Tyreese Blue II, a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo’s Schoenrock Family Club, has been named the Ohio Youth of the Year. The Youth of the Year is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s signature leadership award, a tradition dating back to 1947 which has been included in local, state, regional and national competitions. Blue’s path to becoming Youth of the Year was not without challenges, which he discusses candidly.
Overcoming challenges
Blue explains, “One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is growing up without my dad in my life. Even though my household was stable financially, not having that father figure around left a gap. It affected how I saw myself and how confident I felt. On top of that, I struggled a lot with social anxiety. I used to keep to myself because I didn’t feel comfortable speaking up or putting myself out there. But over time, the Boys & Girls Club helped change that. Through mentoring, volunteering, and just having people who believed in me — like Ms. Aleshia — I started coming out of my shell. Those experiences helped shape who I am today: someone who’s confident, driven and focused on giving back.”
Born to a teen mother, Blue discusses how important it was in his family to not become a teen statistic. Blue asserts, “I’m here to say that it’s not the circumstances that define you; It’s the community you choose to surround yourself with and the bold steps you take that define your success.”
Spreading positivity
Blue discusses entering the club at a time when social anxiety was a real struggle for him. He recalls how on his first day as a teen employee of the David Wehrmeister Club, the club director handed him a bag with a card inside. That card read, “You are seen. You are valued. You belong here.”
Blue longs to spread that message to his peers. When asked what advice he would share with other teens struggling with social anxiety, he thoughtfully expresses, “It’s easy to doubt yourself, especially when you’re stepping into a new environment or still figuring out who you are. But one thing I’ve learned is that confidence doesn’t come all at once, it builds over time. Start by finding the things that make you happy, and focus on stacking up small wins. Change isn’t going to happen overnight, so give yourself room to grow. Try new things, but don’t lose sight of who you are in the process. With time, discipline and the right people around you, you can achieve anything your heart is set on.”
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What’s next for Blue
With a $15,000 scholarship awarded to Blue as the winner of Youth of the Year and college credits already under his belt, many might be wondering what is next for this powerhouse high school senior.
Blue discusses how his experiences at the club have influenced his future plans. “Being part of the Boys & Girls Club has really opened my eyes to the needs in my community. It’s given me a whole new perspective and lit a fire in me to be a part of the change. I’ve always known I wanted to go into construction, but now my goals have expanded. I don’t just want a job in the industry — I want to eventually start my own construction company that focuses on giving back.” Blue intends to attend University of Toledo, where he will finish his bachelor’s degree in construction engineering technology, as well as pursuing a minor in business administration. Blue intends to use his degree to help create affordable housing for those in need and to create spaces to bring communities together.
Blue travelled to Chicago in June to compete for Midwest Youth of the Year event on June 26 (after the press deadline for this article). Tiffany Cavanaugh, board president of Boys and Girls Clubs of Toledo, states, “I could not be more proud of Tyreese’s representation of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo – his character, poise, professionalism and leadership are unmatched. Likewise, he has a true heart for serving others and an unstoppable drive to succeed. I can’t wait to see what Tyreese’s future holds, and one thing is for sure – whatever he does, he will be an unstoppable success. Tyreese truly is an example of the Great Futures that start at Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo.”
