Seguin Youth Services

By: Reyana Custodio

“One child at a time”.

This has been the motto for Seguin Youth Services for the past twenty-three years. Working in probation, Director Sheryl Sachtleben saw adolescents being detained in jail and that were constantly in and out of trouble. She wanted to open a place of prevention, a place where the adolescents could turn to before they got into trouble. In 1995, Sheryl Sachtleben came up with Seguin Youth Services. After applying and receiving a grant, SYS opened its’ doors in June of 1995. The first facility was located on San Antonio Avenue. The program then moved to its current location in the 2000’s. The facility is current located on North Guadalupe Street.

SYS is very big on the academics of their students. They want them to succeed in their academics and want to be there to help them graduate. Besides academics, SYS want their students to be productive in society. Seguin Youth Services allows their students to participate in team building, social skills and vocational activities like welding, construction, cooking, etc.. The directors try to give the students big skills they are going to need in life. The center takes in students starting in early elementary school, they even have some first graders, and follow them all the way until graduation. They push their students to graduate so they can go out and make something of their life. Throughout this time, the center and the students become a family. The directors sit in the stands of each students’ graduation just as proud as their parents. For the students that go through the center and graduate to go on to college or vocational school, they have $500 scholarship. The overall focus of the Seguin Youth Services is to be a safe haven, a safe place where the students can go and learn something.

A normal day in Seguin Youth Services is centered around the students. Between the times of ten in the morning and three in the afternoon, the assistant director, Marcos Saenz, goes to check on the students in the school that are struggling and speaks to their teachers to figure out the issues or the problems the students are having. The students arrive at around four in the afternoon. For about an hour and a half, they strictly work on their homework. Cassandra Gonzales, the prevention coordinator, uses her teaching degree to help and tutor the students. After they complete their homework, the students move to activities. Everyday there is a different activity on the schedule. The schedule consists of activities in the gymnasium, outdoor learning center, social skills, going to the shed where they weld and construct, and many other things. Around six thirty, the students are given free time. The students love to play football and soccer. Over the summer for students who come during the school year, the center is open ten to six in the evening. Summer is a break for the students from school but the program likes to keep some education going to help the students retain what they learned during the year.

SYS is packed with different activities and rooms. Marcos Saenz said his favorite part of the facility is the shed in the back of the building. He enjoys when he and the students go and build go karts. Cassandra Gonzales said besides her arts and crafts room, her new favorite as of recent has been the church her and the students have been attending on Wednesdays. While there, the church will have dinner for them while they participate in choir and bible study. SYS celebrates Thanksgiving, Christmas, and participate cultural awareness. For Thanksgiving, they have a turkey dinner in a circle as a family. For Christmas, the directors assemble gifts for each student. They try to add a clothing item like a coat or a long sleeve shirt.

SYS is such a rewarding program. When asked what his favorite part of the job was, Marcos Saenz said knowing when the students leave the center that they love the directors. Every day as the students run in, they give Cassandra Gonzales her hug. As she is the motherly figure of the students at SYS, they tell her about things they would not just tell anyone. The assistant director takes pride in knowing the students want to be at SYS and are not being forced. The directors do not want the facility to be a place where parents can come and just drop off their kids. The students are welcomed if they want to be there. Overall, the program makes the directors feel great. The program has filled their hearts. However, not every day is joyful. It is heartbreaking at some moments when there are issues with the family or the students. There are also times of frustration when the directors are treating the students like their own children and putting in effort toward the student’s day after day and the students’ own parents could not care less.  The directors find that it can be hard not to bring the sorrow or frustration home with you. The only and best thing the directors can do is to let the students know that they are always there for them. Cassandra Gonzales says seeing the students smile is the best feeling in the world.

As time goes on, the number of students coming to SYS increases. The center runs on its volunteers. The center often needs volunteers to help with the students who are struggling with their academics and volunteers who will allow the students to read to them for fifteen minutes each day. SYS takes walk in volunteers or you can contact one of the directors. The volunteers do not have any obligations. You can just walk in when you have time. If you are too busy to volunteer at SYS, there are other ways you can help the organization. Due to the loss of grants and being nonprofit, the organization faces many financial difficulties. They are constantly doing outside activities like going to the coast and going camping so donations can help finance or donations of items for the activities can help the program.

Walking into SYS, I immediately felt at home. Between the jokes and laughter during the interview, the atmosphere was welcoming. The way the directors spoke of the students and Seguin Youth Services, I could sense the care for the students. As the interview ended, the students poured in the building. As they came in, I could see the genuine happiness on their faces. When granted the opportunity, I would love to volunteer at SYS.

Contact Information:

Sheryl Sachtleben – Director – (830)-214-4722

Marcos Saenz – Assistant Director – (830)-214-4536

Cassandra Gonzales – Prevention Coordinator – (830)-556-9298

Email: casgon1973@gmail.com

Address:

919 North Guadalupe Street

Seguin, Texas 78155

Photos By: Cailee Willis

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