When we were younger, we knew our future jobs would be related to changing and fixing the world. Whether it was becoming a doctor, teacher, airline pilot, or even a chef, we knew change was a must! As College and Career Ambassadors, our mission is to find a path for our students for their future, but who is helping us figure out our future?

When we first started college, a lot of us went in with a plan about our future and where we’d end up, but once we got closer to graduation day, those plans changed. As AmeriCorps members, we know that we only have one full year of employment, and then it will be time to make a new decision. So while some of our students want to be nurses, plastic surgeons, and civil engineers, we thought it would be a good time to tell you the story of what we all want to be.

We sat and interviewed the CCAs at Sayre High School, as well as Alex, their Site Supervisor, to find out what their plans are after Promise Corps.

Dee Dee:

• What you will be doing after Promise Corps: I will be pursuing my Master’s Degree at Harvard University in Public Health.
• What do you want to be in the future: A scientist because I want to look at the relationship between the biology of illnesses and the lived experiences of those who are not getting the care they need.

Anna:

• What you want to do after Promise Corps: This summer, I will be facilitating career exploration workshops for middle schools students with the South Philly Prevention Coalition at Furness High School.
• What do you want to be in the future: I’m not sure yet, I just know that I am living in the right now.

Sam:

• What you will be doing after Promise Corps: In the summer, I will be working with Upward Bound. After that I will be producing music and studying for the MCAT.
• What do you want to be in the future: I want to do something that is helping other people.

Shakeira:

• What you will be doing after Promise Corps: In the summer I will be working as a Program Facilitator for Education Works at Harding Middle School, as well as working for the Youth Aid Panel. I will also be achieving my Master’s Degree at Widener University in Criminal Justice.
• What do you want to be in the future: I want to do something dealing with juveniles. Maybe youth advocacy or something in Juvenile Law.

Alex:

• What you will be doing after Promise Corps: Similar work to what I do now (Site Supervisor). Either managing education programing or doing something with community development work.
• What do you want to be in the future: Running service learning, community center, or educational programs.

Many of us, after experiencing setbacks and failures, emotionally give up and stop trying. As humans, we believe that because we were unsuccessful in the past, we will always be unsuccessful. But as AmeriCorps members, we take the time to step back and realize what we can do to push ourselves to be successful in the end. From the wise words of our Sayre students, “We don’t fold, we stand 10 toes.”