At Carver, our students inspire us daily with their drive, passion, and commitment to making a positive impact. Today, we are proud to introduce Luciel, a senior at Brien McMahon High School and a member of the Class of 2025. Luciel's journey is a testament to the power of curiosity, dedication, and a love for learning.

With a keen interest in forensic science, Luciel has taken significant steps toward her dream career. From participating in the Norwalk Hospital internship program to serving as a paid Carver intern and tutor at Jefferson Magnet School, she is a role model for younger students and her peers.

In our interview, Luciel shares her experiences, aspirations, and what drives her to excel academically and personally. Read on to learn more about this remarkable young woman shaping her future while giving back to her community.

How did you first hear about Carver, and what made you decide to join?

I first heard about Carver through Ms. Mitchell in my junior year. I was in a medical club called HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), and the teacher advisor there talked about an internship opportunity at Norwalk Hospital for an Earn & Learn intern. I then went down to Ms. Mitchell, and she said I could do it if I were part of the YDP (the Youth Development Program). I thought the internship was a great opportunity to learn about the medical pathway and get in-person experience with the Norwalk Hospital, so I joined. I ended up staying because of the other opportunities and after-school help they provide.

What were your favorite activities or experiences with Carver, and why did they stand out to you?

My favorite experiences with Carver are meeting and becoming friends with new people. In the beginning, I wasn’t as dedicated to attending YDP because of other extracurriculars I had, or I just used the time to complete my homework alone with no help. When I started attending more often, I began to become familiar with some people in the program through the activities they offered. I’ve become good friends with them, and we group for activities in YDP. We would group for film, cooking, extra help, going outside, etc. 

It stood out to me because they’ve helped encourage me to stay in YDP so I could experience all it had to offer. While some of YDP’s benefits were encouraging enough to have me stay, making friends there because of the group activities has made me feel comfortable attending YDP.

How has the mentoring you received helped you with school or personal goals?

The mentoring they provided helped me exceedingly academically. The tutors they provide are accelerated teachers in the subject (International Baccalaureate teachers), and they try to call down anyone or point us in the right direction to teachers who can help us. Two of the tutors there are my teachers (Math and English), so every time I have an issue in class, it’s straightforward to get help directly from the teacher. They offer a lot of support for my education and help me get the grades that I currently have.

What skills have you gained through your paid internships in the program, and how have they helped you in school or with future career plans?

The primary skill I’ve learned through the paid internship is career readiness, part of the hospital internship. They helped me create a LinkedIn account, resume, cover letter, and elevator pitch for the first time. These experiences helped me force my way out of my comfort zone and create my resume for jobs I’ve applied to. The preparation aspect helped me feel confident about getting a job at Jefferson Marine Science Elementary School because I'll be ready for any question they throw or ask.

How has participating in Carver programs influenced your confidence or your ability to tackle challenges?

The Carver programs, especially the Career Readiness program, have made me more confident in tackling challenges. Because they’ve prepared us for getting a job and what to provide, I feel confident that I have everything I could need to apply or at least most of it. When it comes to the challenge of talking about myself for jobs, they’ve also prepared me by having me make an elevator pitch with key points. The hands-on experience at Jefferson has helped me with challenges, too, because it’s a new environment in which I gain experience. This will significantly help me in the medical field if I ever work with children.

Is there a lesson or advice you received from a mentor that has stayed with you?

A piece of advice that I’ve received from Ms. Mitchell that has stayed with me is to ‘strive for more.’ I’ve always been uncertain and unconfident about my abilities and education, but Ms. Mitchell sees so much in my capabilities. She repeatedly reminds me to strive for more, to reach for more because I’m capable of doing so. She tells me how much I’ve accomplished and reminds me of my level of education. She helps me see that I’m much more than I think. That piece of advice, ‘Strive for More,’ has helped me be more confident in my work.

In what ways has the program helped you feel more prepared for college or your future career?

The internships, Career Readiness, and working opportunities have made me feel more prepared for college and my future career. YDP has helped me understand what I do and don’t want to become in the future, and Ms. Mitchell has offered me support every step of the way. My experience in YDP has helped me expose myself to things that I wouldn’t have done before, like getting a bank account or making a LinkedIn account. They’ve exposed me to things that are more than just grades on my transcript. They’ve helped me build my resume and go after opportunities. While I wasn’t part of it because I wanted to stay near the area for college, YDP offers excellent tours to different colleges in different states that can be free or cost very little money. You get to experience life in other states, take tours, and do sightseeing in person. While I didn’t do it because of my choices for college, it was and can be very helpful to those who want to go to college somewhere far away.

What would you say to other students who are considering joining Carver/Sr. YDP?

I would say it’s an excellent opportunity to join, regardless of the money you have to pay to be in the program. I’ve already earned the money back because of the paid internships and working at Jefferson Elementary, so I don’t have to worry about losing money. I would also encourage them to participate in the opportunities they provide. I’ve also gained so much experience with the world outside of school because of the guidance the staff offers. It’s completely worth it to join; it has completely transformed my high school experience. 

How would you like to give back to your community someday, and has Carver inspired those goals?

Someday, I’d like to give back money to help my community. For the college trips, we earn money through fundraisers and standing outside establishments with signs to help fund the trip. Through the opportunities I’ve had at Carver, I've realized how important it is for some people to get money. It could help them gain golden opportunities or experiences that could change their lives in school or out of school.

What would you like Carver donors to know about how their support has impacted your life?

I’d like them to know that I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have without Carver. Their Career Readiness has helped me the most for my future. I would have never made resumes, cover letters, elevator pitches, or a LinkedIn profile because I would have never had someone guide me through or tell me to make those or that I should make them. I wasn’t aware of how vital an elevator pitch or LinkedIn account is. I would have never gotten in-person experience at the hospital or made many connections with people from whom I would most likely need help soon or in the future.

The job I got through Carver helped me immensely to know how to interact with children and what having a job is like. I never thought I’d like to work with kids before, but now, I’m excited to go to work every time because of Carver.

The money the job has given me has taught me to manage money and spend it wisely. People may always say to spend money wisely, but it’s different when you have cash in your bank account. With the job, I’ve also learned to manage my time. I’ve always had minimal extracurriculars, but with work now, I’ve learned to manage my time properly.

I would also never have realized that I have more dreams and aspirations than I used to have. Because they’ve encouraged me to think about college more and what I want to be in the future, I’ve realized that I wish to do even more than just the medical field. I learned to branch out from my dreams since I was young and make new ones that I can strive for. 

I want Carver donors to know I’m grateful for every opportunity and experience they’ve helped provide.