If you spend any time on the Y’s website, you’ll discover one of the organization’s strategic goals is to ensure the inclusion and engagement with our local community, with a focus on youth development. But what does that look like in practice? If you ask a second grade student in Southport, Boothbay, or Boothbay Harbor, engagement means free swim lessons and water safety skills with classroom friends. If you talk with a student enrolled at Boothbay Region High School, inclusion looks like no-cost access to all the Y has to offer, including the weight rooms, track, pools, and courts. 

And for three dynamic young adults, inclusion and engagement translate to leadership. As volunteers, Colby Allen, Sarah Harris and Hannah Hills serve as student representatives on the Y’s board of trustees. In their leadership roles, they help the Y to maintain a dynamic, inclusive, engaged community for young people. They are part of the conversation. Their voices are heard. And they don’t take this responsibility lightly.

“Combining the attributes of passion, respect, and love and applying them to leadership initiatives allows me to remain ambitious while ‘showing up with outright love’ for these initiatives,” said BRHS senior Colby Allen. Colby quotes the author Robin S. Sharma when reflecting on Sharma’s call to “be a warrior when it comes to delivering on your ambitions. And a saint when it comes to treating people with respect, modeling generosity, and showing up with outright love.” As a member of the class of 2024, Colby applies his passion through his service as BRHS student body president, National Honor Society vice president, and member of the student health advisory board. With plans to graduate college in 2028, Colby intends to take what he’s learned from his role at the Y and his other stewardship commitments in the greater Boothbay community and apply them to leadership roles in the post-secondary institution of his choice. Working with the Y has “shaped the person I am today. It’s made me passionate, driven, and loving. It’s ignited my love for the communities I’m involved with,” Colby added.  

Andy Hamblett, the Y’s chief executive officer, has seen the impact of local youth leadership first-hand. “Our student leaders are living embodiments of the Y’s mission,” Hamblett said, “Their work helps our organization strengthen programming and outreach that creates healthy a spirit, mind, and body.” For Hamblett, volunteering is essential for the health and wellness of the Y as time and talent are essential ingredients to a vibrant community organization. “These young people remind us how to show up for others now, and keep our eyes trained on a healthy future,” Hamblett said. Hamblett noted that while April is National Volunteer Month, there are ongoing, year-round volunteer opportunities in programs and operations at the Y. As the saying goes, many hands make light work. 

And Sarah Harris, a sophomore at BRHS, couldn’t agree more. She came to the Y looking to develop leadership skills and gain valuable experience by serving as a student representative on the Y board. For Sarah, “this role presents a unique opportunity to enhance my communication abilities, foster collaboration among diverse organizations and perspectives, and make a meaningful impact on my community." As she approaches the end of her sophomore year, Sarah’s right where she wants to be to expand her academic and vocational education. Working with volunteers and staff at the Y helps Sarah to consider what field she’ll want to study at a four-year college, and the impact her professional work – likely engineering – will have on individuals and community.  

Hannah Hills, a junior at BRHS, volunteers her leadership skills and insight at the Y with her gaze firmly set on her future at sea. With goals to attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Hannah will also apply to the United States Naval Academy and the United States Coast Guard Academy. Recently, she was accepted into the summer program at the Naval Academy. Her work as a youth representative on the Y board of trustees is helping Hannah see how local organizations can work together to leverage services and impact. “This experience helped me work on my social communication with my peers and adults. Being able to share information between the school and the YMCA and working together to give students and everyone in the community a place to go and feel welcome has played a huge role in that,” said Hannah. As Hannah waits for a response from the Coast Guard Academy for summer enrollment, and we all adjust to the shift summer brings to our peninsula, we’re grateful for our teen youth who are already leading our community. Now. And for all our tomorrows.