Alumni Spotlight
An incredibly smart young person, Iisis graduated high school early at age 16! Since graduating high school, Iisis has juggled a full schedule of work and school, pursuing her ultimate career goal to become a child psychologist. Isis is currently studying psychology at Prince George’s Community College.
Iisis became interested in child psychology after her first year working as a JET Camp Leader, where she mentored and guided a group of 6th grade campers in their first summer at City Kids. After two weeks helping campers through some challenging group dynamics, Iisis realized how much she enjoyed working with youth and it sparked her interest to understand how and why children behave the way they do. Since that first summer, Iisis has continued to pursue child-care experience working as a teaching aide in a daycare facility and as a nanny for two young children. Her daily work drives her pursuit to understand how a child’s brain works and how different environments affect and bring out their behaviors.
With her busy schedule, it’s hard to believe Iisis organized two-weekend camping trips in Virginia this fall for ten of her friends! For Iisis, taking her friends camping was an opportunity to do something different with her friends and an opportunity to stay connected to the wilderness since she was unable to be in Wyoming this summer. She borrowed camping gear from the CK Alumni Gear Library and consulted with CK staff, Meena, on trip planning. Iisis took the lead in teaching her friends how to set up tents and use the camping stove, everyone had a great time!
Iisis continues to stay connected to City Kids through her relationships with staff, her CK friends, and her participation in the recently expanded Alumni program. Iisis reports her cohort bond is still strong and everyone talks all the time. When looking back on her City Kids accomplishments, Iisis reflected on her incredible experience climbing the Grand Teton which she credits for instilling a mindset of “I can do anything.” Recently, Iisis has connected with City Kids alumni support staff, Priya, to update her resume and research transferring to a 4-year institution. As City Kids continues to expand and formalize our Alumni support, we look forward to supporting Iisis as she achieves her goals, and we agree- she can do anything!
