Student Q&A Series: Amanda, student at South Bronx Community Charter High School

Right now, so many teens are facing intense pressure to succeed, balancing high school classes while trying to figure out their entire future. It is stressful, exhausting, and filled with self-doubt. That is why I created this interview series. We are sitting down with students and teachers to get real about job stress, building true confidence, and finding your path. I want to show the hard truths of figuring out a career while you are still in school, and remind you that you don't have to navigate it alone. The first interview features Amanda, a South Bronx Community Charter High School student. - Luvany, STC intern

What career-related experiences or lessons have you enjoyed here at school? How do you feel about career readiness at this school?

Learning about colleges, training schools, and other majors. Mostly just learning about what will happen in the future. I feel like it's really going to help us, because the amount of stuff we're learning is literally for our future.

What is one hands-on skill you've learned that can help you with getting a job later on?

I've been in SYEP (Summer Youth Employment Program) for two years now, and what I've chosen is respect, because I feel like honestly SYEP helps us with discipline, teamwork, and confidence, and this will teach you more respect, and collaboration. It really did help us.

What is one one thing you wish people knew about how hard young people work and/or students work to figure out their careers while they're still in school?

Honestly, finding out where you really want to be when you grow up, because I feel like some students, or anybody, struggle to figure out what they really want to be and what they want to do. But you really just have to find your passion and really figure out what you really want to do.