Alumni Spotlight: Daquan Rockett

Daquan Rockett (AKA Rockett) first got involved with the IYB in 2005, when he played basketball in the YB Rec Department’s youth basketball league. Soon after, he enrolled in the College Discovery Program (CDP) which he remained a part of until he graduated high school. CDP participants are able to take part in a number of different components while in the program which range from mentoring and family dinners to campus visits and a 3-week summer program. As a participant, Rockett’s favorite memories are from his first summer trip with the program. 

Fast forward to 2019 when he began working with another YB department, the Paul Schreurs Memorial Program (PSMP), as a seasonal employee until he once again joined CDP as a full-time staff member in June of 2021.

When asked about his time with the Ithaca Youth Bureau Rockett credits the organization for shaping him into the man he is today. Through his experiences, he learned how to approach things with an open mind and to be non-judgmental. He emphasizes the importance of treating everybody with respect and doing the right thing, as many positives can come from it.

As he transitioned from a participant to a staff member, he gained a new perspective that created an appreciation for the job and helped him to realize the patience that is sometimes needed in working with different personalities of the youth in the program. 
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Being a part of the Youth Bureau has created friends and connections that he will have for the rest of his life. Above all, he wants people to know that the Ithaca Youth Bureau is about inclusivity and that all kids have the opportunity to be a part of this organization.

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​**photos courtesy of Daquan Rockett

Rockett with his mentor, Jason Battle, who attended Cornell and played on the basketball team.

Rockett and fellow participants during Homework Club, a component of College Discovery Program