Who We Are
It is the Promise of Pursue, that you are always the priority.
My name is Nya.
For me, the college process was stressful, scary, and I was amazed when I found myself actually walking the hallways of a college campus as a student.
My mother and I struggled to figure out how we would be able to afford the expense of a degree.
I had to force myself to overcome anxieties and insecurities when interviewing with college representatives, submitting essays, and meeting with college counselors who tried to help but were quick to imply that I would not be waltzing into an Ivy League school without any effort. Luckily for everyone, I did not intend to be a student at an Ivy - another level of stress far beyond my capacities.
The idea and my personal passion to act as a resource link truthfully arose after I had already graduated from Boston University, and flooded my life with the demands of my career.
My first work experience took place in the non-profit field. Within that realm, I managed and worked with a lot of young, high school age staff. Not only did I enjoy being able to work with such amazing and energetic people, but I learned that many of them are motivated, but without guidance suited to their personalities, goals, or abilities. Anyone can do anything. This does not mean that everyone wants to do everything, or will do things the same way.
It became apparent, through observation and conversation, that some students felt a gap between their goals and the resources they may not have even realized they needed to accomplish their goals.
More than that, sometimes we aren't even sure what it is that we truly want to do.
Some kids struggle with what they want to do after college, what kind of career they'd enjoy. The truth is, many high school students' thoughts are swirling around if and how they will even get to college. And even some know what they want to do, know that they want to go to college, and even how they'll get there. But, they require some structured support in navigating that route.
I began mentoring just a few students. Some required a timeline with tasks laid out and due dates attached. Some just wanted a few tips about the little things; what to wear to a college visit, how to navigate the FAFSA, when to submit certain documents, how to ask the right questions, or even narrow down the search. It felt like I had an obligation to be a resource when possible, because access and assistance is not uniform, even across the hallways of the same high school.
Had I not been privileged to have dedicated college counselors on staff at my high school, I likely would have floundered and been lost in the numerous tasks and requirements that come with applying to college.
What has been eye-opening for me, is the realization that had I not been privileged to have dedicated college counselors on staff at my high school, I likely would have floundered and been lost in the numerous tasks and requirements that come with applying to college. I needed help figuring out what to do, how and when to do it, and to confidently reach the end of the road with a banner waving "college education" placed at the end.
My goal for this program is to mentor students at any point in their journey to get from high school to the next phase of their lives. I intend to provide structural, informational, organizational, emotional, and practical support for every type of student and their family.