Favorite Parts of Being a Director of Programs at Minds Matter Southern California
Shalin, Director of Programs at Minds Matter Southern California, most enjoys "working with the students," finding the interactions "a lot of fun" and fulfilling a personal passion stemming from their own transformative high school experience as a first-generation, low-income student. This role allows Shalin to leverage their resources to expand access and mentorship for students lacking similar support during their formative years.
Mentorship, Leadership, Nonprofit, Higher Education, Social Impact
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Shalin Craig
Director of Programs
Minds Matter Southern California
University of California, Berkeley, 2015
N/A
Ethnic & Related Studies
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Education
Scholarship Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Working with students and making a difference in their lives is the most enjoyable aspect of the job.
2. The Director's passion for working with high schoolers stems from their own transformative experience as a first-generation, low-income student.
3. The role allows the Director to expand access to mentorship and resources for students, similar to what they received and benefited from.
Transcript
What do you enjoy most about being in your current role?
I definitely enjoy working with the students the most. I think everyone at Lives Matter would probably say that, even those in volunteer roles. Just being around the students and getting to interact with them makes me laugh so much. It's just a lot of fun.
I've always had a passion for working with high schoolers in particular. That was a really transformational time for me. I knew going into my career that was something I really wanted to lean into.
As I got older, I started to reflect on all of the things that impacted the trajectory of my life during those four years. I thought about how I could take the tools, access, and resources I have to serve students in a similar place.
As a first-generation, low-income student, it's super important for me to step into a role that was really crucial for me. I had mentors and adults invested in my growth at that age, which not all students have access to. Being able to play a small role in expanding that access to other students is really enjoyable and fun.