Fay Zhao Reflects on Her Summer as a Bank of America Student Leaders® Intern at Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida
This past summer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida welcomed Bank of America Student Leaders® interns, who brought their fresh perspectives, endless creativity, and passion for service to our organization.
This reflection was written by Fay Zhao, one of our 2025 Bank of America Student Leaders® interns, following her summer internship at our Levy-Hughes Clubhouse in Paramore. During her time at the Club, Fay worked closely with middle and high school students, leading a storytelling initiative that encouraged teens to share their experiences through art and writing.
In her own words below, Fay shares how the relationships she built, the stories she witnessed, and the growth she experienced helped her discover her “why” and the lasting impact of the Boys & Girls Club experience.
“I remember my first time walking into the administrative building of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. Although I had passed the blue building countless times, I never realized the passion and purpose it held inside. After welcoming handshakes and the exciting energy of meeting each other for the first time, it was the conversations that truly gave me my first glimpse of this organization. From my Senior Service Director Tasha Robinson-Banks to the CEO Jamie Merrill, the love and care for these Club youths exuded from their words and energy. Many of the leaders at the Student Leader meeting no longer worked directly with kids. Still, when asked why they chose this work, they always returned to one reason: the children. I didn’t fully understand then, but soon I’d come to share the same reason.
The Levy-Hughes Clubhouse was nothing short of an amazing two-story building filled with a kid’s favorite things. From a kitchen where kids had culinary classes, to a dance studio, and much more, there was never a moment of silence, and soon I joined in their lively cacophony. Like all the clubhouse kids, I found my space at the game room where Ping Pong was my expertise. Match after match, kids challenged me and even after eight weeks, no one beat me. I was dubbed the “Ping Pong Goddess.” But most of all, I learned about each kid through sprinkles of conversation.
Then I introduced my patch project, a storytelling initiative where teens created custom-designed patches and wrote accompanying stories, which we later compiled into a book. These 11 middle and high schoolers workshopped with me daily for two weeks, sometimes for up to three hours at a time. Their willingness to say yes and their commitment to this project truly inspired me to match their energy. From computer designing their patches with graphics, photos, and symbols to writing their stories, there was never a dull moment. The kids were all so unique, all from different backgrounds. In practice with two students, I became very well acquainted with Google Translate in Spanish and Portuguese. I came in with loose guidelines of where they wanted to take the project, only simply: something that is meaningful to them. Some students talked about their passions and hobbies through sports and interests, others talked about their lived experiences with both highs and lows.
Throughout the experience, I bonded with the students and watched them grow more confident in their goals. I remember vividly when the Clerk of Orange County and mayoral candidate Tiffany Moore Russell visited. Haylee, an aspiring lawyer, was super interested in the speaker’s experiences. Right as they were leaving, I encouraged her to ask about an internship and get a business card. I watched as she ran to the door to ask about this opportunity. Later, I would remember her beaming face as she told me, “Ms. Fay! I got their information. They told me that once I turned 18, they had an opportunity!” It was those moments of growth that fueled me even more to bring all the connections I had to the Clubs for these kids.
I hosted journalism workshops, which the kids insisted on calling “journaling,” where they learned how to interview, write, and reflect on events at the Club. I brought in a nonprofit organization I had previously worked with, Save the Manatee Club, to teach the kids about biology and manatee research. The kids loved the manatee bones. I dabbled in art while working with the kids. We made a giant seashell mosaic of a manatee as thanks for their visit.
Despite all these moments, it wasn’t until the author signing that I truly understood my “why.” To see the kids open and touch the printed book, a manifestation of their hard work, and see them tear up in happiness at their stories displayed with their photos and patches, it was the most fulfilling moment of my internship. Then each kid rose up to the podium in full height to introduce themselves and to recognize and take ownership of their stories. In that moment, the 30 people in the room, family, staff, and even outsiders, shared tears as the kids owned their stories and emotions, ultimately amplifying the healing victory of sharing and embracing. To see my project create such an impact, not only through the kids themselves, but their family members, administrators, and even outsiders, made my heart full.
As I look back on this experience, I see now why people do what they do here at the Boys & Girls Club. It’s about building a space where young people feel seen, supported, and empowered to share their voices.”
To read “Our Patches, Our Stories,” click here.
