Her Story
About Christina
I'm the Director of the Y Achievers program at the YMCA Cape Cod, where I lead a career and college readiness program specifically designed for BIPOC and first-generation teenagers. My work involves bringing these young people on college tours, social-cultural trips, and World of Work tours, setting them up with mentors and scholarships, and providing whatever support they need to succeed and become career professionals. I started with the program three years ago as a program coordinator when the previous director sought me out, and I became director last year when she left to start her own nonprofit. My path to this role is deeply personal. I went back to school in 2019 and earned my GED on my 30th birthday, then completed my Associates in Human Service in 2022 and my Bachelor's degree at 33, all while being a single mom to three kids. As a former foster teen who didn't have anyone to guide me or tell me I could be someone, my main mission is to empower these teens and help them become who they envision themselves to be. Since becoming director a year ago, I've grown the program from one school to four schools across the Cape, and my goal is to reach all of the schools on Cape Cod.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Christina
01What do you attribute your success to?
My kids drive me. Showing them that even though you're a single mom, you can still go back and get your degree and do what you want to do, that you can overcome any obstacle that you have. But I was also a foster teen, and I didn't really have anyone to guide me and direct me and tell me that I could be someone. So my main thing is to empower these teens and help them to become who they envision themselves to be. That's what keeps me going and what I attribute my success to.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be afraid to ask questions. We let our vulnerabilities and our shyness take over too much, and it stops us from asking really valuable questions that we wish we had the guts to ask. But you don't know what you don't know, and if you don't ask questions, you'll never know. So my advice is to always be curious and always ask questions. Half of the people in the room probably have the same question, and they're arguing whether to ask it, too. So you might as well ask. The worst thing is you get new stuff.
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