Senior scholar Hudsyn is ready for what’s next. “I’ve never been afraid to jump into something new— even when I first joined this program, I wasn’t nervous,” he says. “With everything I’ve learned here, I know I’m ready for the next step, and I’m excited about it.” This fall, he’ll take that step by pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at UMSL.
“Hudsyn’s going to do great,” says Carlos Burgos, Clinical Therapist for Hope Ignites St. Louis. “He’s always done what he needs to reach his goals, and it’s been rewarding to watch him mature in both determination and accountability.”
Hudsyn’s journey with Hope Ignites began in 2020, when a counselor at Hancock Place Middle School encouraged him to join the Residential program, recognizing that added stability and opportunity could help him reach his full potential. Starting high school, Hudsyn initially found academic success. Socially, however the environment wasn’t the right fit, and it began to affect his performance. “Finding your community is a big part of high school,” says Carlos. “He was giving it his best effort, but he seemed unhappy. We know one size doesn’t fit all, so we supported his decision to transfer to Maplewood Richmond Heights High School.”
At MRH, Hudsyn quickly found a sense of belonging. He built friendships, joined multiple sports, and leaned on his Hope Ignites housemates, who regularly showed up to support him at games and events. With that renewed sense of community—and the added support of Hope Ignites tutoring—his grades rebounded. “There were times I didn’t want tutoring,” Hudsyn admits, “but I’m really glad I accepted the help. They showed me it’s not only having the answer, but knowing how you got there. ”
Learning to accept help is often a challenge for scholars, Carlos explains, “I don’t believe in forced therapy–it starts with building trust. Our scholars are navigating not only typical adolescent challenges, but often complex family situations as well. I want them to know they can come to me without fear of judgement, and we’ll work through things together.”
For Hudsyn, that trust has made a meaningful difference. “Getting things off my chest helps take the pressure off,” he says. “And it goes both ways–they trust us to be independent and make good decisions.” From managing daily responsibilities to holding jobs and participating in activities off campus, he says the program has prepared him for life on his own, and for always striving for more. “They’ve always believed in me.”
“Hudsyn can trust that we’ll always be there for him,” says Carlos. “That’s the best part of my job–those relationships don’t end at graudation. Our scholars carry the Hope Ignites community with them wherever they go.”