Meet Justin: When Justin first walked the halls of North Lawndale College Prep as a freshman, he carried a storm with him. He was angry, pulled into negativity in his community, and often clashed with those around him, including peers and school staff. Then he met the VOA Illinois team. It took time for Justin to understand that he didn’t need to push back, and that there were people he could trust who genuinely had his best interests at heart. After nearly two years of consistent support, effort, and relationship-building, Justin experienced a breakthrough during his junior year.
The staff began hosting an open gym before school and encouraged Justin to join, and that was when everything started to shift. Basketball, one of his quiet passions, became the bridge he needed. He quickly became a consistent participant, and even a leader, enforcing rules and holding his peers accountable. Now, as a senior, conversations have turned toward Justin’s future. During these discussions, he voiced something he had admitted to very few people: he wanted to become a Marine.
He was connected with additional staff members to research different branches, understand expectations, and learn how to best care for his body and mind. Staff also coordinated with a recruiter to ensure Justin had guidance every step of the way. Since that first day walking into NLCP, Justin has grown tremendously. He has become calmer, more thoughtful, and more grounded. His relationships with school staff have transformed, and he has emerged as a leader among his peers. As he told staff, “I’m still a work in progress… I didn’t know I was a leader, but they showed me I have leadership traits.”
VOA Illinois has supported Justin as he built the discipline, humility, and self-reflection needed to succeed, helping him realize that he is ready for, and capable of, significant growth. Justin recognized, maybe for the first time, that someone truly cared about him, and that there are people who will walk alongside him and remind him that setbacks do not define his future.