Galloway, N.J. – In just four-minute increments, local youth learned a lot about a variety of careers and industries as they weaved through tables in the Fannie Lou Hamer Event Room at Stockton Atlantic City.

More than 20 professionals represented health care, media, technology, entrepreneurship, education and other industries at the GOALS GEAR UP July 30 Speed Jobbing event.

“Exposing our GOALS students to young professionals is essential to their growth and vision for the future,” Alexis Jenkins, director of GOALS GEAR UP, said. “When they see individuals who look like them achieving success in a range of fields, it not only broadens their perspective but also reinforces the idea that their dreams are possible. Representation inspires, and inspiration fuels action.”

GOALS GEAR UP — which stands for Goal-Oriented Advocates, Leaders and Scholars – Gaining Early Awareness for Undergraduate Programs — is a program that enables eligible students to begin considering the pursuit of higher education.

There are 130 students in grades 7-12 from Pleasantville and Atlantic City participating in the six-week GOALS GEAR UP Summer Academy that concludes Aug. 7.

Middle- and high school students in the program explored Stockton’s Galloway and Atlantic City campuses, participated in enriching social and academic activities and built lasting friendships and mentorships.

This year’s activities included a beach party, career exploration and an instant decision day for a few rising seniors who want to continue their education at Stockton.

Michelle Puerta, a Stockton Admissions counselor who specializes in recruiting students for the Educational Opportunity Fund, was one of the professionals who met with students at the Speed Jobbing event. She said the opportunity was one she wished she could’ve taken advantage of when she was in school.

“I think this is a great way for students to understand what skillsets they need to develop in order for them to get the job that they want, and for them to understand what skills they have already, so they understand what jobs are best for them,” Puerta said.   

Kiara Gilbert, director of risk management for Morgan Stanley, who was born and raised in Atlantic City, volunteered for the second time this summer. 

“I just hope that they can see someone that looks like them in a higher position and know that it is possible,” Gilbert said. 

The event also drew Stockton alumni Yahanne Abdullah, a 2016 Finance graduate hailing from Atlantic City, and Austin Yang, a 2024 Biology graduate who minored in Education.

“I hope to encourage them to find their passion and to let that guide them,” said Abdullah, a realtor for EXP Realty.

Yang, who recently moved back to Little Egg Harbor for local teaching opportunities, is also a former mentor of the GOALS GEAR UP program. He credits the program for helping him prepare for his career in education.

“I think GOALS GEAR UP gave me a lot of experience in working with students and building rapport and relationships, which is one of the most important things in teaching. At the end of the day, even if you're the smartest person in the room, students won't listen to you if they don't like you,” Yang said.

The event also included breakout sessions and workshops led by some of the professionals, who walked the students through a day in their occupations.

Summer Academy participants Ariyane Hill and Abid Reza, both of Atlantic City, shared that they enjoyed attending Speed Jobbing and agreed that it was a valuable opportunity to network and mingle.

“Last year, we had some of the same people, so this year, I made sure to talk to new people that I didn't see before. It was fun,” Hill said of her conversations with Abdullah, Vanel Dereck Fleury (vice president at JP Morgan) and Gabriela Carey (talent acquisition coordinator for Baratz & Associates).

“So, for me, it was a pretty good networking event,” Reza said. His favorite conversation of the day was with Joseph Isak, who works in instructional technology for Structural Group Inc. in Maryland. “He does coding for health care, and he was telling me how I could do computer science and math at once in four years for two degrees, and how certification courses really helped him.”

– Story by Loukaia Taylor

– Photos by Lizzie Nealis

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