BGCVV YOUTH OF THE YEAR Linda Paustell

Linda Paustell is now a confident young woman who believes in herself, the value of education and the philosophy of it’s always better to give than to receive. She’s the Club’s Teen Coordinator and is looking forward to each day and how she can help make a difference in someone’s life. But Linda’s life wasn’t always this positive.

At 3 Linda, her brothers and sisters were separated from their biological parent s and placed separately into numerous foster homes. At 7 she and her siblings were adopted. Shortly after this reunion her adopted parents went through a divorce. For years the children went back and forth to each parent, never feeling at home.

At 13 Linda was once again put into several foster care homes. She became rebellious, started drinking and taking drugs. At 14 she became pregnant. She gave birth but her son medically just couldn’t make it and died.  Over the next couple of months Linda felt lost, couldn’t cope and started cutting herself. Teen Crisis counselors came in suggested the Boys & Girls Club would be a great way to get back on the right track.

Linda talked with staff who listened to her past and gave her hope for the future. Linda says, “I was taken in. I felt I belonged somewhere with caring adults who listened and believed in me and what I could do. They taught me life skills and to value life and use education as a stepping stone to a better future.”