The Right Path Chosen

(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.) - Sometimes all it takes is for someone to show you a different path in life. For Sharandeep who was surrounded by friends that at times had an unsavoury influence on him during his early teenage years - the 'glamour' of gang life and the hustle seemed almost too good to pass up. The signs were everywhere for his mentors at The Boys & Girls Club in East Van (Fraserview) and they knew that the window of opportunity was closing as usually by the time a child reached 15-16, the decisions made can be irreversible.
Canadians broadcaster Rob Fai spoke to a handful of scholarship presented on behalf of the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation thanks to Jeff Mooney & Suzanne Bolton to learn more about how these bright-minded kids are benefitting from these awards:
Rob: "What kind of a kid were you growing up?"
Sharandeep:  "That's an interesting question. I'd have to say I was a bit of a troublemaker, especially compared to my peers. I love being the class clown and joking around and not taking things to seriously all throughout elementary school. So yeah, I would describe myself as a troublemaker and I didn't really listen to authority to much."
Rob:  "In certain facets of life people almost look up to gangs and troublemaking. Was that ever a challenge for you?"
Sharandeep:  "Yeah I would say so. I would say that I surrounded myself with a group of people that I probably shouldn't have been hanging around with, and yeah, they weren't the most positive role models in my life. Looking back I was definitely not hanging around with the most straight-edged people. That's what also caused me to be the kid that I was - that influence of the people around me."
Rob: "So you had that influence, but you also had the influence of the Fraserview Boys & Girls Clubs. What influence did the club have on you and how did they change the path of your life?"
<sharandeep's eyes="" widen=""></sharandeep's>
Sharandeep:  "Totally. A huge impact. From Lee to all the programmers to my mentor Dennis to several tutors - they had a huge impact on changing my perspective on what I wanted to do in life. They changed me for the better, they sat me down and they talked about what my goals were and what I wanted to do in life and they talked about what kind of role model I wanted to be for my younger sister who was coming here (Fraserview) as well."
That was a huge eye-opener just to see that there was people here that really cared about me and were willing to sit down with me and talk about my future and my goals. They provided a safe haven for me after school to come here everyday, play sports, ping-pong, bingo - they had so many different activities that led me away from hanging out with those people that I shouldn't be hanging around with afterschool. Without those programs I feel like I would have been lost as a kid growing up, but I channeled that energy into something more productive."
Rob:  "What did it mean to you to find out your mentors had put your name forward to receive a scholarship from the Vancouver Canadians?"
Sharandeep:  "It was huge. Lee called me in one day and told me to just come in to the club and he didn't tell me what it was for he just said I need you to come right now it's important. I came in within an hour and he handed me the cheque and he told me to open up the letter. I read the whole letter and and found out I had won a scholarship toward my academic studies. It was just amazing to see that he put my name forward and that through that process I was able to receive that - because growing up with a single mom it was hard for her to cover all the finances so just to have that extra help from someone like the Vancouver Canadians Foundation who wanted to offer that meant alot. It was just amazing."
Rob:  "So now you're working toward a career potentially in law enforcement? How ironic."
Sharandeep:  "Yeah I am (smiling). I currently work as a role player for the Vancouver Police Department. We help train the constables that get hired and I am currently in the process of a special constable with the Vancouver Police. It's a reserve program, it's not like a regular constable program but its just one step below and I have my interview next week with a detective - I'm super excited, but we'll see how it goes."
Rob:  "It's all a part of the process. You've come along way."
Sharandeep:  "Yeah, you could say that."