CYD asked students what they thought about COVID-19, the shutdown, job loss, the protests after George Floyd’s death, and remote learning. Here is what the top three essayists told us.
I came to CYD after I got my master’s degree in school counseling at Columbia. I did an intern year at a high school focusing on the college process. I loved it. From there, I found the position at CYD where I’ve been for three years. I’m a college counselor at the High School for Health Professions and Human Services (HPHS).
Comprehensive Youth Development celebrates the 693 graduates from Manhattan Comprehensive Night & Day High School, City-As-School High School, and The High School for Health Professions and Human Services! Students persisted in the face of a school shutdown, the anxiety of a global pandemic, and the launch of a new civil rights movement.
“I check in daily with CYD to stay focused. They’ve helped me apply for unemployment and plan best ways to work as soon as it’s possible. Setting deadlines and managing my time has been challenging. But I’m motivated! I still plan to graduate next year and study computer engineering and climate science.”
Even amid the school’s closure, tutoring is active for Manhattan Comprehensive students via videoconference. Ammar has continued to work on math and computer science with his tutor, Adam Aleksa. They have worked out an ingenious, collaborative method where Ammar shares his homework on screen and Aleksa captures it in a screenshot…
Since 2015, more than 200 young people have completed CYD’s postsecondary healthcare training program, The Career Academy. This innovative training program for our alumni and other city high school graduates is a partnership with Borough of Manhattan Community College’s Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development.
June is traditionally thought of as graduation month, but our two partner transfer schools hold multiple graduation ceremonies throughout the year. Three times a year at Manhattan Comprehensive Night & Day High School in January, June, and August, and four times a year at City-As-School, in January, June, August, and November.
Six MCNDHS/CDI alumni came back to school last month to speak with current students. They gave pointers on college, covering everything from choosing the right professors to time management.
CDI counselors work one-on-one with students to educate them about all their options, and also puts together information sessions for students and parents with speakers from the New York State Financial Aid, and host workshops and presentations all through January and February to boost financial aid awareness.
CDI couldn’t do the work we do without our extensive network of over 250 volunteers!