180 Volunteers, Endless Possibilities: How Real Career Stories Expand Student Aspirations

Speaking with volunteers from a variety of industries is one of the most engaging ways for students to connect what they learn in classrooms to specific jobs and careers. Student Leadership Network’s flagship volunteer initiative, Cool Careers Potential Paths (Cool Careers), facilitated early career exploration and meaningful connections between students from The Young Women’s Leadership Schools (TYWLS) and 180 industry professionals this year. Thank you to both new and returning volunteers for sharing their time and expertise with our students!

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  • A group of thirteen people poses indoors in front of bleachers; three hold signs that read Student Leadership Network, CollegeBound Initiative, Apollo.
    Volunteers from Apollo at TYWLS Manhattan
  • A volunteer stands at the front of a classroom speaking to students about early career exploration; several students have their hands raised.
    Cool Careers at TYWLS Astoria
  • Two women and a student are seated in folding chairs at an indoor event greet each other, with one reaching out for a handshake
    Students practice self-introductions with volunteers
  • A diverse group of people pose together in a classroom, some standing and some seated, with banners and a presentation screen in the background.
    Volunteers at Cool Careers in TYWLS Queens
  • Two women stand together smiling in front of a Young Women’s Leadership School of Staten Island backdrop; one holds a sign with a red heart and Nicotra Group logo
    Volunteers from The Nicotra Group share about real estate roles and community initiatives
  • Three people sit at a table talking and looking at documents, with more groups seated and conversing at other tables in the background.
    Volunteers share career advice with students at TYWLS Brooklyn
  • Four young women stand together smiling, two holding signs for NYU Langone Health and Paylocity, in front of a Student Leadership Network banner.
    Volunteers from NYU Langone Health and Paylocity

Early Career Exploration Features Many Paths to Success

Interests and fields of study in school often help individuals get started in a job or early in their careers, yet changes to career paths are also very common. Volunteers who work in finance, law, the arts, healthcare, community organizing, and many other fields shared their experiences that led to their current roles. “When thinking about a career, think about things that you enjoy doing, because you’ll be spending a lot of time at your job,” advised one volunteer. They also shared company perks such as wellness stipends, on-site gyms, and, for one volunteer, “I work for Disney, so I get to go to the parks for free!”

Students heard from volunteers who didn’t know what they wanted to do in high school or college, which was reassuring for those still unsure of their future direction. One volunteer shared that she studied psychology, worked as a stenographer, and now works in television and film. Her advice to the students she spoke with: “Try everything. You don’t have to feel stuck on one path. You don’t have to feel rushed and can find ways to get different forms of education later in life.”

Watch now: Naysa, a volunteer and TYWLS alumna, shares about her path from an HBCU to law school

Cool Careers also provides students with opportunities to learn about colleges and other educational options beyond those they are familiar with. This early exposure was especially noticeable among the younger grades. Naysa, an alumna of TYWLS Queens and a graduate of a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), found that some students were most interested in how she chose her college. “Some of them didn’t know what an HBCU was, and I remember being in middle school when I had only known about public CUNYs or the Ivy League colleges,” she shared. “I had the pleasure of telling them about my Howard University experiences and showing them an opportunity that was different from what they can find here.”

Gratitude for Our Volunteers

Our dedicated volunteers make early career exploration possible for our students! Thank you to all of the individuals who invested their time in our students, and a special shout-out to the teams that volunteered from some of the following organizations:

  • AMH Advisors LLC
  • Apollo Global Management
  • Arts Ignite
  • Citi
  • Deutsche Bank
  • Ernst & Young
  • The Estée Lauder Companies
  • FourLeaf FCU
  • The Hewitt School
  • KITH Kinnect
  • Legal Aid Society
  • Morgan Stanley
  • The Nicotra Group
  • NYADI The College of Transportation Technology
  • NYPD
  • NYU Langone Health
  • Paylocity
  • PepsiCo
  • RBC
  • Ridgewood Bank
  • Warburg Pincus

Our appreciation extends to the schools’ staff and student ambassadors for welcoming our guests, and to the Student Leadership Network Girls’+ Education and Development teams for facilitating career awareness programs year-round. Thank you all for making early career exploration possible for the students!

Photo Gallery

  • Students and adults sit around tables engaged in group discussions on early career exploration for Cool Careers Potential Paths
  • A group of students and adults pose indoors in front of a screen displaying Cool Careers, Potential Paths. Some hold a sign with a heart and the word Kindness.
  • A woman in a gray blazer sits at a table, speaking and gesturing with her hand, while others listen in a classroom setting.
  • A group of women and girls pose together in a classroom, with college banners on the walls and a presentation screen in the background.
  • Two women stand at the front of a classroom speaking to students seated at desks. Lockers line the back wall, and a large screen with charts is visible on the left.
  • A group of seven people stands in a classroom in front of college pennants and a bulletin board, posing for a photo.
  • Six people pose indoors at a Student Leadership Network event, with three holding a sign that reads I ♥ APOLLO.
  • A group of adults and teens pose together in front of a branded backdrop in a hallway, smiling at the camera.
  • A group of students and adults pose together in a classroom near a Student Leadership Network banner. Most are wearing school uniforms.
  • A group of students and adults pose indoors in front of a projector screen and a Student Leadership Network banner. Some are seated, while others stand behind them.
  • Three women stand together in a gymnasium, each holding a program booklet and wearing name tags, posing for a photo at an indoor event.
  • Two women stand at the front of a classroom speaking to students seated at desks, with educational posters and lockers visible in the background.

Get Involved

Interested in volunteering with Student Leadership Network’s early career exploration programs? Join our mailing list to get updates when Cool Careers, Potential Paths returns in the next school year! You can also visit our Events page for other opportunities to get involved.

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