Deyana “Dee Dee” Surles grew up thinking she was going to drop out of high school. Instead, she’s flourishing as an 18-year-old high school senior who was recently named her class valedictorian.
She attributes her amazing turnaround to the Guided Grace Family and Youth Services Enrichment and Mindfulness Camp, an afterschool program in Saginaw, Michigan.
“It helped me a lot. It impacted my grades a lot. I went to being on the honor roll. I pretty much get all A’s now,” Surles said. “It helped me with my social skills and getting me out in the world.”
“Dee Dee is a lot more outgoing now,” said Sharalee Hammond, Surles’ legal guardian. “She gets it now. I don’t have to tell her to get ready for work or to get ready for school. I’m proud of her. The program just opened all new doors.”
Before enrolling in the afterschool program, Surles said she lacked confidence and self-motivation. Now, she’s planning to attend college and feels like the sky is the limit.
“Now, I have so much stuff I want to do,” she said. “I want to be a model. I want to be a psychiatrist. I want to be a doctor, a lawyer. I feel like I could do anything now. I want to show people that, if I can do it — then they can do it, too.”
Sometimes it takes just one person to make a difference, and that was the case for Surles, who gives much of the credit for her turnaround to Nicole Liggins, CEO of Guided Grace.
“I was on the fence about joining the afterschool program,” Surles said. “That’s when I met Miss Nicole, and she opened my eyes so brightly.”
Surles explained that Liggins became her mentor and gave her words of encouragement she hadn’t experienced before.
“Miss Nicole helped me a lot,” Surles said. “When we first met, she was talking about how she sees something in me.”
The pair quickly formed a bond, and Liggins eventually hired Surles to work in her day care, Building Blocks Childcare and Preschool Center in Saginaw.
“She opened my mind to new things like, ‘Oh, I can start my own business’ or ‘I can really make some money and do something with myself,’” Surles said. “I want to be Miss Nicole. I love Miss Nicole. She said, ‘You stick underneath my wing, and I’m going to lead you right.’ And I continued through.”
Liggins said helping young people like Surles is what the afterschool program is all about.
“All you have to do is give a young person a chance and support them in their journey,” Liggins explained. “That’s what we try to do with these kids is support them in their journey, and sometimes we make an impact. The impact with Dee Dee was made quickly. I’m so proud of her.”
Michigan is becoming a state leader in the afterschool field and young people and parents from around the state share their stories of how afterschool positively impacts their lives.
