When Sophie arrived at South Shore YMCA Camp Hayward last summer, she brought with her a lifetime of responsibility. At 14 years old, she had grown up faster than most kids, helping care for her older autistic brother and supporting her single mom. Her responsibilities often left little room for exploring her own passions: acting, dancing, and performing.
Receiving a scholarship to attend Camp Hayward gave Sophie a chance to rediscover joy. Nervous at first, she wasn’t sure what to expect. But soon after settling into her cabin, something changed.
“I felt free,” she said. “I could finally breathe.”
Sophie poured herself into theater classes, singing, acting, and dancing with joy. For the first time in years, she wasn’t thinking about her responsibilities at home—she was focused on being herself. She made friends, built confidence, and found strength in her own voice.
Sophie's mom summed it up best: “Camp helped Sophie be a kid again.”
“I’m not who I was when I left,” Sophie shared. “Camp gave me a chance to be me. I can’t wait to go back.”
Thanks to the generosity of those who support the South Shore YMCA, scholarships make experiences like Sophie’s possible. And this summer, she’ll return to Camp Hayward, ready for the next chapter of her story.
