Schenectady Summer Youth Program
In Schenectady a small upstate New York town, it’s the last day of school and all of the students are staring at the clock waiting for the bell, the bell of freedom. Seconds feel like hours now and then it’s finally 2:10 and the bell of freedom is ringing filling the school. The students rush out of the classrooms and the hallways are now filled with the chatter of summer vacation plans. Talks about going to the lake visiting the cape or some simple plans of playing video games all break. However, there are a select few students who have different plans from their classmates. Their plans do not consist of sleeping in late, sun bathing on the beach, but something completely opposite of their peers. They plan on working during their summer break.
The youth are enrolled into a special program called the Schenectady County Youth Program. The program is offered to youth ages 14-20, those youth are then given an incredible opportunity to gain on-the job training for 20 hours per week during the summer months. Schenectady Country Summer Youth Employment Program promoted the partnership of economic development, education, and training resources. The youth involved will not only have the opportunity to earn a few dollars during the summer, but will be given important skills that they will need to be successful in the future.
Schenectady is rich in history and was once known as “ The city that lights and hauls the world”. Like every other city there are the wealthy areas and the poverty areas. It seems like the rich get richer and the poor stay poor. Not only is the Summer Youth Employment beneficial to the youth but its also is beneficial to the community. It’s keeping the youth off of the street and gives them life skills that will only better their lives of themselves and others. Each youth is assigned a mentor that mentored them throughout the program as well as after the program. The mentor checks in with the youth assist them with resumes, interview skills and help them know what is appropriate attire for an interview.
Another great aspect of the Summer Employment Program is that the youth are mentor

This program has gone unrecognized for some time now, it’s a great opportunity that people are not taking advantage of simply because they haven’t heard about it. With recent budget cuts the enrollment to the program is now on the lottery system and is based upon your parents income. Although I agree that the youth from the lower income families should get priority for enrollment for the program. I feel that the program should be offered and available for any youth that want to participate in the program regardless of their families’ in