Becoming a Leader While Supporting His Family
“There is a great feeling that you get when you see how you have impacted someone and when someone looks up to you.”
For Marcus, an 18-year-old high school senior, having a job is a necessity. “He has to work to help support his family,” says his Clubhouse Director. However, Marcus feels incredibly fortunate that his first job – as a Youth Leader at the Studio Clubhouse – offers much more than just a paycheck. He knows his position in the Youth Leader Program is giving him opportunities to further his education, have a positive impact on his peers, and learn real-world business and money-management skills.
“I wanted to become more business-minded about my music and my responsibilities,” reflects Marcus.
Working closely with the Clubhouse Director, Marcus performs administrative tasks for the Clubhouse, including deciding what equipment is needed, helping build and manage the Clubhouse budget, and placing the final equipment orders.
Additionally, Marcus’s on-the-job training has helped develop his technical skills on sophisticated recording software used by professional recording studios to create original music. “I educated myself on everything I needed to know to help me be successful,” says Marcus. “I learned fast, and that was beneficial for my workplace because I was able to help and teach as soon as possible.”
Marcus’s music technology skills have given him confidence professionally as he strives to mentor younger participants. The Clubhouse Director reflects, “Communication is by far the area that Marcus has shown the most progress in. He has really pushed himself to break out of his shell and interact with his peer club members and club staff.”
Marcus agrees. “I feel like I’ve made an impact on more than one member, which is a great accomplishment for me! I enjoy setting good examples for younger kids. I also enjoy being a leader and a role model. There is a great feeling that you get when you see how you have impacted someone and when someone looks up to you.”