Once known as the “Panini Girl” at the Youth Center’s snack shop, Angie Lozada now works with mothers and babies as an OB/GYN nurse. And she loves her job.

“Honestly, I’ve come a long way,” she said. “I was a young girl who didn’t know what she wanted.”

Angie joined the Youth Center during her freshman year in high school. A few friends were members and she walked in to hang out with them. Before long, they decided to become a part of as many of the Center’s programs as they could. Angie joined the Teen Action Group and regularly shared member concerns with board members, plus ideas to keep the Center fun and appealing.

Never give up. If you set your heart on something, you can definitely make it happen.

The snack shop was one of those ideas. A contest for the best business proposal for reusing the warehouse space next door was another. Angie credits her mentor, board member Richard Pyle, for his help with tuition and lots of advice.

Starting in Quinsigamond Community College’s criminal justice program, Angie moved over to nursing at Becker College and graduated in 2018 as a registered nurse. But without her mentor’s intervention, she might not have completed her program. Angie’s daughter, born with a host of complications, died at age 3. Devastated, Angie wanted to give up, but Richard encouraged her to go back and finish strong.

Her advice to current members? “Never give up. If you set your heart on something, you can definitely make it happen.” The Worcester Youth Center “wants to help get you where you need to be,” she said. “I’m proud of the person I’ve become.”