Jayln's Story
I was in 12th grade when a couple of my friends started talking about WIOA and the Work, Learn & Grow (WLG) Youth Employment Program during lunch. They said it would help us get ready for college, and I thought that sounded pretty cool. We all went to the office, and I signed up without really knowing exactly what it was.
As time went on, Ms. London, the WIOA program director, and Ms. Roberta, WIOA case manager and college advisor, explained more about the program. Ms. Roberta and I connected because she was also a youth leader at my church. She told me how WIOA would help prepare me for college by teaching skills such as time management, balancing academics and social life, and understanding how to succeed in college and still have fun.
Over the next year, WIOA helped me with all those things. The last year of high school can be a rough road, and the team helped make the way lighter with one-on-one sessions where we would sit down and work on practical but complicated tasks, like the financial aid process and updating our resumes.
WIOA also gave us opportunities to build our resumes in the first place through its internship component. I had the most amazing internship experience. I was researching what I could do for my internship, and next thing you know, I’m interning through the City Council with then-Speaker Adrienne Adams’ office. It was phenomenal—and it happened because WIOA gave me the confidence to speak up and take steps toward my goals. I knew the Speaker’s Chief of Staff, Ty Hankerson (who now serves as Council Member), because we grew up in the same community. I took the initiative and asked if his office could become a worksite for our WIOA program. He said, “We would love to.” I applied for the internship and got the position.
As an office intern, I was given a City Council email account and had the opportunity to send and receive emails, make phone calls, sit in on meetings, and learn how local government operates. One of the greatest privileges was being the youngest person in some very important rooms. For example, when Speaker Adams was sworn in for her final term as Speaker of the City Council, I was honored to be there. It was incredible to witness firsthand how the City Council serves communities and supports its districts.
I also had the opportunity to participate in National Night Out, an event that brings together community members, nonprofits, and local organizations. I visited sites throughout the district with people from many different backgrounds and cultures celebrating together. It was moving to witness that sense of unity and community. The internship was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Looking back, one of the most impactful parts of WIOA was the critical-thinking exercises, which were a great challenge—both in intensity and importance. During workshops, we worked through real-life scenarios that college students often face and discussed how we would handle them. Those conversations helped me think differently and prepared me for situations I would eventually encounter.
As a 12th grader going into college, the weight of that last year before adulthood carries with it a lot of stress and anxiety. The WIOA team supported me through that transition. Some of my favorite memories were the moments when we shared our college acceptance letters with the team and they all congratulated us.
I always had a heart for teaching and mentorship, and the WIOA team showed me by example just how meaningful that work can be. After high school, I studied secondary education and social studies at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). While there, I was a peer mentor through the Hispanic Federation. The program supports first-year college students and students new to the country. We met one-on-one to discuss academics, connect students with professors, and make sure they had the support they needed. We also organized “Friday Fun Days,” when we took trips off campus to help students maintain a healthy balance between college life and social life.
College is not easy. But when you have the right people around you, they can help push you forward. That is exactly what the WIOA team did for me, and I am grateful that I now can do the same for others.
Things are good now, but I didn’t always know it would all turn out all right. Elementary and middle school were great but challenging for me. Growing up with an IEP and having a speech impediment affected my self-esteem. In middle school, it got to the point where people wouldn’t understand what I was saying. Today, I not only overcame my speech impediment—I serve as a motivational speaker. My journey was possible because of people in my life who believed in me, connected with me, and encouraged me to take that next step toward confidence. I am grateful to them, and to God, for helping me understand my calling in the way of knowing what I'm on this earth to be and do.
I’m now attending Queens College to complete my bachelor’s degree, and I also serve as a program aide for The Child Center’s WLG and Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) at Campus Magnet. I started as a seasonal program aide last summer and fell in love with being in the classroom with students. The experience confirmed for me that I am meant to be an educator. Toward the end of that summer, Program Coordinator Kia Stephens and Program Director Brittany Daley noticed how well I connected with the students. I told them I was looking for future employment, and a week later, Miss Brittany and Miss Kia called me back for the permanent program aide position.
That experience cemented my passion for education. The students at Campus Magnet are amazing. The way they think and how they maneuver through life make me confident that they are going to change the world one day. I’m honored to be their “Mr. Jayln.”
It's truly heartwarming to be in workshop and a student says, “Hey, Mr. J, can I talk to you?” Because I was once a participant myself and am part of their generation, many of them feel comfortable opening up to me.
Many young people today are searching for three things: transparency, truth, and trust. I do my best to support those three pillars so that students feel safe to talk and work toward being the best version of themselves.
I am a person who lives by quotes. One of my favorites is actually something I came up with myself: “Without a vision, you’re going to lose direction.”
The vision I try to keep in mind for my own life is becoming the greatest connector I can be. I find my vision and my purpose by connecting with young people to the point where they can say, “I can do this as well. I can reach my goals and dreams.”
