Welcome, Xavier Rentas: Pawl Clubhouse Director

My name is Xavier Rentas, and I am the new Clubhouse Director of the Pawl Clubhouse.

I grew up in Chicago for majority of my life, and both my brother and myself were club kids growing up. We both attended for about 2 years before I started high school because my parents wanted more for my siblings and I.

Chicago did not feel like home anymore. The violence, drugs, and gangs drove us away. After my freshman year, my family moved out of the south side of Chicago to rural Greeley in the summer of 2018- Talk about culture shock. Moving to Greeley was a life- changing opportunity that I couldn’t be more grateful for.

I began working with the youth at Rodarte Community Center in high school, and I loved it. But then the Covid-19 Pandemic closed us down, and I never had the opportunity to go back. So, I graduated early from Greeley Central High School in December of 2020 and started working for Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County in April of 2021. While working, I was pursuing a degree at UNC for early childhood education.

I then changed my major to business, because being a teacher was not my dream anymore. I started working as a part-time YDP (Youth Development Professional) for 2 years. When the Program Director position opened, I knew this was my key to moving up. When I applied and was denied that position, I just knew I had to work harder and go for my goal of becoming a Director. After 3 years, I was promoted to Lead Staff. I knew I wanted to do more for this organization, and this was a stepping stone to doing so. My first summer as lead was a great learning experience for me and taught me very valuable club skills. So, I decided to change my major once again to psychology. After my summer as lead staff, I applied for the Clubhouse Director position and was turned down. This was my second time being denied a full-time position, but I kept working hard to prove I was fit for the job. I did not let “no” stop me from doing something I love.

Flash forward here we are after 4 years of hard work, dedication, and persistence I am finally a Clubhouse Director. Being promoted to director was like a dream come true. The flashbacks of me in the Chicago clubhouse as a kid flooded with such great memories. If you were to tell 12-year-old me, I would have my own club one day I wouldn’t believe you. Sometimes I still do not believe it, but I am here to work hard and make a positive impact on the youth in my community.