What are you up to now after service?

I’m currently working towards my associate degree in Business Administration and Economics at De Anza College in the South Bay Area, which I plan to complete this spring before transferring to a four-year university in the fall. As a Therapeutics Recreation Leader, I’m learning how to adapt to challenges that may arise in a fast-paced work and learning environment. I’m energized by the smiles and victories of the clients I serve, as they build a sense of community and independence through our programs.

What are your long-term career goals?

My dream job is to work as a project manager at an EdTech firm where I can execute educational initiatives that help address and mitigate learning disparities especially in elementary-aged students. I notice that oftentimes organizations have great ideas that offer real solutions, but struggle to transition those ideas into reality. I’d love to work with clients to make educational resources more accessible and equitable.

How has Youth Jobs Corps inspired your next steps in your career or education?

During my Youth Job Corps service, I worked with local elementary school districts to address learning recovery needs in K-8th grade students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In working to mitigate learning loss of struggling students, I saw firsthand how the current education system is not inclusive to different learning styles, and instead is structured to be more “one-size fits all,” which often works to the detriment of young students, especially those who missed out on core classroom experience during distance-learning. The challenges that come with accommodating every student’s educational needs helped me specify my professional goals in pursuing a career that will help me make education more equitable in an increasingly digital world.

What advice would you give to a current Youth Jobs Corps Member?

Take advantage of the Youth Job Corps network and resources! During my one year term with the Resilience Corps,* I found it most valuable to connect with other associates at different work sites who could relate to the challenges I faced when it came to classroom management and supporting my students. In building a support system that could advise and lend an empathetic ear, I was able to discover creative solutions to difficult tasks in the workplace.

Was there anything that surprised you about your service experience?

While working with the Resilience Corps, I held a second job as a tutor for a separate afterschool education program that mainly catered towards students already excelling academically. I began to see vast learning gaps among students in the same grade levels between my work with the Resilience Corps and the other organization. I realized that educational success was rooted not in individual learning styles but a student’s belief they can do well. What surprised me is the extent of the impact that my role had in these student’s lives, as we worked together to build a positive learning environment as confidence was fostered using the growth mindset, or the idea that skills are not fixed but actively improved through exercise. By igniting a love for learning, I helped my students learn that not only could they achieve, but excel. 

➡️ Be like Amelia and become a #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps Member! Learn more & apply.

➡️ Access resources available to you as a California Service Corps alum on the Alumni Network website.

*The Resilience Corps is a grantee of the #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps program.