Mentorship in Action: How an Internship Connection Helped Shape a Student’s Path to College
Lizbeth F. has spent her time at The Young Women’s Leadership School (TYWLS) of Manhattan turning curiosity into real-world impact. Beyond the classroom, she has shown up for her community as Co-Chair of her school’s Latinx Student Union, studied microplastics in the Hudson River, and led initiatives to deliver hygiene products to incarcerated individuals through the Riley’s Way Foundation. With a unique blend of scientific thinking, marketing savvy, and a commitment to social justice, Lizbeth is building the foundation for success at Wesleyan University and beyond!
Public Education for Girls+
What was it like attending a public girls’+ school in New York City?
It was a privilege to attend a public girls’+ school, and honestly, not one I fully appreciated until college. When I tell people here that I went to a girls’+ school, they automatically assume it was a private school. TYWLS, being a public school, is a unique opportunity for students in NYC.
How did TYWLS shape your growth?
The school places a strong emphasis on empowering girls+, and that runs through everything we do. Many of the extracurriculars they offered us, like coding or science programs, are designed specifically for girls+. And how we learn about world issues connects to our own lives. The bond between students is really strong, and we treat each other with kindness.
A Summer Internship’s Influence on Her College Major
How did you get connected to The Estée Lauder Companies?
The connection happened through their partnership with Student Leadership Network. I started with a Clinique mentorship program at TYWLS, which included six weeks of resume building, interview practice, virtual calls with Clinique employees, and a one-on-one mentor. My mentor even helped me edit my resume for college applications. Afterward, I applied to a summer internship with The Estée Lauder Companies, where they selected only three students. Getting to learn at a woman-founded company was a meaningful experience, and it got me thinking about majoring in business or economics.
What does a typical day look like in your summer internship?
The connections I built in those six weeks felt so genuine. I was assigned to the Global Product Marketing team at La Mer, a luxury skincare brand. My manager kept her calendar open to me and regularly invited me to join her Zoom meetings to see what happens behind the scenes at a major beauty company. Sometimes she even trusted me to attend when she couldn’t and to share notes back with her.
The team actively sought my input, especially on Gen Z perspectives on both new and legacy products. My final project was to produce a peer competitor analysis. Presenting my findings to the team taught me a lot about communicating research to a real audience, and I’m really proud of the experience!
Accelerated Timeline for Scholarship Applications
Who guided you through the college application process?
My director of college counseling (DCC) at TYWLS, Ms. Figz, was really knowledgeable. She prepared me to ask better questions and to practice my self-presentation when meeting with admissions officers who visited our school or when we attended college fairs. Her guidance made me become more comfortable talking with adults.
She had her own scholarship timeline, with internal deadlines earlier than the official ones. It was a fast-paced few weeks, but it gave us students time to get feedback from her, our teachers, and our families before anything was submitted. The time crunch was worth it.
Tell us more about your QuestBridge Scholarship!
Matching with Wesleyan University through QuestBridge and receiving a full-ride scholarship to my top college choice was one of the best moments of the whole process! My older siblings had lived in dorms, so my mom was already used to the idea of her kids going away to school. I was ready to have my own space, decorate my room however I wanted, and build my own routines. Sometimes that means staying up past midnight, which isn’t really an option at home, but it is in college when you need it.
Adjusting to College
How was the transition to college courses?
It was difficult, and I think it’s important to be honest about that. Coming from a school with smaller class sizes and a lot of teacher attention, college-level courses were an adjustment. For example, I did well in calculus in high school, earning As, but college covers the same subject at a higher level of difficulty and at a faster pace. Some classes are held in large lecture halls with over 100 students, and you don’t get much individual attention.
What did you do to get back on track?
I learned to go to office hours and lean on teaching assistants (TAs) to catch up. I went to every TA session available. I had to make peace with the fact that I won’t always get an A. What matters more than the grade is that I learned from the process and took steps to improve.
What would you tell a high school student who’s stressed about where they end up?
Whatever program or college you get into, even if it wasn’t your top choice, it can still be a great match. Rejection is part of life sometimes. You don’t know yet who you’ll meet or what kind of community you’ll build. So enjoy your senior year, and go to the school events, including the parties. Trust that you’ll make the right decision for yourself.
