January Alumni Spotlight: Charlotte Gueye, (Alexandria City High School)
LP shines this month’s Alumni Spotlight on Charlotte Gueye, an alum of our program at T.C. Williams High School, now known as Alexandria City High School.
Charlotte graduated from high school in 2012, and continued her education at George Mason University, where she studied International Relations. In 2019, she completed her master’s degree in Sustainability Management at Columbia University. Charlotte works in corporate sustainability and responsibility in New York City.
Charlotte’s Journey:
“I moved to the U.S. from Senegal at age 13, in 2008. I arrived as a freshman, so I completed all of my high school education here in the States. At the time, I only knew very basic English, but I think at that age, the process of learning does not take long. It took me about a year to become almost fluent in English.
What I remember most about Liberty’s Promise are the opportunities we had to go outside of the school environment. Not being fully independent yet, but having that independence for a couple of hours. My favorite memory was taking a bus trip to New York City. I especially remember visiting the financial district. And now I live and work here like I always thought I would! I am still in touch with some friends from the program today, and we often reminisce about those formative experiences.
As a young recent immigrant, Liberty’s Promise gave me opportunities to bond with my peers and prepare for my future. I remember studying for the US citizenship test at one of the sessions. I did not take the test until many years later but those study sessions definitely helped!”
During her time at George Mason University, Charlotte served as a peer advisor for the exchange program at the South Korea campus. She loved it so much that she decided to stay for a second semester as a student. Having her first job in Korea was a formative experience that helped pave the way for her career path. Now, Charlotte works in ESG, assessing companies’ responsibility and impact on the people and environments they serve.
“My advice to current students is to invest in your future. Just a few years of hard work can take you to a completely different place. Stay focused during your school years, and you will be free to pursue whatever you want, depending on the effort you put in. However, don’t put so much pressure on yourself that you forget to take care of your quality of life. Balance is key.”
Thank you, Charlotte, for sharing your inspiring journey and demonstrating the incredible opportunities that determination and hard work can bring. Your story is a testament to the transformative power of education and community support. From navigating a new language and culture, excelling in academia, to now making a significant impact in sustainability, you embody resilience and leadership.
As we celebrate Charlotte’s achievements, let us be reminded how valuable the impact of investing in our youth and supporting their dreams can be. Together, we can continue to nurture the leaders of tomorrow!
As always, we are very grateful to our community for your ongoing support. Donate today to help us continue empowering youth to achieve their full potential.