Experiencing a Breakthrough summer is like nothing else. Nothing can quite prepare you for cheering every morning in front of groggy middle schoolers and chasing the bus when students leave each day.
I’ve lived in Queens, New York for 14 years. I volunteered with Reading Partners in my freshman year of college. Fast forward three years later, and I have had the wonderful opportunity to engage with the organization in South Jamaica, Queens. My work as a FAO Schwarz Fellow in the community engagement team includes recruiting volunteers and seeking partnerships in the community of South Jamaica. We currently partner with three public elementary schools where I tutor and actively connect with local civic and faith-based organizations to bring tutors to the reading centers.
When you were in school, did you feel like your voice mattered? At what age did it feel like
adults took you seriously? Were you allowed to move freely or make decisions for yourself? Did
you have input in the decisions that affected you most?
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Since finishing my two-year FAO Schwarz Fellowship in August 2017, I have stayed on at Riverkeeper continuing in my role as Outreach Coordinator. While in this position over the last four years, I’ve organized our annual day of service each year called the Riverkeeper Sweep.
During the last few months of senior year, I made sure to internalize and grow comfortable with the fact that my first job out of college would neither be perfect nor easy. Regardless of what might come next, I knew this next chapter would require a transition out of the lifestyle I’d enjoyed for the past 16 years as a student, and I wanted to give myself grace with that thought in mind. READ MORE
At 24 years old, I am running for City Councilor At-Large in my hometown of Marlborough, Massachusetts. If someone had told me two years ago that I would be running for office now, I would not have believed them. READ MORE
Time really flies. I remember being so nervous when I started my role at Jumpstart. My office building looked intimidating – I never worked in a place with so many floors.READ MORE
Recess is a time of day that shapes the lives of kids. Do you remember recess when you were growing up? I’m sure you do! You either loved it because you were able to play sports and games, run around and scream, or you disliked it because it was a time where you felt left out, isolated, or bullied.READ MORE
My mother was very on top of my college application and financial aid processes. I didn’t have to do much more than log into my student portal and accept my financial aid package each year. READ MORE