Poly alumni spend summer interning with Partnership for Success!

In 1990, Poly began Partnership for Success!, formerly known as the Skills Enrichment Program, offering a fully-funded academic enrichment program for select Pasadena Unified School District students. After more than 20 years and a name change, PFS! works with students for eight consecutive summers, from fifth through 12th grade, focusing on the math and English skills of participants, while also providing academic enrichment classes and field trip opportunities.

We had the chance to catch up with three recent Poly alumni who shared with us their experiences interning for PFS! this summer:

Katie Yun ’13, a double major in art and psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, says interning at PFS! has helped shape her career ambitions. She explains, “I always knew I wanted to work with kids, but now I can’t imagine anything more worthwhile to do with my life than to be a teacher.” This summer, Katie taught art to rising ninth-graders in a program designed to encourage growth and enable students to paint comfortably and confidently by the end of the session. The curriculum began with students making color wheels and learning how to mix colors, and culminated with each student replicating a famous painting. Students then visited the Norton Simon Museum to see the real masterpiece in person. Of the students in the program, Katie said, “Most of them haven’t taken an art class before so the class was extremely frustrating for them. However, they did it. They challenged themselves, they grew as artists, and they never gave up. I feel so grateful for my five weeks in PFS! The experience was beautiful.”

 

Nicky Steidel ’14, an incoming freshman at Princeton, taught math this summer and says he loves teaching. During his time as a Poly student, Nicky often helped informally tutor fellow students in math, although he hadn’t always enjoyed the subject. He remarks, “[Poly teacher Eric] Strom made me enjoy mathematics after years of ambivalence (or, dare I say, aversion) through his wonderful and engaging Calculus BC course. Also, through the highly participatory nature of Strom’s class during the year, I discovered that I loved teaching math and also had a bit of a knack for it.” Experiencing Strom’s passion and positivity as a student inspired Nicky in his internship role, and he strove to infuse those qualities into his own teaching. He admits that maintaining energy and enthusiasm that engages the class was challenging, but the reward was well worth it. Reflecting on his time working for PFS!, Nicky asserts, “the experience really solidified my dream of becoming a teacher.”

 

Evie Zavidow ’13, a student at Barnard College, assisted the College Counseling program for PFS! and had a lot to say about the importance of Poly’s involvement in such a rigorous and supportive outreach program: “Prior to working at PFS!, I knew the program was great, and I knew it was important. What I did not know was that it changed lives. I have seen students with failing transcripts receive ‘A’ grades during their five weeks in the program. I have seen students thrive and connect with teachers in a way that is impossible for them at their respective schools. I have met alums of the program who have gone on to become leaders, professionals, NFL Super Bowl winners—all of whom express nothing but appreciation and respect for the program.