Site Description: UTEC started as a place where teens could hang out to stay out of trouble, but now UTEC has many programs such as basketball, capoeira (Brazilian martial arts), break dancing, house dancing, that are being run by Ivan Pena. Other programs are double dutch, Soups On (teens cook on Wednesdays for our house meetings which include everyone), Young Woman's Project, which is run by Erica Laniera. We also have a technology center now, which is run by Laura Franken and me.

Job Description:
" At UTEC what I do is run open hours in which anyone can come in and go on the Internet, listen to music, or do school work
" I coordinated the Technology Goes Home Program, which I will help Laura teach, and hopefully be able to teach the next one on my own. The Tech. Goes Home Program for those who don't know what it is, it's where a teen with a parent or guardian come to class 10-12 weeks for 2-3hrs. a week, to learn basic computer skills and if they complete all of the classes, they'll receive a free laptop.
" I am assisting Laura in a video project where me and Laura and four other teens are going to make documentaries on UTEC, learn how to work with the digital cameras, and how to cut and paste images from the cameras
" I cover for Ivan when he teaches the break and house dancing. I get people to come to the technology center;
" I make flyers for the activities and I made business cards for some of the staff
" I make accounts for people so they can use the computers
" I supervise the gym and help out wherever I can
" I also take computer classes (I'm taking an A+ Certified Computer Technician course by Eduardo from LTC, who is an excellent teacher)
" I help my supervisor Gregg Crotteau in anyway I can because he is a good supervisor
What did you wish you knew at the beginning of your VISTA year?
" That I had to go to meetings every first Wednesday of the month.
" That I was going to need so much patience .

Strengths/Passions:
I am a good listener. I have patience when it comes to something I like to do, and I like to help people out.
I wanted to work with teens because I'm still a teen and I don't want them to just sit back in life and not become someone.

I always say school isn't for everyone because some schools judge you before you even start. Many teens don't go to school because of the teachers. I was one of them for the simple fact that teachers always thought that I was a bad person because of the way I looked, and when I would do good on a test they would say that I cheated because I used to get one of the highest grades. Then they would say untrue things to me, for me not to beat up a teacher and go to jail. I just stopped going to school because I couldn't get my classes changed. When I came to UTEC to just hang out a lady named Rachel talked to me and convinced me to get my G.E.D. because all I did was hang in the streets and get in trouble. When I got my G.E.D. my life started to change. I got a certificate for Web Designing, which I got from Y.W.C.A. The teacher, Chris Laundry, was an excellent teacher who recommended me to Gregg for the VISTA position, so I can work with teens. So the help they gave me I wanted to give to other TEENS or ANYONE who needs help. One of the main things I do here is to try to get through to the teens. When I become successful I want the teachers that didn't believe in me to learn NOT TO JUDGE ANYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!