byerschool foundation
Alumni Corner
additional alumni spotlight profiles
Alumni spotlight
Frank Jackson
“All that remains of the magic floating in the sea are the sparkles of a pearl. A painful persistence of an essence. An innate adaptive adeptness. A myelinated message within all of us. A pearl effect.”
Frank Jackson has accomplished much in his 26 years. Attending the Byers School from 2nd through 5th grade and being named a Stepping Stone Scholar, he credits these experiences with laying the foundation for his future and paving the path he is on today. After attending Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH) for high school, Frank then went off to Texas Christian University and remained in Texas after college to participate in Teach for America. In his role there as an English Language Arts instructor, Frank taught a majority of Latinx students and was able to work closely with them and make an impact in their lives using his fluency in Spanish.
Upon returning to Philadelphia, he taught Spanish and English at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy while pursuing a Master’s Degree at the University of Pennsylvania in Applied Positive Psychology. He was delighted to be able to teach the first positive psychology class at SCH.
A few months ago, however, Frank made the decision to leave teaching to focus full time on his initiative, The Pearl Effect, a consulting and speaking engagement firm focused on supporting Black and marginalized communities. He created the endeavor based on a poem he wrote about the science of wellbeing: “All that remains of the magic floating in the sea are the sparkles of a pearl. A painful persistence of an essence. An innate adaptive adeptness. A myelinated message within all of us. A pearl effect.” In the poem he speaks to protecting the oppressed, continuing the persistence of essence, and being adaptive.
Frank is a sought-after speaker and presenter, having held lectures and workshops at universities such as Harvard and Penn, as well as speaking to businesses and other organizations about creating inclusive environments, the science of well-being, and the science of happiness. Through The Pearl Effect, Frank hopes to help communities and individuals to change the narrative of their history and move toward strength, beauty, and a life of thriving.
His book, “The Pearl Effect: The Story of African Americans’ Continuous Push toward Well-Being,” is nearly complete and is in search of a publisher.
As is obvious from his ambitious approach and education, Frank pushes himself to continually grow. His personal motto is: “Life is at the end of your comfort zone.” He certainly lives a thriving life!
alumni spotlight
Malik Powell
“It gets better as you get older, and the more you know about yourself, the better you can make decisions for true happiness.”
Malik attended RBCS from 2nd through 6th grade (this was before the middle school was added) and graduated in 2008. He spent his middle school years at Mastery Charter then went on to a series of high schools including Freire, Bartram High and graduated from Delaware High School where his family relocated. At RBCS, Malik had a special and supportive relationship with his 3rd grade teacher, Ms. Sherman. Because he lost his father at a young age, he was grateful for the care staff took in him and encouraged his creative abilities. He also has fond memories of the music teacher and Principal EL who encouraged him to play chess at which he became an award winner.
He also credits RBCS for preparing him for life thanks to the variety of programs offered. A speech impediment was solved with staff help and he felt this is where his understanding of the importance of critical thinking began.
Malik went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in psychology from Delaware State University and he is currently working toward his Masters in Clinical Psychology expecting to receive that degree next year. But he won’t stop there! Malik, encouraged by a mentor, plans to pursue a Phd and is considering Temple, Howard or the College of Osteopathy for his next educational adventure.
Malik is currently working for the City’s Department of Behavioral Health and is the supervisor of The Network of Neighbors initiative. In this position he has to plan and prepare for emergencies such as mass shootings. With his team, he works with the affected communities on the appropriate response to the emergency. Malik says he has to prepare himself to help those suffering trauma including his recent work to counsel witnesses to the murder of a student at Imhotep High School.
Malik met his wife in college and they are both committed to helping the citizens of Philadelphia. Together they have also opened an Independent Senior Housing location; and he is especially proud of their efforts to make Juneteenth a State holiday. On that day annually they organize a festival filled with music, performances, free food as well as networking opportunities; and they offer scholarship opportunities. The event is held at the Kingsessing Recreation Center in Southwest Philadelphia and attendees range from infants to seniors. Lots of fun for all!
Malik has also joined a fellow RBCS graduate and School Board member, Frank Jackson, as co-chair of the new Alumni Association, created to reconnect with RBCS graduates from the past 20+ years. Malik says “RBCS has many successful graduates and this is the time to build on those relationships to create a strong alumni base to support the future of this wonderful school.”
In thinking about the current RBCS students, Malik would like all children to know, “it gets better as you get older, and the more you know about yourself, the better you can make decisions for true happiness.”
Alumni spotlight
Kayluh Nobrun
“Enjoy your time at RBCS. It is amazing how quickly time flies, so take time to enjoy what you are experiencing right now.”
Kaylah wants to thank the Russell Byers Charter School for an excellent education and for giving her a great start on her educational journey. She attended RBCS from 1st through 6th grade, before there was a middle school. She then went on to middle school at Meredith Elementary and SLA Bieber for high school. She felt RBCS prepared her well for the transitions to higher education. She has fond memories of her 1st grade teacher, Ms. Wing and administrator, Ms. Sperbeck. She especially enjoyed the musical offerings at RBCS, including choir, violin, and playing the bells at her 6th grade graduation.
Kaylah is now a junior at West Chester University, majoring in Business. She especially likes living on campus, which has given her the opportunity to learn more about herself. Her primary interest is real estate investment, and she has enjoyed two internships in this field. Her internship at Ensemble Real Estate Investments, located at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, was a great opportunity to learn about inspiring environments and designs and how these elements impact the communities where they are invested. Building on this experience, she also found attending a business conference at Howard University enlightening. Kaylah’s goal is to work in corporate real estate and one day own her own corporate real estate business.
Kayla was the recipient of a National Recreation Foundation Scholarship from the Byerschool Foundation, which provided her with an initial $1,000 grant for toward tuition and a subsequent $250 each year while she is in college. She has used the stipend to help cover the cost of books which she says have gotten so expensive – one of her real estate e-books cost $200!
Kaylah’s words of wisdom for current RBCS students are, “Enjoy your time at RBCS. It is amazing how quickly time flies, so take time to enjoy what you are experiencing right now.”
alumni spotlight
Kenneth Carruth, IV
“Be authentic. Follow what you like to do, but don’t think you have to choose one thing.”
Ken Carruth began his Russell Byers Charter School education as a 4-year-old Kindergarten student and graduated from sixth grade in 2015. He went on to George Washington Carver School of Engineering and Science, but then shifted high schools during the pandemic and graduated from Agora Cyber School.
Following an apprenticeship with a master barber, Ken earned his barber license and now, at just 20 years old, he owns his own hair studio in Kensington. Thanks to a technology class and being generally tech savvy, Ken started making videos in middle school and learned how to upload and share them on YouTube. He now considers these videos part of his business. He films haircut tutorials demonstrating how to create clean lines and tight fades and shares them on social media where he’s known as “The4thKen.” One of his recent videos had over two million views! Ken is clearly a social media content creator and influencer and currently has 1.8 million likes on Tik Tok!
To grow his business further, Ken pushes himself to adapt, learning the latest styles that allow him to charge substantially more than traditional barbers for his craftsmanship. He has added special services such as semi-permanent dye, weaves for men, and other enhancements which meet customer demand. These special features, along with perks like snacks and free Wi-Fi, make a visit to his studio a unique experience. All Ken’s work paid off when he caught the attention of the Philadelphia Inquirer which profiled him in a recent article.
When asked what advice he might have for current Russell Byers students, Ken said, “Be authentic. Follow what you like to do, but don’t think you have to choose one thing.”
Looking to the future, Ken wants to maximize his business and income so he can invest in real estate both here in Philadelphia and in other tourist-destination cities. We know Ken will be a great success as a real estate mogul and continue to build a following on social media and in his shop. He’s a cut above!
Alumni spotlight
Gabriella Carruth
“Don’t let anyone dissuade you from your goal. Expose yourself to a variety of opportunities until you find your passion. Then go for it!”
While studying at the Russell Byers Charter School, a young Gabriella Carruth would gaze out the window and watch the big apartment building being built across the street and then the giant Comcast Technology Center rising from a hole in the ground. She was fascinated by how foundations were constructed and how these huge buildings grew.
A student at RBCS from 4K through 6th grade, Gabriella has fond memories of studying the cultural arts and learning about Philadelphia’s history – especially about the Lenni Lenape indigenous people who first lived on this land. She also loved nature and science and credits then-science-teacher, Dr. Eric Westby, with encouraging her interests. Raising snails and caring for them was one of the school’s many hands-on activities that appealed to her.
Since she attended RBCS before it had a middle school, Gabriella moved on to Mastery Lenfest Charter in 7th grade and eventually graduated from Agora Cyber Charter School in 2020. It was a counselor at Agora who pointed her in the direction of her future career by introducing her to Girls Construction Camp, where, each day, Gabriella was fascinated to learn about the building trades, from electrical to carpentry. She then used connections and networking to secure a position with Frank V. Radomski & Sons Construction, which also sponsored her to admission into the Carpenters Union. Radomski Construction works on interior projects, and while there, Gabriella learned about installing ceiling grids, dry walling, and hanging doors. Gabriella will graduate as a journeyman from the city’s four-year carpentry apprentice program in June!
She is currently working in the concrete division of the Carpenters Union which focuses on forming foundations. Her current project is near to RBCS: the future museum on the Parkway at Calder Gardens! With this project, Gabriella feels she has come full circle, from exploring the Parkway as an RBCS student to helping to build its newest museum!
Her entrepreneurial spirt also “lead” her to found her own side business: Lead Ladies, LLC. Through her company, Gabriella is certified by the EPA to be a lead dust sampler, which means she collects wall and ceiling samples from homes which are then lab-tested for lead, and the results are shared with landlords.
In thinking about what she might impart to current RBCS students, Gabriella shares, “Don’t let anyone dissuade you from your goal. Expose yourself to a variety of opportunities until you find your passion. Then go for it!”
Gabriella found her passion as a young girl watching big construction projects from her classroom window on Arch Street. Then she went for it and got it!
alumni spotlight
Faaris Muhammad
He shared how RBCS instilled in him that he must be responsible for his own learning, and although he experienced some early trepidation and challenges related to his learning differences, he ultimately gained “overwhelming joy from this experience!”
Faaris Muhammad describes himself as bubbly, outgoing, nice, and kind. When we chatted with him about his experiences as a member of the Education First (EF) International Tour Guide program, he displayed all of those qualities and more! Before joining EF, an organization that designs traveling tours for students using experiential learning, he attended Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP) High School. While at GAMP, he was diagnosed with ADD and a processing disorder, and although he performed extremely well on tests (crediting RBCS for preparing him), he often struggled with his homework. Following graduation, Faaris set out to raise the funds needed to participate in EF’s six-month program. To prepare, he worked at Infinity Live and crafted an essay and application requesting a scholarship for the program, and a generous Byerschool Foundation donor made his dream come true.
Faaris joined EF’s International Tour Guide program with a group of 90 students separated into cohorts of 30. He shared how relationships with members of his cohort, who hailed from around the world, will be lasting and were life changing. Following a two-day orientation in Boston, the group toured Paris and then participated in six weeks of intense training in Barcelona, which included Spanish-language immersion supported by living with a host family who spoke only Spanish. The following six weeks were spent in Costa Rica tagging sea turtles, renovating a school, and engaging with the community through gardening and planting mango trees. Following a quick stop to the Galapagos Islands, Faaris then headed to Ecuador to learn more about sea creatures and joined in local customs by sampling guinea pig and llama, truly learning the culture!
Following his experiences in Central and South America, Faaris’s travels continued to Stockholm, London and finally, six weeks in Seville where he worked as an intern with a social media and marketing firm for an English-language school. While there were bumps along the way related to COVID, getting pick-pocketed, and losing all his clothing (!!), Faaris had an extraordinary, transformative experience.
Now home from his trek, Faaris hopes to continue to travel the world, and at 19 years old, he has plenty of time to achieve those dreams. To support his ambitions, he is currently working at the Philadelphia International Airport. He shared how RBCS instilled in him that he must be responsible for his own learning, and although he experienced some early trepidation and challenges related to his learning differences, he ultimately gained “overwhelming joy from this experience!”
We look forward to following Faaris’s ongoing adventures!
Alumni spotlight
Darya Nemati
“Dream big! Don’t let others interfere with your future goals.”
Darya was part of our very first four-year-old Kindergarten class at Russell Byers Charter School (RBCS) back when the building was located on Spring Garden Street. And as our history goes, that fateful first day of school was September 11, 2001, so Darya’s parents quickly came to scoop her up! But she then remained at Russell Byers through fourth grade, after which she enrolled at Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP) from fifth through ninth grade where she could truly exercise her musical talent. She loved taking lessons and played the piano and flute. For high school, Darya attended Science Leadership Academy in Center City. She enjoyed the fact that the schools she attended were within walking distance of her home.
Darya attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 2019. Her younger sister Chiara, also an RBCS alum, followed her to Penn two years later. Darya decided to work for two years before enrolling in graduate school and was hired by the Nationalities Service Center (NSC) where her language skills—she speaks Farsi and Spanish fluently!—made her indispensable to new immigrants arriving in Philadelphia. Darya was a case manager for the NSC and worked to assist clients with resettlement and healthcare needs. She is now in her second year at Boston University where she is doctoral candidate in occupational therapy in the College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
Darya sees Philadelphia as home, as her community, and she loves our culture and food. To complete her doctoral thesis, Darya will return to Philly to conduct research and clinical field work with the Nationalities Service Center. Her focus is on a combination of physical and mental healthcare. It is rare to have an occupational therapist working with immigrants, and she looks forward to making a difference in this community of people.
Her words of wisdom for current RBCS students are, “Dream big! Don’t let others interfere with your future goals.”
We are thrilled that Darya will be using her talents here in Philadelphia, and we know her important work will impact the lives of many of our new and future citizens.
alumni spotlight
Nate Wilson
“Don’t be afraid to try new things. When I was in school, chess was not a popular thing to do, but I have enjoyed playing all my life.”
Nate Wilson went to Russell Byers Charter School in the early years before our various expansions, attending from second through fifth grade. During that time he took full advantage of Byers’s expeditionary learning approach, participating in and loving chess club, art classes, field trips to museums, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters partnership. Nate then attended Germantown Friends for middle school and headed off to school in California to continue his education.
At the Cate School he enjoyed being on his own, making new friends, and having the opportunity to travel. Cate is a boarding school with just 300 students, 50% of whom are from outside California and a portion of whom hail from 18 countries around the world! There, Nate received an intensive college-prep education, aspects of which included a community service requirement that enabled him to go to Mexico and a week-long student exchange program with Kings Academy, an independent, co-ed school near the city of Madaba, Jordan. One treasured memory from his time in Jordan was interacting with a member of the community whose house he’d helped to paint. After the work was complete, the man made and served tea to all the students, sharing that he wanted them to know Jordan as a kind and hospitable country, not one simply prone to violence, as often depicted in the western media.
After graduating from Cate, the next stop on Nate’s educational journey was the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in physics with a focus on astrophysics. Then he went off to Chicago for graduate school where he earned a Master’s Degree in Physics at DePaul University. He is now taking a break from school and working as a Data Analyst at Morning Consult, a business intelligence and tech firm, where he researches a range of topics, everything from which potato chip brand is most popular to who leads the polls in various political contests. One fascinating polling and data project he worked on revealed that Americans rate Forrest Gump and Titanic as the best “Best Pictures” of all time.
Words of encouragement that Nate imparts to current RBCS students are, “Don’t be afraid to try new things. When I was in school, chess was not a popular thing to do, but I have enjoyed playing all my life.” As an astrophysicist, Nate will contribute to our understanding of the universe and –who knows?!—may even discover life on other planets!
Alumni spotlight
Mo Kelly
“Live in the present. Enjoy the time you are in now, and learn from the great RBCS teachers.”
Mo Kelly began her education at Russell Byers as a four-year-old Kindergarten student and attended RBCS all the way through 6th grade. At that time Byers didn’t have a middle school, so after her elementary school graduation, Mo attended Greenfield School for 7th and 8th grade, and then selected Science Leadership Academy (SLA) in center city for high school. Like many who attended SLA from 2017-2019, Mo had to stay flexible and open-minded, as the student body was continually shifted from one space to another due to building issues, like asbestos, and other space restraints. She and her classmates were first moved to the School District of Philadelphia headquarters at 440 North Broad St., then to Rodeph Shalom synagogue at 615 N. Broad Street, and finally, she spent her senior year learning from home due to the pandemic! Quite an unusual high school career!
Currently, Mo is a history major at Vassar College where she is now completing her sophomore year. She says she loves the passion Vassar professors bring to their teaching and loves the opportunity to build relationships with them and with many of her peers that the fairly small campus (of just 2,500 students) offers. Mo is considering minoring in education and envisions a career teaching high school history. She is especially keen on modern American history with a focus on the 20th century.
Vassar has an “open curriculum” which gives students a substantial say in their course schedules. There are only three required courses: one year of an international language (Mo is currently tackling German!), a writing seminar, and a math class (Mo chose astronomy!). All other courses are focused around her history major. Knowing she wants to teach, Mo anticipates going to graduate school next to earn her teaching certificate.
Mo was a recipient of a National Recreation Foundation grant from the Byerschool Foundation, and she shared that it has been helpful in purchasing the books she needs for her classes at Vassar.
When asked what words of wisdom she might have for current RBCS students, she said, “Live in the present. Enjoy the time you are in now, and learn from the great RBCS teachers.”
We look forward to seeing where Mo goes next, and we know her passion for history will prove infectious in educating the next generation, her future students.
alumni spotlight
Avery Jamison
“Be patient and enjoy your youth! It is important to stay present and stay in the moment. However, also know time flies and soon you will have to answer questions about your future, so it’s never too soon to think about your college options.”
Avery Jamison is proud to have been born and raised in Philadelphia where he attended Russell Byers Charter School from Kindergarten through 6th grade (no middle school existed at RBCS at the time). He loved hanging out after school to do his homework and is especially proud of having been a member of the chess club that won second place at the state tournament in Harrisburg. From RBCS Avery went on to middle school at Friends Select and then followed his brother to high school at Archmere Academy in Delaware.
During his high school years, Avery had the extraordinary opportunity to travel internationally. He first went to France where he was part of a student exchange program, and then as a member of the Keystone State Boys Choir, he traveled to India! In Paris he was able to practice his French, which he continued to study throughout his education. Avery was mesmerized by Paris and thrilled to be in a big city made up of neighborhoods like his hometown. He immersed himself in the culture and loved learning the transit system and how to order food. Of India, he says, “It was a beautiful country full of people and traffic! The Taj Mahal was amazing, and I loved meeting new people.”
Inspired by these travels, Avery eventually chose to major in International and Global Studies at Elon University in North Carolina, and he couldn’t resist minoring in both French and business administration. Always eager to lean more, Avery pursued graduate studies at Clemson University and earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling with a focus on college-aged students.
Now earning a living in his field of study, Avery supports 600 college residents at the University of Delaware and especially likes helping students deal with their issues and challenges. As he comes to the end of two years as a residence counselor, Avery is contemplating his next opportunity in higher education, possibly in a position that would support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
Avery had the following thoughts to share with current RBCS students, “Be patient and enjoy your youth! It is important to stay present and stay in the moment. However, also know time flies and soon you will have to answer questions about your future, so it’s never too soon to think about your college options.”
We know Avery’s compassion will support many future college students, and his love of travel will make him a wonderful global ambassador for Philadelphia!
Alumni spotlight
Asia Ng
Asia believes in creating transformative spaces that work in sync with their surroundings.
As a five year old at Russell Byers Charter School, Asia Ng was excited when her mother, an architect, came for career day. Amazingly, following the workshop, she found her interest in architecture ignited! Asia spent six years at Byers School before transferring to Masterman and finally completing her high-school education at Germantown Friends.
At 15, Asia had her first internship with the Philadelphia-based restoration architectural firm, Kelly Maiello which was, at that time, deeply involved in the interior renovations of the Parkway Central branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. The internship gave Asia her first experience visiting an active construction site, and though she had long-felt architecture was her calling, she was then completely hooked. Over the course of two summers interning at the firm, Asia assisted with surveys, created drawings, and assisted in the design of a new website for the organization.
It was no mystery what Asia would study in college. Now a student in the architecture department at Temple University, she is also employed at the local architecture firm, FIFTEEN Architecture + Design. As an intern there, Asia creates renderings, presentation drawings, and 3D models. Asia also has enjoyed the opportunity to delve deeply into practice, becoming involved in the full cycle of work by attending construction meetings, visiting construction sites, and assisting in the completion of punch-list items to carry projects to completion.
Now a junior at Temple, Asia looks forward to continuing her education after graduation, attending graduate school and eventually earning a PhD in justice-related research. Once she completes her licensure, Asia can imagine herself becoming a full-time academic, and maybe even running her own practice. Ultimately, she hopes to combine design work with her interest in educating future generations of architecture students. She believes architecture is meant to serve people and rectify injustices in our society, and this is her focus.
One architect Asia admires is the late Zaha Hadid, who created extraordinary buildings around the world. Hadid designed 950 projects for 44 countries, and like Asia, believed in creating transformative spaces that work in sync with their surroundings.
Putting her expertise into practice, Asia and her mother have been assisting Laurada Byers in finding an architect who can adjust her living space to become more accessible and useful for managing her Parkinson’s disease. We commend Asia on how successfully she has built her dreams!
alumni spotlight
Juan Perez
Working full-time overseas taught him that he enjoys problem-solving, being on his feet, and working with people.
Juan Perez has had exceptional life experiences since leaving Russell Byers Charter School, which he says he still loves! Juan attended RBCS from 4K through 4th grade (2005-2011), then went on to Masterman for 5th grade. His family moved to Abington the following summer, and he completed the rest of his schooling in the Abington School District.
For his great work and potential, Juan received the National Recreation Foundation scholarship from the Byerschool Foundation in 2019. This support helped fund his first semester at Temple University in Spring 2020 – just as the pandemic was beginning. Juan soon found that he much preferred in-person classes to online learning, so when the opportunity came to join his Army Reserve unit for a deployment to the Middle East, Juan finished his college semester and volunteered. While stationed in Kuwait, Juan worked as a Medical Logistics Specialist during both the COVID-19 vaccination roll out for military personnel and the extraction of troops and personnel from Afghanistan. His unit was responsible for the delivery of vaccines to many U.S. military bases in the region, leading him to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. His unit also managed supply loads for Afghan families who were housed on base temporarily during the extraction. Juan received two commendations for his excellent service in Kuwait. In his free time during deployment, he played hours of sand-court volleyball and mastered his chess game with competitors from around the world.
Now that Juan has returned home, he will continue to serve as an Army Reservist part-time while attending school to become a certified HVAC technician. He will continue receiving scholarship support from BSF for this education. He says that working full-time overseas taught him that he enjoys problem-solving, being on his feet, and working with people.
The photo above was taken in November 2021 during Juan’s deployment and was shot in the medical supplies warehouse where he worked. We thank him for his service!
P.S. We love that Juan’s two sisters also went to the Byers School! Elianna was right behind Juan, attending from 4K through 4th grade (2006-2012), while Gabriella attended 4K through 1st grade (2009-2012). Elianna has entered her third year at Syracuse University, and Gabriella is a senior at Abington Senior High School.
Alumni spotlight
Ben Fink
”Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Do your best. You don’t have to be perfect.”
Ben attended Russell Byers (RBCS) for his entire elementary school education, beginning in kindergarten and graduating from 6th grade (before RBCS had a middle school). Ben liked the people at RBCS and felt they were nice and easy to get along with. As an autistic student, Ben benefitted from assisted teaching that the school provides. He credits that support for setting him on the path to college. Ben attended middle school at the Philadelphia School and completed high school at Science Leadership Academy. Ben was then accepted into Drexel University’s health sciences program and graduated last year with a Bachelor of Science degree. His hope is to work in a laboratory taking on whatever task is needed.
Ben currently works at One Day at a Time, a social service support organization “dedicated to serving low-income and homeless men and women and their families in the Philadelphia area.” They offer services to individuals seeking shelter and support for alcohol and drug recovery. Ben works for Karen Greenberg, parent of an RBCS student (our network is strong!), who is the Shelter Fiscal Manager of the organization. He enjoys performing clerical services work.
Ben has remained close with fellow RBCS graduate, Michael S., and Ben’s sister, Hannah, is also an RBCS graduate who recently graduated from Montclair College. In thinking about words of encouragement for current RBCS students, Ben shared, ”Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Do your best. You don’t have to be perfect.” He also wants students to know that while teachers might seem tough, “they really want you to succeed.” We know Ben will succeed at anything he puts his mind to and won’t be shy when asking for assistance. A good lesson for all of us!
alumni spotlight
Yasmeen Watson
In sharing how she approaches all of the exciting work and projects she takes on, Yasmeen says, “I am always looking for a void that needs to be filled.”
Yasmeen Watson’s skill set is impressive. After her early education at Russell Byers Charter School, where she was an excellent student and especially enjoyed Chess Club, she attended Masterman for one year and then switched to the Agnes Irwin School in Bryn Mawr, PA. She says she enjoyed attending an all-girls school where it was “cool” to be smart and have opinions and where there were few distractions from making the most of her educational opportunities. Yasmeen’s motivation to thrive earned her great grades and a view towards a college career. After considering an array of options, Yasmeen ultimately elected to attend Temple University, graduating with a degree in Business Administration with focuses on risk management, insurance, and accounting.
After graduation from Temple, Yasmeen put her degree to work, quickly identifying and securing a position with PwC (formerly known as Pricewaterhouse Coopers). There, she performed start-to-finish client engagements, including planning audits, performing audit procedures, and creating reports. While she credits PwC with refining her work skills, she knew that she was looking for a more dynamic and diverse environment to make the next step in her career.
During the pandemic, Yasmeen’s passion for cycling emerged. She rode every day and was even profiled on usacyclying.org as part of the #LeadHerForward campaign, featuring stories of girls and women in cycling. Being one of few Black Muslim women involved in the sport, Yasmeen soon found herself being recruited by the Trek Bicycling Corporation as they looked to engage more people of color. She agreed to take on the role of Ambassador and now travels the country, participating in races and events and working to build equity and inclusion in cycling. As a Trek Ambassador, she also has plans to develop more biking opportunities for women and children, such as “Mommy and Me”-style rides and other family programs.
In addition, Yasmeen has launched a residential habilitation agency which was recently qualified to serve adults with intellectual disabilities. Everyday Lives focuses on companion care, in-home and community supports, respite care, residential rehabilitation, advocacy, and other supports with an integrated, family-based approach that considers each individual’s unique needs.
In sharing how she approaches all of the exciting work and projects she takes on, Yasmeen says, “I am always looking for a void that needs to be filled.” We believe she is already making an impact and are inspired by the ways she fulfills her ideas and goals. What a thrill to see what else she will accomplish with her many talents!
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