Alumni Highlights

This month’s Alumni Spotlight shines on Justin Prasai, a Civics and Citizenship alum from John F. Kennedy High School in Montgomery County, MD.

Justin graduated in May 2020 from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering and recently, started his Master's program in Systems Engineering, with a focus on Human-Centered and Software Systems, at Johns Hopkins University.

He works as a Systems Engineer and Product Designer at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He recently created an application that tells you about the delays happening at airports and in the airspace around the country called National Airspace System Status (NAS Status), https://nasstatus.faa.gov/. It is used by airlines and business aviation operators, and the flying public every day for flight planning and situational awareness.

Here is what he had to say:

“I came to the United States from Nepal at 14 years old. Coming to America was different; I experienced a good amount of culture shock. The teaching style was different; the education system was focused on sports and extracurricular activities in addition to academics, but through programs like [Liberty’s Promise] I was able to adapt quickly.

My sister was part of LP before me and when she asked if I wanted to join, I was doing really well in school and was not interested. But I quickly learned grades are not everything, as future employers are looking for volunteer and work experience. I remember my sister found many internships and volunteer opportunities through LP and I wanted some opportunities, too.

The most meaningful lessons from LP were learning the importance of good communication skills and being able to network and proactively find opportunities. I heard this, especially from guest speakers who would say follow up with people, have conversations, ask questions, and build a good rapport.

"I would tell younger alumni, do not to be afraid. Follow your dreams. Stay brave. Do not be intimidated to apply to bigger universities; there are endless opportunities for everyone. My personal motto is “Dream it, speak it, and go out there and do it.” In high school, some of my friends thought they could not purpose a good career because of their grades. Do not let grades stop you. There will always be opportunities to improve your grades. Attend career fairs, talk to recruiters, and find an internship because today’s job market is competitive and it is hard to find a job without previous experience, even at an entry-level job. Join clubs and build leadership skills. For example, my resume stood out because I had tons of internship and volunteer experience. Lastly, do well in school, but do internships. See the value of volunteering and internships over part-time jobs. This will bring at least ten times the career and financial growth and rewards in the long run that a part-time job won’t.”

Opportunities and Events

Opportunities Plus 

Ready to boost your resume and gain experience to a level that sets you apart from peers?

We are looking for young immigrants (ages 18 to 21) to prepare them for the professional workplace. We provide youth with intensive training on workplace etiquette, then facilitate their internship placement with a local organization or business. Youth apply by sending out their resume and cover letter, then sit for an interview with the host agency, which selects the ideal candidate. Liberty’s Promise provides support and advice for both interns and supervisors throughout the duration of the internship.

Our interns work for 8 weeks, from 20 to 40 hours per week in the summer. Click here to apply.

Employment

Northwood High School Program Officer & Youth Wellness Specialist

We're hiring! 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.

Youth Development Spececists

Identity is hiring a bilingual (English and Spanish) Youth Development Specialist for their High School Program Team in Montgomery County, Maryland. Services provided by the Youth Development Specialist will include planning, coordinating, and implementing curriculum-based programs (on topics such as sexual and reproductive health, youth leadership, and community engagement) using the Positive Youth Development Model.

Click here for the full job description.

Scholarships

The Herb Block Foundation

Due: Wednesday, June 1, 2022

The Herb Block Scholarship provides financial assistance to students of all ages to attend community colleges in the DC metro area. It helps roughly 100 students each year gain access to higher education they could not otherwise afford.

Click here for more information and to apply!