Growing with Hope: Maiya’s Journey from Young Student to Graduating Agent of Hope
When Maiya Robertson first walked through the doors of Hope for Opelousas, she was a quiet 10-year-old preparing for the start of fourth grade, unsure and a little overwhelmed. She had just joined the program and was surrounded by unfamiliar faces in a brand-new environment. The other kids she knew were in different houses, and mingling wasn’t her cup of tea. It was completely new territory. However, even in that uncertainty, there was something undeniable in the air: a steady, quiet welcome and a place prepared just for her.
“I wasn’t sure I wanted to stay in the program,” Maiya remembers, “but the first person I saw was Ms. Nasia. She smiled at me and made me feel so welcomed.”
Little did she know that that one smile of many to come was the spark to her trailblazing journey.
A Chosen Family Who Poured into Her
What started as unfamiliar territory slowly but surely became a second home filled with faith, support, mentorship, and more love than she could have ever imagined. For her, Hope is a space that’s always there if home is not the first choice some days. It’s a place she can always return to, where she’s seen and celebrated.
She calls her Hope family her chosen family. The kind of family where bonds go deeper than blood, formed through shared memories such as field trips, Bible studies, tutoring sessions, and pivotal conversations that changed her perspectives. For every moment of growth Maiya experienced at Hope, someone was standing beside her, ready to encourage, guide, and show up in ways that spoke louder than words.
She cherishes the influence of Mr. Tevin, the high school director who challenged her to get outside her comfort zone, even when it meant running around in the heat. “That was not my thing,” she laughs, “but he pushed me to get comfortable with being uncomfortable so I could grow.” Over time, he became a true mentor and friend, driving her to dual enrollment classes, helping her with scholarship applications, and leading her spiritually at Bible studies.
Ms. Kristina walked with her through the loss of Maiya’s sweet grandmother. She rearranged personal camp transportation schedules, offered flexibility with her Agent of Hope duties, but most importantly, showed up as a safe haven. “They even came to the funeral,” Maiya says warmly. “I love the support here. I love it.” And of course, Ms. Kelly, her former pre-K teacher and the Lower Elementary School Director, became a guiding voice while Maiya served the younger students.
Becoming an Agent of Hope
Maiya is no longer the shy and unsure student who’s hesitant to try new things. Now, she’s an Agent of Hope, which is a high school or graduating high school students who commit to showing up as a leader, a mentor, and a big sibling figure to the next generation of Hope kids.
During the school year as an Agent, she works with the students, meeting them with patience, snacks, and the same kindness she remembers being shown and inspired by. One student, in particular, reminded her of her younger self: quiet, observant, unsure of how to fit in. But Maiya didn’t rush him. She watched him open up in his own time, forming a bond that helped both of them heal.
“Being around the younger kids almost heals your inner child,” she says. “They’re authentic and not afraid to be themselves. It reminds me how far I’ve come.”
In the summer, the days are longer, more energetic, and filled with learning, Bible study, and joyfully competitive moments that only kids can create. “And their favorite question to always ask is what’s for lunch,” she laughs. However, resting beneath the noise is something sacred. A natural rhythm of trust, joy, and spiritual growth that has formed the heartbeat of her journey and the students coming behind her.
One of the biggest lessons Maiya has learned and passes on to her mentees is from Mr. Loren, who taught her that how you treat people matters. At Hope, it’s not just about what you learn, but the posture you take toward others. “Be kind, be curious, and have manners,” she says. “Because it’s not a front, the people around you really do care.”
As she prepares for the next chapter beyond high school, Maiya holds onto the community, confidence, and Christ-like love that Hope gave her. This fall, she’ll return to LSUE to pursue her Associate of Science in nursing with most of her prerequisites already complete - a path she began while still in high school, graduating with her associate degree in general studies. Her dream is to work in pediatric care, gain experience in the cardiovascular field, and eventually become a nurse practitioner so she can travel and serve others across communities. She’s already taking steps toward that future, shadowing nurses at KAA camp, seeking opportunities to serve with other nonprofit groups, and staying open to wherever she’s needed next.
As she reflects on her time here, she wishes she could tell her fourth-grade self this: “Be open-minded. Don’t overthink everything. Treat the people around you well because eventually, they’ll be your family.”
Maiya’s story is just one of many that show how Hope for Opelousas walks with students, year after year, season after season, until the seeds planted in childhood sprout into something strong and steady.
It starts with a safe space. Grows with intentional love. Blossoms in leadership, faith, and a lifetime of memories. We are endlessly proud of Maiya and the legacy she’s leaving in the hearts of the kids she now leads.
Are you a high school student in the Opelousas area? Apply or learn more about Agents of Hope at https://www.hopeforopelousas.org/agents-of-hope