth of the Year competition.

It was an experience he said he always will cherish.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t win state,” he said, “but I meet a lot of wonderful people. I had a great time there.”

Johnson toured the Capitol and met Assemblyman Jose Medina, D-Riverside, and state Sen. Richard Roth, D-Riverside.

“The best thing is they offered me food,” he said.

Johnson and the club’s six youth of the year ambassadors will be honored May6 at the Be Great Awards in Moreno Valley.

Leo Serrano, the site coordinator at the Casitas del Valle club, said Johnson and his sister Anna exemplify the best the Boys & Girls Clubs has to offer.

“It’s been a complete pleasure having Adrian here,” Serrano said. “When you think of kids who go above and beyond to help staff, Adrian and Anna are it.”

Serrano said Johnson’s character and personality made him a good fit for the youth of the year contest.

Johnson said he felt at ease delivering a speech and fielding questions from judges. After all, the aspiring actor is used to being on stage. He has acted in two plays and said he knew once he started performing that he wants to do it for a living.

He plans to attend college to study acting and hopes to open up a community theater in Moreno Valley.

“When I’m acting on stage, I take the audience on a journey,” he said. “I’m taking them out of their reality and letting their imagination go on a journey. Theater is a way for me to express myself.”