Growing up in a violent community, Octavius was exposed to negative influences daily in his neighborhood. Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay offered him not only refuge but access to programs that helped him find Academic Success. As a result, he graduated high school with honors and aspires to be a mechanical engineer. Octavius is grateful to Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay and hopes to give back to help others. ”I want to keep opening doors to new opportunities and supporting my community because the experience I had at the Boys & Girls Club, I could not have gotten anywhere else.”
Programs like Money Matters, Keystone and Passport to Manhood helped Octavius navigate life’s daily challenges and gave him the tools to excel at school in order to graduate.