Isaiah’s Story

Healing Through Connection

August 2024

Isaiah was sitting in his 8th grade classroom when he heard an announcement over his school’s loudspeaker. Someone on the speaker was telling the students about Big Sky Youth Empowerment, also known as… BYEP! Isaiah was intrigued and decided to go to the presentation in his school’s lunch room to learn more. He knew right then and there that BYEP was something he wanted to be a part of. 

While Isaiah was nervous to join BYEP after that presentation at school, all it took was one day in a workshop for him to realize that this was exactly the type of program he wanted to be involved in. He felt safe. And BYEP provided a community where he could be his authentic self. 

At the time, Isaiah was dealing with a lot in his home and social life, and was longing for a welcoming community where he could express himself. He was having difficulty navigating hardships; everything felt like a devastating blow. “I felt like I was falling into a pit”, Isaiah shares. He felt lost and angry all the time, and as result, was getting into fights. It was difficult for him to fit in with kids at school and he did not feel as if he belonged anywhere—especially after his father passed away. 

BYEP became Isaiah’s escape. A place where he did not have to worry about anything other than bettering himself, having fun with his peers, and getting after it on outdoor adventures. As much as the program affected Isaiah’s life, so did the people in it. BYEP’s Program Managers and volunteer mentors have become influential figures in his life. Week after week, they create a welcoming and open environment. He has learned to appreciate that everyone has a lot going on—and regardless of how small an issue may seem, each person’s emotions and experience of the world matter. It is safe to say that being a part of BYEP has changed Isaiah’s life. Here, he feels like he has a space to grow into himself, and a space that helps him feel empowered. 

As Isaiah transitioned into adulthood, his BYEP Program Managers helped him find the resources he needed to succeed and feel the support of his community. Now, after several years in the program, he feels ready to take on adult life. He is confident that he has the skills to deal with tough times and move forward in a positive way. “BYEP helped me process my father’s death, it gave me a place to go and talk through it,” Isaiah shares. “I probably wouldn’t be who I am today without BYEP. I had a pretty bad outlook on life. Now I have a much more positive outlook on life. If something bad happens, I try to find the good in it”. 

Isaiah’s life has been challenging, just like many teen’s lives in our community are. He is thankful to have this place where he is radically accepted and pushed to be his best self: “Everyone at BYEP is very accepting. It’s easy to feel like you can talk to people. BYEP makes me feel happier and helps me feel more confident in my daily life. I feel like everyone would benefit from being a part of BYEP”. 

Thank you for supporting teens like Isaiah!