How does one measure the success of Youth First Texas – is it by the variety of programs, the influx of funding, or even the number of days of its existence?

Although these are all very wonderful, let us be reminded of our mission: to empower LGBTQ youth! In the words of Judith Dumont, “We are here to create fearless youth – and fierce, too!”

What can be fiercer than a high school diploma?

The statistics are staggering. According to the 2007 study done by GLSEN, LGBT students were almost twice as likely to not finish high school as to that of a national sample of students.

“26% of LGBTQ youth will drop out,” Dumont said.

Many of our graduates come from the GSA’s that Youth First Texas has come to help. Just to name a few, there is the Richland GSA, Cedar Hill GSA, Molina GSA, Hill Crest GSA, and Plano Senior GSA.
Well, here they are, folks. Our graduation class of 2009:

Wajid Aldomour

Richland Collegiate High School GRADUATE

Grace Chow

Richland Collegiate High School GRADUATE
• Headed for Rice
• “Rice has done a really good job of awarding me financial aid”
• “YFT helped me gain insight into myself as a GLBT youth and also helped me confront some unresolved feelings related to a bad experience in the past. Without YFT, I wouldn’t have had the courage to write or talk about my past, so it was a good avenue for me to express my pent-up hurt.”

Chatlin Galle

Decatur High School GRADUATE

Rena Hampden

Hill Crest High School GRADUATE
• Headed for Richland College then transferring to Texas A&M
• “[YFT] gave me a haven when I needed to get away. They kept me sane and encouraged me to stay in school.”

Hope Kincheloe

Lake Highlands High School GRADUATE
• Received $100.00 from church musical
• “[YFT] helped me find more scholarships”

Jesus Damian Montelongo

Moises E. Molina GRADUATE
• Headed for UT of Austin
• First semester fully paid in scholarships

David Esteban Negrete

Hebron High School GRADUATE