Dressed in jean leggings and boots with a belted colorful, flowing smock and mismatched dangling earrings, Allisha Bonneaux met me for lunch at the Barking Dog in downtown Orange. I couldn’t help notice that our new youth director has panache for fashion which helps with the “cool” factor so many youth seek from those with whom they hang out. And for Allisha, hanging out with the youth is just what she has planned with the many activities already on the FUMC youth calendar. “I’m excited to work with the youth,” she beamed.
Growing up in Orange, Allisha never dreamed she’d return to Orange after graduating from Texas A&M in College Station. Allisha married Gary Bonneaux also from Orange who had just graduated from law school, money was tight, jobs were slim and Orange was beckoning Gary home to begin his law career. With a degree in Psychology, Allisha wasn’t sure what kind of career Orange could offer so she went back to school for her teaching certificate and worked in Special Education at Orangefield for 3 ½ years. Wanting to further her education in Psychology, she pursued a Masters Degree at McNeese State College in Lake Charles and earned her Counseling LPC. Another three years at McNeese for an internship, she completed her coursework and moved on to teach Psychology at Lamar State College in Orange for five years. Wanting to use her license in counseling, Allisha began working at the Samaritan Counseling Center, a non-profit counseling center in Orange.
Allisha juggled school and 10 years of counseling while having and raising babies, and managing a household with its own flurry of activity. Like Allisha who was an active teen involved in everything she could manage from being a twirler to student council, Key Club, Spanish Club, Drama, and her favorite love, dance, her two children Garhett, an 18 year old senior and Bridgett, a 14 year old freshman both at LCM High School are involved in band, sports and church activities.
Allisha values kids being active and involved believing they find out who they are through their activities. She understands how they are pulled in different directions and believes it’s a growing and molding process for them. “Dance was a big part of my life. It was a huge primer and emphasis on forming who I am. It prepared me from learning to be on time to presentation of self to working to exhaustion, not giving up, being determined.
But in addition to activities, “[I want the youth to be] spiritually touched and connected to God, more than just a social thing, and be biblically educated. I grew up in the church but didn’t feel knowledgeable [in the Bible]. I want the youth to feel confident in what they know.” How she plans to do this? She says, “With memorable lessons linked to something, like physical reminders. Connect the stories, see how it progresses and is connected to the next generation in the Bible while keeping the history and show how it still applies today.”
Allisha has a big job ahead of her as the youth is not her only responsibility. Allisha will also be working with college, singles, and adult education. But she’s having a ball. In the office “I was reading Genesis and feeling guilty for reading on the job, but then thought, ‘It’s okay. I’m doing my job!’” Already she spends more time in prepping activities and programs than she spends with the kids and adults, but all should fall into a rhythm as she settles into her role and responsibilities.
When she’s not working you may find her walking her daily three miles at the LCM high school track or at an LCM High School football or soccer game and if she ever decides to leave Orange, you may find her traveling the world or giving ski lessons in the Swiss Alps during her 5-year trek throughout Europe.
written by Jamia Harris and included in the November 10, 2010 FUMC newsletter.