Oasis Youth has provided me with uncountable opportunities and programs since I began attending. Oasis has also taught me a lot which will help me progress in life and carry forward for the next generation. Oasis taught me the importance of speaking clearly and self-representation. Which has increased the number of ears who listened. We also had an immense amount of fun during oasis programs such as the annual summer bash, trips to six flags and trips across the country. I recommend for the future Oasis graduates to stay consistent and make sure you maximize all the opportunities that are given to you.

For as long as I can remember, Oasis has been a safe space for me. It is a place where I can truly be myself and continue to grow. I've been attending Oasis since I was just ten years old, and the experiences I've had there have been invaluable. Most importantly, Oasis has provided me with a community of like-minded individuals who share my passion for creating a better future. Through this community, I've made countless friends and deepened existing connections.

Additionally, Oasis has afforded me numerous leadership opportunities that have had a positive impact on other areas of my life, such as school, work, and my personal life. For instance, I served as the secretary for a time, a role that initially made me nervous but ultimately helped me improve my notetaking and typing skills. Looking back, I'm grateful for the chance to have grown and learned in such a supportive environment. Oasis has been an incredible resource for me. Not only have they connected me with various internships and job opportunities, but they've also provided me with opportunities to give back to my community. One such opportunity was working with the United Youth Subcommittee of the mayor's coalition on Behavioral Health (UYS MCBH), where I contributed to raising awareness and advocating for healthier policies in Providence. Through this experience, I learned about prevention policies aimed at reducing youth substance use and increasing awareness about mental health. Oasis has been instrumental in helping me finance my education by providing access to multiple scholarships and even a letter of recommendation that helped me stand out from other applicants. 

Oasis Youth programs has offered me a multitude of their benefits such as fostering personal growth and development. Firstly, Oasis provides a safe and supportive environment for me to explore my interests and passions. By engaging in various activities, such as presentations, arts, or community service, I can discover my strengths, develop new skills, and build self-confidence. Oasis often emphasizes teamwork and collaboration, teaching me the importance of effective communication, problem-solving, and leadership. These skills are not only valuable in the program itself but also in various aspects of life to help me have personal growth including education, career, and personal relationships.

By fully engaging in the Oasis program activities, I developed a sense of ownership and commitment, leading to a more profound impact on my personal growth. For instance, if Oasis focused on environmental conservation, I could volunteer for local environmental organizations or initiate my own projects in my community. By actively engaging with the program's principles beyond its duration, I can reinforce their learning and make a lasting impact.

I want to thank Oasis Youth International for teaching me many useful skills that I constantly implement into my daily life. Primarily Alhaji Akinfolarin who has been there as a mentor for me throughout my time at Oasis. Oasis has taught me many skills over the years, such as public speaking, organization, how to act in a professional setting, and much more. One of the many main things Oasis Youth has taught me is public speaking. That has been a very important skill that is constantly beneficial to me. I have used that skill all throughout high school, and now entering university is something that allows me to feel more comfortable, having had constant experience with public speaking. The skills Oasis taught allow me to advocate for myself, which is an essential skill if you want to make it in life. Oasis introduced me to many other programs that benefited me. One of the notes in the United Youth Subcommittee program that I participated in for two years is something that I feel very passionate about that I feel has come to benefit me through my career goals. Wanting to pursue a career in the medical field, while advocating for minorities and underrepresented individuals, the United Youth Subcommittee helped me gain experience regarding medical related social work. Being able to learn and grow under the supervision of people with likeminded career paths is such an opportunity.

I will continue to take advantage of the opportunities Oasis has given me and push to better myself and my community. Oasis is constantly introducing me to scholarships, job opportunities, and mentorship. I have been participating in Oasis throughout middle school and high school. And the organizational skills I have learned prove constantly advantageous towards my academics and career goals. I also strongly believe that the professional skills I learned have attributed strongly to many of the opportunities I have gained. The skills I have gained from Oasis have paved the way for me to become a future leader in my community. While Oasis is an organization that I have been a part of a sufficient amount of time, I feel like all things there is room for improvement. Primarily, I think events like summer bash need to change. The agenda of the day is constantly being repeated. I think it needs to be adjusted to engage the newer generation.

I've been a member of Oasis international for 4 years throughout my whole high school career. As a member of oasis, I believe I gained many opportunities that helped me in my growth and development. I also gained valuable life skills such as teamwork, communication, time management etc. Being a member of Oasis gave me opportunities to have a relationship with the community and engage with them. Oasis also gives us a platform to be able to network with each other, mentors, and community leaders. In oasis I also got many opportunities to keep up with our dates and current events during our weekly meetings. By bringing people to talk to us about our various careers, Oasis provided us with various mentors that were able to guide and acknowledge us on our futures. Lastly the only thing l would recommend the program does is let the public know about what is done at oasis and what oasis is because it’s an opportunity everyone should have.

The fact that others praise you for being the best at something  necessarily means you're doing your best. There have been times when my classmates, family members, and friends around me would praise me for my perfect grades, and my participation in school and outside activities. It was common for them to comment on my supposed perfection saying things such as “You are so perfect,” and “Your parents must give you everything.” Little did they know how true that statement was; everything I have is because of my parents. While these comments made me feel somewhat satisfied with my present success, I did not always see myself as perfect or even someone who was close to perfect. I knew I was able to do better. I knew it was not enough for my future goals. I knew it was not enough to inspire the younger generations in my family, and most importantly, I knew it was not enough to repay the sacrifices my parents had made for me. However, thanks to Oasis International, I have been able to gain this drive for myself. 

I’ve been part of Oasis International for 10 years and I’ve benefited from every aspect of the program. I have attended events like African Summer Bash, Six Flags, and Washington DC, as well as the April vacation with a week-long packed with events, but they were not what made me gain from this program. The Oasis International mission statement talks about youth coming together “...acquiring, and sharing knowledge within their communities about life skills, education, leadership” and all these things said in this mission statement are what I have gained.

I first started the Oasis youth program in 2016 and the program was an integral part of helping me get to where I am today. The biggest part of Oasis that I took with me is the public speaking aspect of the program. As a kid I was a bit soft spoken but going to oasis helped me to become better at speaking with my peers and projecting my opinions with confidence. Every weekend I was able to leave the meetings learning something new to help make me a better son, student, brother, and friend. I learned how to be a better overall human being. 



My only recommendation for this program is to continue to do what it is they have been doing and help others like me to be better versions of themselves.