Kent ISD’s Joy Walczak speaks with Sifa Mulebinge, East Kentwood High senior and Elizabeth Juarez Young, Educator, East Kentwood High
Full Transcript:
Joy Walczak, Host (JW) Welcome to the Your Dream Is Our Dream podcast where we celebrate student success one dream at a time. This program is made possible by Kent ISD in partnership with WGVU. I'm Joy Walczak and today I'm joined by Sifa Mulebinge. She's a 12th grader at East Kentwood High School. And we have a teacher here, Elizabeth Juarez Young, who is teaching Spanish and other things at the high school. And they were also part of a brand new program this summer called FutureSolve. Thanks to both of you for joining us today.
Sifa Mulebinge (SM) Yeah, no problem.
Elizabeth Juarez Young (EY) Thank you. Pleasure.
(JW) We're very happy to have you here. And I would love to learn more about the program you were both involved with this summer, FutureSolve, which was a partnership between Kent ISD, BAMF (Bold Advanced Medical Future) Health, and also Ferris State University. Ms. Young, would you describe it to us?
(EY) Yeah, so the program was an awesome opportunity for students to, well, we were housed at Kendall, and so getting a chance to see that building and just like what the students are doing there. So we were housed there and then our team was given five, six questions that they ended up answering that were real-world questions, right? That they had to figure out how to solve this issue within the company of BAMF Health. And from there they just had time to work. They had some mentors that they could talk to from the company. And at the end they presented their solutions to the company admin and family as well.
(JW) Fantastic. So Sifa, tell me about your experience in this program. How did you get into it and what did you like most about it?
(SM) Yeah, so Laura Robinson, she works at KCTC. I attend there and she pulled me aside and was like, we’ve got a really good program. I have no clue what it is but I think you would really have fun with it. So I did sign up and I started. Again I went in blind, didn't know what I was going to be doing. I just knew there was a presentation involved and so I’m learning new knowledge, and I was working with BAMF to learn about science related questions. At first I thought I wasn't going to enjoy it because I'm not a science person, but I ended up finding it really easy, especially with the other interns around me.
(JW) And you are involved in a science related curriculum at Kent Career Tech Center. Can you tell us about that?
(SM) Yeah, so I did Health Career Foundations in my junior year. It was really amazing. I thought it pushed me a lot, like the note taking and working in the lab. It's like a makeshift hospital. So we got to work, we got to learn about stuff, and then also get to actually do it. And this year I'm going into Medical Assistant, so times two, but a little bit more work.
(JW) Absolutely. That program does tie nicely into the STEM focus that we saw at BAMF Health this summer. And the BAMF Health program does solve real world problems in the area of healthcare. Sifa, does that tie into what you would like to do in the future?
(SM) Yeah, so I wanna go into labor delivery and nursing, so definitely a lot of science classes that I have to take before I get to get my BSN. I think the answering technical questions really is going to be helpful, especially when I'm in college and in classes I need to answer questions to do research and stuff like that.
(JW) And bringing together a real workplace environment. That's so important to student growth. Ms. Young, will you please share with us how you feel this benefits your students and the future for people like Sifa?
(EY) Yeah, so I was also coming in blind, had no idea what any of...any of the activities we were gonna be doing. But it was so cool to not only see them collaborate with other students or other interns that did not necessarily have the same final career choice, but also getting the opportunity to see people come in and tell them, hey, this is what I thought I was gonna do as a career, and then life took over, and I ended up doing this other thing. And also seeing that a company requires so many different positions and jobs, and knowledge and ways to see the world. And I think that was also really eye-opening, and not just for them, because also for me, that just how much crossover there is. And I hope that that's one thing that they take with them, not only in academics, but also in the world as they go on, that there is so much that they know that they can learn and acquire, and then apply it in different situations. There's so much crossover. So , I hope that this program continues on because it was so amazing to see them just grow within that.
(JW) One unique aspect of this program is it brought students from across Kent ISD's footprint across Kent County and that included students from East Kentwood and also East Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Public Schools. It's a similar situation to how you experience school at KCTC. Can you share with us how it impacts you to have the opportunity to work with students from all different districts?
(SM) Yeah, I actually remember the first day that I went to my first class last year. I was nervous just because I knew two people from East Kentwood, so I was like, I need to branch out. I think it took us like less than two weeks for everybody to get kind of close, like even thinking about it now, I'm still in contact with so many of the girls and guys that are in the classes and like, we hanged out after school We are doing our field trips. We were really close with each other and we all text each other still to this day So I think it's amazing to be able to collab with other schools.
(JW) It's a wonderful work environment And it's a lot like being in the real workforce because we come from all different aspects and different backgrounds. Ms. Young, could you share with us how you feel it’s important to actually ask students what their dreams are.
(EY) Yeah. So I think one of the reasons why I went into education and specifically with secondary is that I felt like high schoolers didn't really get a voice, but they are so smart and they have so much to share. And so being able to sit down and be like, okay, what are you thinking right now from what you observed in the world? What are your thoughts? What is your, I don't want to say end goal because I think career change is happening way more now, but just like where is that target that you're aiming for? And then seeing them work towards that. I think it's so cool and so beneficial for them because as they lean towards something, right, even like going to KCTC, and being like, oh, I thought I really wanted to do, you know, culinary. But actually I don't like chopping all that stuff so I'm gonna switch to something else. Like, being able to have that idea and pursue something related to it. I think it's so beneficial in having them find things that they like, things that they don't like, and then eventually, you know, finding a place where they feel that they belong. The next step is finding the company which you feel like you belong in. And so yeah, it's very beneficial and the earlier we can start, the better.
(JW) And Sifa, you also earned some college credits and an internship stipend as part of this program. What will you do with those college credits?
(SM) So the college credits I will use to get credits in the future to get them less. So I have less to worry about to take other classes. So I'm really happy that I get that basis and that start. That way I don't have to worry too much. And I can also try out different classes since I have that extra room.
(JW) Fantastic. And what would you say would be your advice to a student who might be hearing about the FutureSolve experience because it will happen again next year or another opportunity for career exploration?
(SM) I would tell them to really take it in. I think it was such a fun experience. Don't be nervous like I was. Really branch out. Even if you don't know one or two people, I think we were put into groups the first two weeks, so it was like we were kind of forced to collab, but I like that enforcement of collabment. To know what everybody was thinking, what everybody was interested in, and yeah, it was good.
(JW) What was the problem you were solving and what kind of solution did you come up with?
(SM) Yeah, so I had one other partner, Anallely, and we were solving the question basically how to make radiation exposure, like tracking it more efficient so they didn't have to worry about tedious writing like all the time.
(JW) Okay. What did you come up with for a solution?
(SM) We came up with a digital tablet and they were able to implement a website called Dictanote so they could verbally say what they needed to document.
(JW) And all of this practice at the BAMF Health organization goes towards solving problems in the world of cancer and other related illnesses so it's really important work. How does it feel to be part of that work?
(SM) When I told my parents, I was like, I kind of felt like I had this pride and joy. My parents were like, okay, Sifa, calm down. But I thought it was really amazing that I even got to be, and I remember waking up every day going into the BAMF building. It's so high tech. That was like, oh, this is so like, it reminds me of a real world, like I'm in this business.
(JW) Absolutely, and you were immersed in it. That's a terrific experience, something to put on your resume moving forward. And as you move forward, what will your dreams be for this upcoming senior year and then beyond?
(SM) Yeah, so the common app just opened, so I've been filling that out right now for college applications and I remember I just put in this internship into the activity section and I was writing it down I was like I'm so excited but also kind of nervous.
(JW) And what will your dream be when you go to college?
(SM) To do, get my BSN, bachelors of science and nursing, and hopefully get to work in person in a hospital so I can get some experience before I go into the workforce.
(JW) And Ms. Young, as you listen to students, Sifa, talk about her dreams, how does it make you feel as an educator and how does it change how you teach?
(EY) It just, it makes me so excited because it's just, this is why I went to teaching, right? Like I said, the growth is the thing that I love the most. Just helping them find a place where they feel, something that they're passionate about, but also like a place that they belong in, that is something for me, cause I'm very like community oriented. And so that's very important to me getting to hear this and just like you know that she knows her next steps and where to go next like that is just fills my heart so much and yeah and going to the next school year right that it's, it flies by high school flies by and opportunities like this are just gonna make such a huge impact so, yeah, so cool
(JW) Terrific. Sifa, I know you have a younger sister who's also here at East Kentwood. What would your advice be to her or maybe some incoming freshmen?
(SM) Yeah, I would tell the incoming freshmen to really branch out. I think I only did one club and one sport in my freshman year, but then sophomore year I remember I tried everything. Tried the Black Student Union. I did the African Student Association and I met so many people. To this day I'm still friends with them, so many upperclassmen that I reach out to, especially right now during the college application season.
(JW) That's really wonderful advice! And thank you both for being here and for sharing your dreams with us today.
(SM & EY) Our pleasure. Thank you so much!
(JW) Well, we definitely want to continue to follow your journey Sifa, and we also want to thank everyone who's listening to our podcast today, too. If anyone out there knows of a student any age who dreams, big we would love to share their story. You can share your ideas and hear more dream stories at kentisd.org/yourdream. The Your Dream Is Our Dream podcast is presented by Kent ISD in partnership with WGVU. I'm Joy Walczak. Thank you.
