After graduating from Pennsylvania College of Technology in 2016, LaQuinn Thompson became youth service director for The Lighthouse, a York youth program.
Summer camp is something ingrained in the memories of many people. For LaQuinn Thompson, it became part of his life.
The 24-year-old York native, like several family members before him, attended LifePath Christian Ministries summer camp, starting when he was in first grade.
“I loved it from the first day,” LaQuinn says. “The counselors were very inspirational, very encouraging. They allowed me to be who I wanted to be, to be myself. And they were very welcoming to everybody.”
LaQuinn attended the camp through eighth grade, and when he aged out, he “wasn’t ready to leave yet.” He started volunteering the next summer, and not only did he get to give back to the place he’d come to love so much, he found his own life’s path.
“It opened my eyes to what I wanted to be: to become a youth services director and help the youth of the city have a great experience, to learn and grow individually,” LaQuinn says.
Not only did that dream come true, but he’s back with the LifePath Christian Ministries camp. When he graduated from Pennsylvania College of Technology in 2016, he became youth service director for The Lighthouse, the York youth program now partnered with LifePath.
“That was my goal,” LaQuinn says.
He’s set new goals now, for what he wants to give to the youth of York.
“I want them to learn, to go places where they can ask questions and learn from what they’re experiencing, and see brand new things,” he says.
LaQuinn’s also excited about seeing young people who want to give back while they’re still in high school, as he did.
“It’s a blessing to see they have that passion like I did to give back to the program,” he says. “To give those youth the opportunity to give back is amazing. It’s humbling.”