When I first walked into the YMCA, I wasn’t thinking about a career or leadership. Honestly, I wasn’t even thinking about community. I was just a stay-at-home mom who needed a place to get out of the house and have some time for myself.

At that point in my life, the Y became my little escape. It was the place where I could work out, clear my head, breathe, and just be me for a little while. I loved being a mom, but being a mom can also be exhausting. We spend so much time taking care of everyone else that sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves. For me, the Y became that place. 

Our family first joined the YMCA almost 12 years ago because I wanted my children to learn how to swim. Water safety was really important to me. I wanted them to feel comfortable and confident in the water, so swimming lessons were the reason we walked through the doors in the first place. I never imagined how much that first step would change my life.

Then COVID happened, and like many families, we struggled financially. Our household income became very tight, and we had to start cutting back on things we couldn’t afford. Eventually, we made the hard decision to cancel our YMCA membership. 

I remember being really upset about it. I even told my family, “This is going to take a toll on me.”

Because by then, the Y wasn’t just a gym to me. It was my outlet. It was where I went when I needed a break. It was my community. It was the one or two hours I had to myself where I could just focus on me.

We decided to ask about financial assistance, not really knowing what to expect. And the YMCA said “yes.”

That “yes” meant so much to me. It meant that my family could stay connected to the Y. It meant I could keep coming in, keep taking care of myself, and keep having that space that had become so important to me. But something else happened while I was there. I found a purpose. 

I started working at the front desk, and that opened up a whole new chapter for me. I got to know so many members and hear their stories. I saw people come in when they were struggling, and I saw them grow and become stronger. I realized that the Y really is about people. It’s about connection, support, and having a place where you feel like you belong.

One of the things I still love the most is seeing moms come in with their kids. I see myself in them. I know what it’s like to walk in needing just one hour for yourself. One hour to work out or simply remember that you are more than just “Mom.”

I remember picking up my child from Kids Zone after a workout. I would feel completely different than when I walked in. I was happier. I had more energy. I was more patient. I felt proud of myself. That one hour really made me a better mom.

Over time, the people around me at the Y started seeing things in me that I didn’t necessarily see in myself. My supervisors and mentors encouraged me to grow and take on new opportunities.

I went from working at the front desk, to becoming a coordinator, and today I’m the Director of Membership and oversee Kids Zone.

If you had told me all of that when I first walked into the Y as a stay-at-home mom, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. The Y has given me so many opportunities, but more importantly, it has given me people who believed in me.

My supervisors, my coworkers, my mentors, and our members have all been part of my journey. I learn something from them every day.

When I think about my Y story, I think about how one small decision—to join for swimming lessons—turned into something that completely changed the direction of my life.

The Y gave me a place to belong when I needed it. It gave me an opportunity when I wasn’t sure what came next. And it gave me people who believed in me.

Financial assistance made it possible for me to stay when my family couldn’t afford the membership. That support didn’t just help me keep going to the gym. It helped me stay connected to a community that became such an important part of my life.

That’s why I believe so strongly in what the Y does. Because you never know what a simple “yes” can mean to someone. For me, that “yes” changed my life. And now, I get to be part of creating those moments for other people. That is my Y story.