LP shines this month's Alumni Spotlight onJaime Reyes,an alum of the Silver Spring program in Montgomery County, MD.
Jaime is a 2015 graduate of the University of Maryland and received his Bachelor's in International Business and Finance. He currently works as a Global Business Process Specialist for Roche in San Jose, Costa Rica, where he designs and oversees the implementation of financial processes for the company's Americas region.
We spoke to Jaime about his journey and here is what he had to say:
“I was born in El Salvador and came to the U.S. at 13 years of age. My parents immigrated because they wanted a better education for my siblings and me. Upon arrival in the United States, I went straight into high school without speaking English. I was put in ELL (English Language Learner) classes and I was determined to complete those classes in order to move on to more challenging courses. Through persistence and determination, I made it to honors English classes and even made it to the National Honor Society.
I heard about Liberty's Promise from Sarah Sherhols when she came to present at my high school. I was immediately intrigued when she mentioned the possibility to learn about civil rights, government, civic life, and the structure of the United States. I have always loved learning about different topics and LP provided a safe space where I was introduced to a whole array of different subjects. They always shared a different topic to learn about and it was outside of the traditional way of learning: it was through trips, talks, conversations, and answering questions, which was very engaging to me and kept me coming.
LP was an extra resource, they taught me more about higher education, and afforded me the opportunity to ask questions and ask for support. I still remember to this day, when I was nominated by LP for the POSSE Scholarship and how they helped me through the application process. Although in the end, I didn’t get the scholarship, I did make it all the way to the finals. LP accompanied me to all the interviews and helped me to prepare. LP was a tremendous support, it made me believe it was possible to get a higher education and I thank them for believing in me. It was a beautiful experience that, to this day, I still talk about, because as mentioned before, I was not fluent in English at that time in my life. Probably, I wasn’t ready for that scholarship, I was competing with the best students in the DMV area, however, making it to the finals was a huge accomplishment for me!
My first internship was also thanks to LP. They helped me to connect with ”CASA de Maryland” where my career in finance started. This is what I remember the most about LP, if you ask for help they will help you connect with other organizations in the community.
My advice to younger alumni is to ask for help, there is always someone out there that is willing to help as long as we are willing to accept and apply for the help. Remember, help comes in many forms. It may be by talking to someone, asking questions, or reaching out to organizations such as LP. Also, please remember that you are on a journey and life will take you to many different places. Dream as big as you can, work as hard as you need to and also persevere with grit and determination in order to achieve your dreams. These all go hand in hand!
I came from El Salvador, worked hard to get a good education and now I enjoy an international career in finance working for a major pharmaceutical company. This has enabled me the opportunity to help my family and my parents for everything they did for me, travel the world, meet new people, and learn about different cultures and local customs, all while doing a meaningful job that I truly enjoy.”
Opportunities and Scholarships
Montgomery College GED Prep Fall Classes are starting the last week of August.
Northwood High School Program Officer & Youth Wellness Specialist
We are seeking an energetic and native Spanish speaker as a Program Officer and Wellness Center Case Manager for our two after-school programs at Northwood High School: Civic Engagement for Beginning English Language Learners (CE-BELL) and Civics and Citizenship.
Click here to learn more information and to apply - please email a resume, cover letter, and three references by August 8th.
Program Officer (Spanish Language)
We are currently seeking an energetic and dedicated full-time Program Officer to run after-school programs of civic engagement in Wheaton and Quince Orchard High Schools in Montgomery County, MD.
The Program Officer is responsible for the implementation of two programs. Applicants must speak fluent Spanish.
Click here to learn more information and to apply - please email a resume, cover letter, and three references by August 8th.
