Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Anjanel, Youth Leader from Make the Road New York
8:42:38
ยท
3 min
Anjanel, a senior at the Academy for Excellence in Leadership and a youth leader at a Student Success Center (SSC), testifies about the importance of SSCs in supporting students, particularly first-generation, immigrant, low-income, and students of color, in their college application process and career exploration. She emphasizes the transformative impact of SSCs on her personal and academic growth, and advocates for continued funding of $3.3 million to support SSCs across New York City.
- SSCs were created in 2007 after black and brown students designed and fought for them, now serving 16,000 students across 40 high schools.
- Anjanel's experience with the SSC has helped her explore her strengths, set meaningful goals, and gain confidence in pursuing her aspirations.
- She stresses the need for continued funding to ensure future students receive the same level of support she did, viewing it as an investment in the future of thousands of young people in New York City.
Anjanel
8:42:38
My name is Anjanel and I am a senior at the academy for excellence in leadership with make the world New York and a youth leader at our student success center.
8:42:49
As a youth leader, I help seniors apply for college and discover their career options.
8:42:56
Our student success center in Bushwick was the first to open in the city in 02/2007 after black and brown students designed it and fought for it since the city was not providing their schools with the resources and support needed to go to college.
8:43:15
There was there are now SSCs at close to 40 high schools across the city, helping more than 16,000 students figure out their future.
8:43:25
SSCs help support first generation college students, immigrant students, low income students, and students of color who for years have not gotten the support they need and deserve from the city to support them on the path to college.
8:43:41
The student success center has been transformative and crucial to my personal and academic growth.
8:43:48
I discovered the SSC in 02/2023 and fell in love with the help they offered to my peers applying to CUNY, SUNY, FAFSA and more as well as how organized they were with their peers information.
8:44:04
Now I get to be part of the experience by attending training to educate myself and how to help my peers and myself.
8:44:13
It has provided me with a unique opportunity to explore my strengths and interests in ways I never anticipated.
8:44:21
Through various workshop discussions and one on one mentor mentoring sessions, I gained valuable insights in my future and uncovered new dimensions of my potential.
8:44:37
Before discovering the center, I often felt uncertain about my path and overwhelmed by my choices.
8:44:45
However, the supportive environment created by caring mentors and engaged peers has made all the difference.
8:44:53
They invested their time and energy in my success fostering a sense of belonging that ignited my aspiration.
8:45:01
With their encouragement, I began to set meaningful goals and most importantly, developed the confidence to pursue them.
8:45:09
After graduation, I planned to attend college and study nursing at CUNY.
8:45:15
The nurturing atmosphere of the center allow me to dig deep into my academic career interests and push beyond my perceived limits.
8:45:26
I explore new opportunities that I have never considered myself before and as I faced challenges I learned to approach them with resilience.
8:45:36
The SSCs became an essential space for me where my aspirations were nurtured, where I cultivated my dreams and where I was empowered to strive for excellence.
8:45:47
This journey has shaped my future and equipped me with the desire to contribute positively to my community, aspiring others to pursue their goals just as I have.
8:45:59
If we no longer have fundings for the SSCs, my peers will not have the same support I received with my secondary process.
8:46:08
We need the city to commit 3,300,000.0 this year to support student success center across the city.
8:46:15
By investing in this center, you are investing in the future of thousands of young people throughout New York City.
8:46:24
Our schools and communities deserve the same transformative experience I had as a student and a youth leader for years to come.
8:46:33
Thank you.