A Thanksgiving Thank-You: Celebrating Anya’s Journey and the Donors Who Make it Possible
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This summer, Horizons Newark alumna, Anya, who first entered Horizons Newark as a kindergartener, returned to our community in a new role - as one of the inaugural Alumni Junior Staff Members. It was her first job, her first step into leadership, and a powerful reminder of what happens when opportunity, confidence, and mentorship come together.
About the Alumni Program
Horizons Newark’s Alumni Program provides first-year alumni with paid, meaningful work and leadership experiences, pairing them with mentors and offering opportunities to build professional skills, explore career interests, and connect with professionals across a range of fields. Alumni support the summer program while developing confidence and responsibility, and laying the foundation for future academic and career success.
Anya stepped into that opportunity with enthusiasm.
“It was unforgettable,” she shared. “I worked alongside two fellow alumni, helping teachers set up classrooms, supporting students throughout the day, and bringing creativity to the school through bulletin boards, banners, and the yearbook. It felt like giving back to the place that helped raise me.”
But the heart of her experience was the relationships she built, especially during early-morning care before the program began each day.
“We’d peek our heads out the door and try to guess which student was arriving just by the color of their parent’s car,” she laughed. “On the good days, when we guessed right, we’d celebrate like a team.”
What began as a groggy 7 a.m. responsibility quickly grew into the foundation for deep, meaningful connections.
“There was one little boy who came in exhausted, just like I was. He didn’t want breakfast. He just wanted to go home. But we talked. We got to know each other. And by week four, his whole face lit up when he saw me.”
Morning sign-in became a safe place, one where students knew they had someone looking out for them.
“When a fifth grader fell on the playground, she knew she could call out for me. When kindergarteners needed a buddy during waterworks or someone to walk with when they felt overwhelmed, they came to me. They learned it’s better to let the breeze blow than let the storm grow.”
Supporting swim instruction became a strong place of empowerment for Anya.
“Kids who were nervous in the water became captains of imaginary ships, kicking without realizing they were learning to trust themselves.”
These interactions, small in the moment but transformative in impact, shaped Anya just as much as the younger students she guided.
“Helping them gave me confidence too. I’m even joining the high school swim team and getting my lifeguard certification because of my time assisting with swim. The money I earned this summer will help me pay for that.”
On her last day, Anya walked back out through the double doors of the Horizons building with a sense of fulfillment.
“I poured my creativity, support, and joy into Horizons this summer,” she said. “Knowing it will stay with the students and be carried into the world makes me proud.”
Through the Alumni Program, Anya strengthened her leadership, communication, problem-solving, and creative skills, while also discovering what it means to support children with empathy and patience.
“As I grow older, I want to use everything I learned about working with kids, being part of a team, and believing in myself to give back to the world. Not just for a better today, but a better tomorrow.”
To Anya, and to all the students who return as leaders, we say: Thank you for reminding us what is possible when young people are given room to shine.
And to our donors: Thank you for making journeys like Anya’s possible.