News

For Michelle, Zamira, Eva, Luis, and Henry, the Pathway to Success program has been more than just a series of workshops. The Pathways experience has been a foundation for building confidence and developing invaluable skills. In their own way, each of them has carried the lessons learned into their studies, professional aspirations, and outlook on their postsecondary education life.

For Michelle, a Biology graduate from Middlesex College, Pathways is the reason she feels more confident in professional settings. “Through elevator pitches and simulating real job meetings, I learned more about myself and how to stand out,” she shared. For her, what was once an area of improvement has become an area of strength.

Meanwhile, Zamira spent four years in Pathways pursuing Industrial and Systems Engineering at Rutgers University. She credits the program with helping her make pivotal academic choices and develop overall confidence. An internship she once considered “too far out of reach” became a defining experience, having pursued it after encouragement and preparation from Pathways mentors Tiffany and Colin. Looking back, she describes the opportunity as “spectacular” and one she might have missed without the program.

Eva, also from Rutgers University, is a Political Science graduate with minors in Latino and Caribbean Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Pathways, she says, gave her professional skills to carry into every new opportunity, including her recent fellowship with the New Jersey Governor’s Hispanic Fellowship Program. With guidance from mentors like Angela and Don, Pathways gave Eva not just resources but also lasting support systems.

For Henry, an Accounting major at The College of New Jersey, the program offered both practical and personal takeaways. From Excel and resume workshops to financial literacy and conflict resolution, Pathways offered him tools for his career and his life. He recalls his first interviewing workshop as a defining moment that gave him the skills and confidence to pursue internships and future roles.

Luis graduated from Thomas Jefferson University with a degree in Architecture and a minor in Sustainable Design. Looking ahead, he plans to apply for entry-level architectural designer positions and begin the path toward licensure. Reflecting on the impact of Pathways, Luis shared, “The Pathways program has provided financial, professional, emotional, and so many other forms of support, that I couldn’t even fathom all of the resources provided.”

For these Pathways students, building a solid foundation for confidence, gaining skills through real-world experience, and connecting with mentors made all the difference. Each student emphasized gratitude for their mentors, whose guidance was not only supportive but also deeply personal and adaptive to their own needs.

The impact of the Pathways program has been profound—supporting students throughout their college years and equipping them with the tools to confidently transition into professional careers. Much of this success is a direct reflection of the students themselves, who invested deeply in their growth, seized every opportunity, and demonstrated extraordinary resilience, work ethic, and commitment to their futures. As Henry, a Pathways graduate, shared, “The program itself helps us have knowledge on our own journey through college and prepares us for what we believe is important to be better off in the future.” Looking ahead, graduates unanimously believe that Pathways would be deeply beneficial for future cohorts—empowering more young people to navigate their academic and professional journeys with confidence and purpose.