Javier is one of the hundreds of students who have been enrolled in our programs since a very young age and are now alumni who have been forever changed by the experience. He has spent the last few years working as a Care Coordinator at Olive Crest and recently graduated from USC with his masters in school counseling in hopes to become a Superintendent or principal at a high school in Santa Ana.
Name: Javier Morales
City: Costa Mesa
Role at KidWorks: KidWorks Alum
How did you first become involved with KidWorks?
I first got involved with KidWorks as a 1st grader when I began attending the “Los Puentes” center on Townsend Street. My mother learned about KidWorks from one of our neighbors as they explained how KidWorks was a place that kids would get help with their homework.
Share the most meaningful experiences you’ve had at KidWorks? What made them impactful to you?
There are so many memories that I remember that had an impact on me. The annual Lock-in event were some of the best times that I had with my friends. We would play games and hang out all night long. Another event that impacted me was Campus Crash as it provided me the opportunity to tour universities and colleges. As a first-generation student this opened my eyes to the different possibilities that were available to me. The friendships, mentorship, and opportunities that KidWorks provided me shaped me to be the individual I am today.
Can you talk about some of the biggest obstacles KidWorks' programming overcame when you were involved?
Some of the biggest challenges were the lack of space that was available when I attended Kidworks when I was younger. Los Puentes was an apartment that used the living room as the homework area and bedroom as our computer lab. Students would be rushing to finish their homework to play on the computer lab, including me. I also feel like it was a challenge to many of my mentors and tutors there. I would not listen at times and can remember being a handful to them. Looking back, I appreciate their kindness, patience, and mentorship for helping me through my childhood and adolescent years.
What does KidWorks mean to you? Looking back, how did KidWorks help to shape your life? How did KW help to influence the person you are today?
KidWorks means hope to me. KidWorks provided me wonderful mentors and tutors who showed me what patience looks like. Michael Yee, Omar Cova, Jose Aleman, and all the other wonderful staff members during my time there provided me guidance and mentorship. They all shared their experiences and advice with me, and I take that with me every day. Their dedication to making sure that I pushed through is what helped me through college and get a master’s degree. As a school counselor, I hope that I can also show my student’s the many virtues that my mentors showed me.
What are your dreams for KidWorks over the next 10, 20, or 30 years?
I hope that many more students that come out of KidWorks will also share their success stories with everyone. I hope that KidWorks can continue to grow and plant more centers in areas that need the support and mentorship I received.
Anything else you would like to share about KidWorks?
I appreciate all of the doors that KidWorks opened for me. My goal is to become a school counselor in the Santa Ana Unified school district to give back to my community and I have Kidworks to thank for that goal. The investment they made in my life has helped me want to invest in the life of others. I want to ensure to live out KidWorks’ mission as a school counselor and restore at-risk neighborhoods one life at a time.
Learn more about Javier’s story and watch the video below.