We are so happy to share Tiasia's blog post this week!  Tiasia is a Philly native who comes to us by way of Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she majored in Sociology. We loved reading her reflections on transitioning from her previous job with Americorps to her position as a Fellow, and we hope you love it too!

As I near the end of my program, I think back to the ways in which my Fellow’s year has benefited me. More people should know about 12 PLUS and what it offers Fellows, as well as students. After doing a service year with Americorps, I wasn't sure if I was made the right decision by not returning. I was in search of an opportunity that would allow me to make a greater impact on the Philadelphia educational landscape than I had my previous year as a Junior High School Coach. After completing a long interview process, I had been offered a position to become a College Coach. As a College Coach, my caseload would increase tremendously, giving me an opportunity to touch point with many more students via phone and video calls. While preparing for my upcoming role, I reflected on what went well in my first year of service. What I enjoyed most about my role was working with students.

I really enjoyed showing the Juniors how to build their first resumes and how to map out their college pathways. I even enjoyed facilitating writing labs. It was the one-on-one check-ins that allowed the relationships between my students and I to thrive. Then it hit me- it wasn't that I connected with as many students as I did that made me feel successful, but rather the way I connected with them. If I wanted to reach more people like me, it was best that I stick to the face-to-face interactions that I too preferred. I was not only interested in the outcomes of students in our program pursuing four-year universities, but for students interested in all pathways. That was the last sign I needed to rethink my decision to return. I turned down the position and began to explore opportunities that would give me a better perspective of what Philadelphia High School students in all grades were doing to prepare for their postsecondary goals. I’m not sure if I believe in fate, but that very same day, I was presented with an opportunity from 12 PLUS to be a Fellow and continue working within a high school every day, gaining direct access to students in every grade level.

Tiasia and the KHSA team celebrate a successful freshmen RAISE workshop!

I appreciate 12 PLUS for its highly personal approach to learning. Working in the PLUS Center allows for the more frequent one-on-one check-ins that I wanted in my old position. If I can change a box in our spreadsheets from red to green, my day has been made. Green boxes in the tracker symbolize completed milestones such as completing the FAFSA or a program application. It’s about having empathy and support for every student, regardless of what direction they are headed. There are three staff members in the PLUS Center who come from a variety of different backgrounds. I believe this gives us an advantage in reaching every type of student that Kensington Health Sciences Academy has to offer. Almost any student can find solace in one of the three distinct personalities. This year I have learned that some of our most brilliant young leaders do not feel as though their greatest talents can be served in a college setting, so they seek other avenues to success. I love working with these students to explore the ways their interests translate into careers pathways because it is important that we continue to support all students and provide platforms for each of them to flourish.

It has been rewarding to be able to help foster safe spaces where everyone who enters the room is just free to be. There is not a single doubt in my mind that I made the right decision by choosing to work for 12 PLUS. I learned different segments of the education and nonprofit sectors that will help me to best prepare for my next steps. From planning networking events to facilitating professional development trainings, this experience has given me the opportunity to think critically about my goals and strengths. The 12 PLUS fellows initiative is a rewarding opportunity because whether you are a student or a Fellow, 12 PLUS staff will go the distance to help you find your way.

Today we welcome back Danielle on the blog as she shares with us about her personal preferred presentation style. Danielle is a Fellow at Penn Treaty and continuously uses her light-hearted nature to cheer up students and staff on a daily basis. 

One of the most crucial lessons that I’ve learned through being a 12+ Fellow is to never underestimate the power of being silly. Whenever I’m up at the front of a room, presenting on very specific grammar rules from the SAT, I’m almost always panicking, trying to internally answer questions that haven’t even been asked yet in my head. It’s much more fun and gratifying to just be as dorky as possible and get a reaction, and when you’re talking about subordinating conjunctions and order of operations, any sense of a reaction is a win. Even if students are laughing at me instead of with me, at least they’re paying enough attention to what I’m saying to pick up on how ridiculous my mannerisms can be. Even if they’re scoffing at the corniness and how over the top some of the delivery is, they’re still receiving the content and getting the pertinent information. Even if some students roll their eyes whenever the Jeopardy “Think” music comes on, at least it centers the focus on the practice SAT questions that we’re giving them.

Developing the repertoire of a cheesy Fellow happened almost accidentally because I’m a cheesy dork by nature. This reputation continues to grow as my fellow Penn Treaty 12+ staff and I progressively get wackier and wackier with the students and with each other. From this wackiness, learning and friendships have seemed to flourish. At this point, it’s fun to just run with it and have an irrevocable sense of pride in being corny. Honestly, the SAT is not thrilling. It’s daunting and long, but being able to throw some pizazz and puns in there has gotten students engaged. Additionally, and maybe selfishly, this has made the entire process far less terrifying for me. There’s a lot of pressure surrounding the SAT, and to alleviate some of that pressure associated with preparing for it by presenting it in a more casual and enjoyable way has seemed to have an overall positive impact on sentiments for studying and the SAT in general. Again, never underestimate the profound impact of a smile, even if it’s actually just a pity smile at your awful pun.

The most lovely part of this dynamic is when some of the more outgoing, wacky students give the over-the-top cheesiness right back to you, and it feels like I’m cracking ridiculous, senseless jokes with my friends instead of working. We joke about the Eagles, we joke about agriculture (for reference, this is done in a similar vein to saying “in this economy?”), and conversations with certain students during lunch time are completely comprised of sarcastic sassiness. Each new day at Penn Treaty makes me feel so grateful to have a job where I have the opportunity to work with students who radiate joy and laughter. Even on days where it feels like there are endless workshops to get through and that students are clearly tired, if I throw some silly at them, they’ll perk up and my day instantly gets brighter.

Amazing results can grow from making somebody laugh, even if it’s just a student laughing to another student about how corny a joke was. “Miss, you’re corny” or “Miss, you guys are crazy” are two comments that light up my life instead of breaking me down. It’s been incredible to develop long-standing jokes and bits with students after being a Fellow at Penn Treaty for the last five months. The students of Penn Treaty have so much personality and spark, and it’s been beautiful to experience this in new, merry ways. Standing in front of a room and intentionally making a fool out of yourself is not an easy thing to do, but I’m thankful that we do it anyway. It’s made the hecticness of SAT workshop season be more of an enjoyment than a chore, and it has seemed to do the same for the students each week. If you can add an element of silly to the serious, it makes it all the more enjoyable. If you can make someone laugh, it can make even the most tedious tasks and difficult concepts feel like you’re having fun with your friends.

This week in our Life of a Fellow series, we are so happy to introduce Ingrid Molinares, one of our new Kensington Health Sciences Academy Fellows. She has a BA in Communications: West Chester University and will graduate this December with a Masters in Administration of Human Services from Chestnut Hill College. This week we hear her reflections on her own career path. 

I used to be haunted by one seemingly simple question: What do you do for a living?

 With no exaggeration, these seven little words caused me great anxiety. I never looked forward to meeting new people solely to avoid answering this often problematic question. To clarify, I was not embarrassed or ashamed by my answer—  “I work in early childhood education”. I was, however, bothered by the fact that I never felt like I was doing what I was supposed to be doing.

Last year I left my office job and comfort zone. I decided to take a leap and wholeheartedly follow my professional pursuits, which, if I am being honest, for a long time I was scared to embrace. I have always known that my heart lies in education equity. As a first generation college student, I understand the power of an education. I know it is one of the few things in life that cannot be taken away from an individual. But what if a student was never given the chance at an education in the first place? It is important for everyone to have the opportunity to achieve an education. 

I have been unbelievably fortunate to be allowed the opportunity to work as a Fellow for 12 PLUS giving students access to post-secondary education. This position puts me right in the middle of a field I always wanted to be a part of and it has given me direct access to students. Recently in a conversation with a former Fellow I was reminded to take in every moment of this year because regardless of where my path leads me, I will never have an experience quite like this again. Admittedly I will say this conversation saddened me but it also helped put things into perspective. Every time one of my students asks me to help them with a college application or for assistance with a school project, I get to play a small part of a much larger picture. I have been trusted to help guide them, given a special invitation into their lives, to listen to their life stories. I am humbled to be apart of this entire process.

The question that once was the vain of my existence, the simple yet complex question about what I do for a living, does not haunt me anymore. I have the most phenomenal students to attribute that to. They have given me confidence. My hope is that I have been able to help them as much as they have helped me. I am exactly where I need to be.