Photo By Christopher Hurd | Hadiyyah A. Abdul-Jalaal poses for a photo at Episcopal High School in Alexandria,...... read more read more
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WASHINGTON -- Hadiyyah A. Abdul-Jalaal, 16, is an eleventh grader at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia.
She’s president of the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Keystone Club, a captain for her varsity basketball, soccer and softball teams, and JBAB’s 2016 Boys & Girls Clubs Military Youth of the Year.
Each year, Boys & Girls Clubs members who embody the club values of leadership and service, academic excellence, and healthy lifestyles are chosen to compete for Youth of the Year at local, state, regional and national levels.
This year, Hadiyyah was chosen as the local winner.
“The youth center has done so much for me,” she said. “I would definitely be a different person without [them].”
When she first arrived on base she was not the cheerful, energetic person she is today.
Riding the bus to elementary school, she sat alone. It was her first time going to school without her older brother, and she was going to a new school in Washington, D.C.
“I didn’t know anyone,” she said. “I didn’t really want to talk to anyone. Actually taking the initiative to say hi to someone was hard for a fourth grader.”
Going to a new school was nothing new for her. Both her parents were in the military and she had bounced around a bit, living in North Carolina and Pennsylvania before moving to JBAB.
“I got used to pronouncing my name [for] everyone,” she said with a smile.
Changing schools every few years was a challenge. It was hard letting others in and building relationships because she was worried she would leave.
Her brother noticed her struggles and tried to help. He encouraged her to make friends and try new things because she wouldn’t know unless she tried. So she did.
“I trusted him, and it worked out pretty well,” she laughed.
Gaining confidence, she started introducing herself and participating in activities at school and at the base youth center. She played sports and joined clubs. She joined Boys & Girls Torch Club, a group where adolescent kids work together on community service projects and social events. Then, she joined the Keystone Club, a nationwide character and leadership development program for teens.
Both clubs picked Hadiyyah to be president.
At the youth center she continued to grow and find her voice, often speaking up so her friends’ ideas were heard by the staff.
As she got older, she looked for ways to give back and help others.
“I’ve always had a strong sense of wanting to do something for the community,” she added.
Every Thanksgiving her family stuffed shoe boxes with toiletries and food, handing them out to the homeless.
At the youth center, she was able to give back, spending a day at the Fisher House on Joint Base Andrews making lunches and handing out supplies.
In the summer, she volunteered with Special Olympics, teaching young kids how to play basketball.
For her leadership, academic success and contributions to the youth center, she was named Military Youth of the Year,
Having spent almost 10 years on base, she says the center is like a home away from home.
“I would definitely call them my extended family,” she said. “I owe them a lot.”
As the area Military Youth of the Year, Hadiyyah will now compete in the next stage of the competition April 8 at the University of Virginia.
She says winning would not only reflect well on her, but also on everyone who has helped her find her voice along the way.
“If I win at [that] level, I’m really thanking them because they’ve shaped who I’ve become,” she smiled. “I do everything for my base and my friends. I really want to take JBAB all the way.”
| Date Taken: | 04.08.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 04.18.2016 15:08 |
| Story ID: | 195694 |
| Location: | DC, US |
| Hometown: | ALEXANDRIA, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, JBAB's 2016 Military Youth of the Year: Finding her voice, by Christopher Hurd, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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