There is never a dull moment when Daniella is around. Dani, as her family calls her, is a 12-year-old in Mychal’s After School Program, who brings humor, confidence, creativity, and a very clear sense of self into every room she enters. She has a dry sense of humor that catches people off guard in the very best way, and once you get to know her, it is impossible not to laugh along with her.
Dani is one of three sisters, with an older sister, Charlotte, and a younger sister, Jackie. Family is a huge part of her world, along with her dog Lola and cat Sweetie. She loves spending time with the people closest to her and has a personality that naturally fills up a room. Whether she is talking about her favorite hobbies, sharing opinions, or deciding how things should be done, Dani makes herself known. She is a girl who knows what she wants and is not afraid to say it- and we love that for her.
At Mychal’s, Dani has found a place where she feels comfortable enough to open up and be herself. She loves coloring, singing karaoke with friends, and performing songs from K Pop Demon Hunters, especially “Golden.” She is also currently rehearsing for the Anchorless production of The Wizard of Oz, which has been a huge source of excitement for her. Another favorite part of her week is ASP Baking Class, where she has really been thriving. Dani looks forward to cooking each week and has been doing an amazing job building her skills and confidence in the kitchen. Program support staff and supervisors say they have seen tremendous growth in her confidence and social connections over the last several months.
Her mom, Kelli, shared, “Daniella has struggled with separation anxiety since she was very young.” Since joining the After School Program, though, things have started to shift in really positive ways. “Since she started attending Mychal’s After School Program, we’ve noticed she is much more confident and even her teachers have noticed so much maturity and independence! We couldn’t be more grateful for Mychal’s!”
Outside of program, Daniella loves singing and proudly calls it her “superpower.” She also loves dancing, makeup, dress-up, breadsticks, graham crackers, strawberry ice cream, and anything purple. She can absolutely rock a tutu, and she has a growing interest in working with kids in the medical field someday. Depending on the day, she might tell you she wants to be a nurse, dentist, doctor, or the person giving shots, as long as she gets to help older kids and not babies.
One of the people Dani adores most is her longtime community helper, Ms. Jordy, who has been with the family for more than six years. Her family describes Jordy as chauffeur, chef, chore motivator, and right-hand woman all rolled into one. Together with her family and support system, Daniella continues to grow into a more independent, expressive, and confident version of herself. And at Mychal’s, we are lucky enough to watch that happen in real time.
