By George Yang

Growing up, I’ve always wanted to expand my skill set to improve as a leader and as an individual. I have been able to do this primarily by being involved in many extracurriculars, and through all of these programs and activities, I’ve been able to grow a lot as a leader in my community. One particular program that has really stood out is Genesys Works.

I was fortunate to be one of the few students selected from Brooklyn Center High School to participate in Genesys Works. This program has become one of the fundamental stepping stones in my life, preparing me in many great ways for my future, for which I am truly thankful. So far, they have been able to enhance my professional and technical skills by exposing me to many different things like making impromptu speeches, building my network with others, getting familiar with the Office 2016 and 365 applications, and creating my personal identity and brand.

Even though this year has been quite challenging with everything going virtual, I’ve expanded my skill set through a variety of experiences with Genesys Works. Firstly, it was an honor to be placed at Optum. Through my experiences there, I’ve learned how to prioritize, manage, and balance my time more wisely in both my internship and life. Secondly, I was one of the young professionals who got into a paid Google IT Certification course provided by Genesys Works, which sparked my interest in programming.

In addition to these experiences, I have also been able to learn many skills through my participation as a Genesys Works Student Ambassador for my high school. As a student ambassador, I have been able to promote Genesys Works throughout my school by creating an advertising video with two other student ambassadors and by personally reaching out to other juniors about the program. On top of all of this, I learned to advocate for myself and others when needed. Someone once said to me that, “Your knowledge and resources in life are as great as your creativity,” which really spoke to me because sometimes we forget how many resources and how much help we have all around us.

In the future, I plan to pursue a degree in the field of Mechanical Engineering. That being said, all of the skills and experiences that I’ve gained through my participation with Genesys Works are very helpful because it’s shaping me into a resourceful, well-rounded individual and advancing my learning and leadership skills. In the future, these skills will help me enter into college-level internships and help me encourage and advocate for all communities of color, showing them that they too can accomplish many great things in life if they seek out the resources around them. It’s clear that these experiences will help me fulfill many wonderful things in the future.

George Yang is a Class of 2021 intern who currently holds a position at Optum. He is also a student ambassador for the Genesys Works program, seeking to recruit the next class of young professionals from his high school, Brooklyn Center High School.