The Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria Class of 2013 ● Manhattan College Class of 2017, Hunter College Class of 2019 ● Alumni and College Success Manager
When I was in high school, I felt very comfortable reaching out to my director of college counseling for support and rarely felt lost during the application process. One of my favorite memories of senior year was a big group of us completing applications in his very small office after school. We would spend hours sitting on the floor and writing essays. After graduating from TYWLS Astoria, I attended Manhattan College Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP).
It wasn’t until high school where I felt like I was finally understanding things. I finally felt smart!…on my first day at TYWLS, I didn’t see college in my future.
Now, I’m a college counselor.
I knew I wasn’t done with school during my senior year of college. I felt like I was finally learning things that I really enjoyed learning, and I did not want it to end there, so I applied to grad school. After getting my Bachelors in Psychology, I went to Hunter College to earn my Master’s in School Counseling.
Besides it sounding VERY cool to say I have two degrees, I was able to grow on the path to higher education in ways I didn’t think were possible. My educational journey wasn’t always easy – it certainly didn’t start off well. Early on in school, I felt like the material did not stick with me. It wasn’t until high school where I felt like I was finally understanding things. I finally felt smart! In college, that feeling grew and by the time I got to grad school, learning didn’t feel like a struggle anymore. I always say this, but on my first day at TYWLS, I didn’t see college in my future. Now, I’m a college counselor.
Once I graduated, I started working at Row New York (RNY) and am now the Alumni and College Success Manager. Being a student of a non-profit allows me to relate to my students in a different way than other staff. I am currently working on expanding Row New York’s college and alumni program with inspiration from my time at CBI.