From Curious Camper to Confident Leader: Jay’s Crossroads Journey
- Holly Wenger
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Jadier “Jay” Sanchez first shared his story with our community at this year’s Crossroads C5 Golf Tournament. His words reminded us why opportunities, mentorship, and belonging matter—and why love continues to grow at Crossroads. Here is his story.
When Jay stepped off the bus at Camp Wing as a curious third grader, he had no idea he was beginning a decade-long journey that would help shape the leader he is today. He remembers learning to swim, sewing his first pillow, teaming up with new friends for group challenges, and hearing Pat encourage campers to “be more” before heading off to free choice. These simple experiences helped him come out of his shell, try new things, and feel part of a community that believed in him.
As he grew older, Jay heard excited talk from older campers about the C5 Leaders program and the mythical Camp Lapham. He didn't know much about it, only that it represented something big. One afternoon, he approached Joe, a “camp legend,” and asked if he could possibly apply. That conversation opened the door to a five-year commitment to growth, challenge, and self-discovery:
“It was in that moment that I set into motion, a series of events that would find me summiting far away mountains and exploring the depths of my own leadership capacity through rigorous yet rewarding challenges.”
Through C5, Jay found mentors who pushed him, supported him, and helped him imagine the person he could become. He learned that leadership isn’t an innate trait reserved for a select few. It’s something that grows when young people are given opportunity, guidance, and a community that expects them to represent themselves with respect and integrity. Those lessons shaped him, and impacted his goals and plans for the future.
Jay graduated from the C5 Leaders program in 2023. Standing among peers he’d grown alongside and mentors who had guided him, he felt pride, gratitude, and clarity about the leader he wanted to continue becoming.
Today, Jay is a junior at Boston College, pursuing a double major in psychology and studio art. He is the co-president of the Dominican Association, vice president of a competitive Latin dance team, and a kickboxing instructor for the student martial arts club. He credits C5 with teaching him the skills he uses every day: how to introduce himself with confidence, facilitate discussions, manage teams, and navigate feedback.
One of the things Jay is proudest of is returning to Crossroads to give back. He has worked three summers as a counselor, and this past summer he helped lead the Hammers on their trek through the Teton Valley in Idaho:
“It was always a dream of mine to come back and work as a counselor, to inspire the next generation of leaders, just as I had been inspired myself.”
Jay often says that none of this would have been possible without Crossroads and C5. The programs gave him space to grow, people who believed in him, and opportunities that helped him see himself differently.
His story is one of many made possible by those who believe that every young person deserves the chance to grow into who they’re meant to be.
If you’re reading this on Giving Tuesday, your gift helps support our young people and inspires more stories like Jay’s.