We’ve got a brand new voice on the ClubX Blog today, with BGCA’s new Director of Programs and Innovation Alexis Watson writing her first post! If you are into #bookstagram or #booktok, you’ll love this one…
You know that feeling when a book reaches into your chest, rearranges your heart a little bit, and then gently places it back? That’s the kind of literary alchemy I’m talking about today. As someone who has always treated books like friends (minus the coffee dates, though I’ve definitely spilled some on their pages), I want to share three stories that didn’t just entertain me – they transformed me. And as a bonus, I’ll also be highlighting some ideas inspired by my favorite reads that you can use to unlock deep thinking in youth afterschool!
Finding My Inner Kristy Thomas
Let’s start with a confession: I was a Babysitters Club super fan. While other kids were trading Pokemon cards, I was busy planning my own neighborhood enterprise, inspired by Kristy Thomas and her resourceful crew. These books weren’t just about watching kids and making pocket money – they were my first glimpse into what it means to see a need in your community and step up to fill it.
There I was, barely old enough to operate a microwave, dreaming up ways to make my mark on the world. Did I start a successful babysitting empire? I did not! But what these books really gave me was the audacity to believe that kids could make things happen. They planted a seed that grew into something much bigger: the realization that age is just a number when it comes to making a difference.
Club Connection: Want to spark this entrepreneurial spirit in your Club? Consider incorporating this Summer Brain Gain module on entrepreneurship or creating a “Community Solutions Lab” where youth identify local needs and design creative solutions, just like Kristy and her friends. Youth can develop business plans, create marketing materials, and even pitch their ideas to local business leaders.
Walking in Another’s Combat Boots
Then came “The Things They Carried,” a book that hit me like a ton of bricks – emotional bricks, the kind that knock down walls you didn’t even know you’d built. This book taught me that understanding others isn’t just about walking a mile in their shoes; sometimes it’s about carrying their burdens, even if only in your imagination.
Through its pages, I learned that empathy isn’t just a feel-good buzzword – it’s a muscle that needs exercise, and sometimes that exercise hurts. It’s about understanding that everyone you meet is fighting battles you know nothing about, carrying weights you can’t see, and living stories that deserve to be heard.
Club Connection: Transform your reading space into a “Story Studio” where Club members can create audio dramas or mini-documentaries about different perspectives. Let them interview community members about their life and create compelling narratives that build empathy and understanding.
Learning to Trust the Journey
And then there was “The Alchemist” – the book that taught me that sometimes getting lost is the point. In an age of GPS-guided everything, this story reminded me that life’s detours aren’t always mistakes; they’re often the whole point of the journey.
I read it during a time when I was obsessively planning every detail of my future (spoiler alert: none of it went according to plan, and that turned out to be the best part). The book helped me understand that the universe has a sense of humor, and sometimes the best thing you can do is laugh along and keep walking.
Club Connection: Create an “Adventure Corner” in your club where youth can design collaborative murals representing their dreams and life journeys. Add sensory elements like peaceful background music or natural scents to make it a calming space for reflection and creativity.
The Plot Twist
Here’s the funny thing about books that change you: you never see them coming. They’re like those friends who show up at exactly the right moment, carrying exactly the message you need to hear. These three books found me at different stages of my life, each one leaving an indelible mark on who I would become.
Do I still sometimes channel my inner Kristy Thomas when I see a problem that needs solving? Absolutely. Do I catch myself thinking about the weight of others’ invisible burdens? More than ever. And yes, I’m still learning to trust the journey, even when the GPS of life seems to be perpetually “recalculating.”
Because that’s the real power of transformative books – they don’t just change who you are in the moment; they become part of your story’s DNA, quietly influencing every chapter that follows.
What books have rewritten your story? I’d love to hear about the literary friends that have rearranged your heart a little bit too.
About Alexis Watson
What books inspired you along your personal and professional journey? How do you integrate creativity into your Club programs? We want to share your best ideas! Comment below, on the BGCA Youth Development Facebook page, or email ClubXBlog@bgca.org.
Thank you so much for sharing this! It is such a feel-good post. My son is an avid reader. I really appreciate adults inspiring others to read, especially our young people. Thank you – From a New Hampshire Club