My Journey Continues – Darnel

Each year, as part of our My Journey Continues campaign, Spark celebrates our Year Up United participants and all the hard work they’ve put into preparing for the next chapter of their lives. Through our partnership with national nonprofit Year Up United, Spark provides mentorship to young adults in six-month internship placements with corporate partners in the DC region. Read on to learn about our talented young people and what they’ve accomplished during their time with Spark the Journey.

 My Journey Continues at Exelon!

Where are you currently employed, and what’s your role there?

I’m currently employed at Exelon as an IT Project Coordinator, where I help manage timelines, coordinate resources, and support communication across teams to ensure successful project execution.

What’s one professional goal you’re working toward?

I’m working toward completing my IT degree with a focus on project management and data analytics, with the goal of advancing into a lead project management or systems analyst role in the future.

What’s one accomplishment from your internship that you’re most proud of?

One accomplishment I’m most proud of is organizing and contributing to a networking event that connected interns and professionals across departments. It helped foster collaboration and opened doors for future opportunities.

What’s one lesson or skill you learned from participating in the Spark mentorship program that you think will be helpful for your career?

One of the most valuable skills I learned through the Spark mentorship program was how to conduct independent research effectively. Being able to find reliable information and solve problems without relying on constant guidance has made me more confident and resourceful in a professional setting.

Each year, as part of our My Journey Continues campaign, Spark celebrates our graduating seniors and all the hard work they’ve put into preparing for the next chapter of their lives. Read on to learn about just a few of our talented participants and what they’ve accomplished during their time with Spark the Journey.

My Journey Continues at the University of the District of Columbia!

What are your plans for next year? 

This fall, I’ll be majoring in Psychology at the University of the District of Columbia. 

What’s one goal you have for next year? 

My primary goal is to gain more practical experience and knowledge, not just in school but also in real-world settings. 

What’s one accomplishment from high school that you’re most proud of?  

My most significant accomplishment, which I am most proud of, is securing a full ride to college. This means I won’t have to worry about paying for school, and I’ll be debt-free! Whoop whoop! 

What’s one lesson or skill you’ve learned at Spark that you think will be the most helpful for this next chapter in your life? 

One valuable lesson I’ve learned from Spark is to seize opportunities when they arise.  

Each year, as part of our My Journey Continues campaign, Spark celebrates our graduating seniors and all the hard work they’ve put into preparing for the next chapter of their lives. Read on to learn about just a few of our talented participants and what they’ve accomplished during their time with Spark the Journey.

My Journey Continues at American University!

What are your plans for next year?

I am going to American University to major in Political Science and International Affairs and minor in Philosophy.

What’s one goal you have for next year?

One goal I have for next year is to maintain a high GPA.

What’s one accomplishment from high school that you’re most proud of?

One accomplishment I’m proud of from high school is being the senior class president and the National Honor Society president.

What’s one lesson or skill you’ve learned at Spark that you think will be the most helpful for this next chapter in your life?

A skill I learned at Spark that I think will be helpful is to take advantage of good opportunities. There are so many events that Spark introduced me to, which allowed me to discover new things. For example, I was able to tour American University, which I will now attend.

Sydney Vargas is a New York native who made a second home for herself in the DMV. She is a 2014 graduate from the University of Maryland in College Park, and she has made use of her Bachelor’s in Communication in Higher Education, and Business Management. Recreationally, she enjoys exploring the city through food and culture, and Sydney loves to exercise her creative side through crafting.

Why did you become a mentor? 

I love the joie de vivre young people have. They haven’t been jaded and anything is possible. I’m someone who loves to help others foster their curiosities and passions and use my experiences to serve as a guide.

How long have you been mentoring with Spark the Journey? 

This is my first cycle and I love it. I’m inspired by my mentee who is driven and loves to face down a challenge.

What activities do you do with your mentee?

We make strong use of the sponsored group activities, and we like to catch up on the phone.

What has been a highlight of your mentoring experience so far? 

Seeing my mentee bloom. In a few short months, she’s gone from very timid to standing tall in her self-confidence and getting her needs met.

What is one of your mentee’s dreams? 

To make a difference in the medical field.

How are you helping them achieve it? 

Connecting her with my network of doctors, nurses, and hospital-based social workers.

How has Spark helped you in your mentoring relationship? 

Spark has helped formalize and guide the relationship. The programs team has served as a great support for guidance with resources. 

What advice would you give anyone considering mentoring?

Do it. Just go for it and the experience will speak for itself.

Dawn Manga is the Assistant Director for Resilience and Cybersecurity at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in the National Security Division. She is on a temporary assignment from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). At CISA, Dawn is a Senior Advisor within the Emergency Communications Division. She has previously been a Program Manager for major IT and Identity Management programs at CISA and Department of Homeland Security Headquarters. Prior to joining DHS, Dawn served as a Technology Fellow within the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group where she worked in strategic planning for the U.S. Navy and served in DoD for 10 years.

Ms. Manga received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Florida and earned a Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. She also holds a Project Management Professional certification and is a Certified Information Security Manager. Dawn is originally from Baltimore, MD.

Why did you become a mentor? 

I became a mentor so that I could give back to someone in a way I didn’t have access to when I was younger. I had a challenging and indirect path to college that definitely could have benefitted from the guidance of a mentor. Additionally, I really enjoy the opportunity to share my story and show that even through adversity, you can persevere.

How long have you been mentoring with Spark the Journey? 

I signed up with Spark back in June of this year and was preliminarily matched with my mentee in July. I met Jordyn at a match event in September, so I’ve only been mentoring for about 3 or 4 months. I do have history with another mentorship organization that I worked with in various capacities for years, but Spark the Journey is a much better fit for me.

What activities do you do with your mentee?

My mentee and I have primarily gone to places where we can grab a bite to eat while we catch up and chat about literally anything going on in her world… from family to friends to looking for a job or figuring out her major for college. We’ve also attended some of the events hosted by Spark, such as the Spy Museum outing and college tours.

What has been a highlight of your mentoring experience so far? 

I really enjoyed helping Jordyn decide what her major would be. She identified a few areas she was interested in and within a few weeks she was able to narrow it down to one area that she wants to pursue. That felt really good and I was super excited when she told me she’d decided… maybe a little too excited LOL!

What is one of your mentee’s dreams? 

She wants to become a Forensic Scientist which I think is super cool! Increasing the number of girls in STEM is a passion of mine, so I’m really happy Jordyn chose that as her major.

How are you helping them achieve it? 

I’ve been acting as a sounding board and giving Jordyn things to think about when it comes to deciding on a major as well as talking through picking colleges to apply to. I’ve really just been trying to make sure I stay in contact and let her know she has someone in her corner to support her in this big decision, especially as someone that didn’t take a direct path to college and lacked a mentor to help guide me during my challenging times.

How has Spark helped you in your mentoring relationship? 

Spark gives opportunities to talk with other mentors and bounce ideas off of them or just see how other matches are going, which is helpful. Having goals for each month is useful to guide conversations with our mentees. Also, having a Program Coordinator to reach out to if you have questions is beneficial because trying to manage everything on your own can be challenging.

What advice would you give anyone considering mentoring?

Definitely check out multiple mentoring organizations to understand how each one supports the mentorship match as well as each side of the match separately because that may affect the outcome of the experience. Also, be yourself! Your mentee will benefit most from someone that is their authentic self in a world where social media sometimes shows a skewed view of reality.

Kibiriti Majuto was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He came to the United States at 14 through the refugee resettlement program. He earned an associate’s degree from Piedmont Virginia Community College and then a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Africana Studies from William & Mary.

Kibiriti is a graduate student at Yale School of the Environment, planning to study Climate Change Science and Solutions. He is excited to learn more about climate change, specifically looking at adaptation and mitigation strategies within Sub-Saharan Africa, sustainable development finance, and foreign affairs. He hopes to assemble the skills necessary to contribute to the discourse on climate adaptation and sustainable infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa.

He is currently a Climate Innovation Intensive Coordinator at Yale Center for Business and Environment (CBEY) and Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale. Kibiriti enjoys watching anime, running, and listening to afro-fusion and amapiano in his free time.

Why did you become a mentor? 

I became a mentor because I firmly believe in the transformative power of mentorship. I have been fortunate to have had exceptional mentors who guided me through my educational journey. Their support has been invaluable, especially during challenging times. I always strive to enhance my growth mindset, and mentoring provides a platform for continuous personal growth.

How long have you been mentoring with Spark the Journey? 

I have been a mentor for one academic year and will start my second academic year this year. 

What activities do you do with your mentee?

We usually explore various eateries across Washington, DC, where we catch up about life, school, books, movies, and college. 

What has been a highlight of your mentoring experience so far? 

A highlight for me has been having my mentee come to me with questions about life, college, and current events and just engaging in conversation about the mundane activities of life.

What is one of your mentee’s dreams? 

One of his dreams is to live a simple life, where he does not have many stressors. To live a comfortable life. 

How are you helping them achieve it? 

Our regular Monday check-in calls have been instrumental venues for me to engage with my mentee about the type of life he desires and a space for me to ask many questions about his future. The calls are an excellent way for me to listen to my mentee, help provide various schools of thought about goals and life achievement and share my knowledge on creating a life purpose and drive. I encourage my mentee to think about how his desire to go to college can aid him in achieving his goal of living a stress-free life.

How has Spark helped you in your mentoring relationship? 

I love Ranya’s role during our check-in calls, offering suggestions of things I could be doing with my mentee. I love the constant follow-ups on where we left out in our last conversation, and that allows me to follow up with my mentee about the goals we have set up for the month.

What advice would you give anyone considering mentoring?

If you feel called to be a mentor, you should sign up to be one! However, you must recognize that it will take some time and patience to reach the level of relationship where your mentee feels comfortable with you. Mentorship is a relationship, and it’s going to take time to cultivate and grow.

Mario Sengco is a physical scientist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency where he has worked at the intersection of science and policy related to water quality standards for the past 13 years. Prior to government service, he worked as a researcher in the fields of marine biology, ecology, and biological oceanography. He has mentored many high school students and undergraduates on science fair projects in his lab throughout his career.

Mario was born and raised in the Philippines. He and his family moved to New Jersey in the 1980s. After attending college and graduate school in New York and Massachusetts, he made his way down to Maryland to work at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center before moving to the federal government. He has now been a resident of the District for 15 years. Mario started learning piano when he was 4 years old and music continues to be his main hobby. He performs with several choirs in the DMV and has performed in venues across the area including Wolf Trap, the National Cathedral, and the Kennedy Center.

Why did you become a mentor? 

I became a mentor because I firmly believe that being present in the life of a young person at a critical point in life can make a huge difference in their future, especially in their academic journey. I know this for myself because I credit a handful of teachers, coaches, and influential adults that came at various points in my own life who guided me to where I am today. I hoped to be able to be that person for other young people.

How long have you been mentoring with Spark the Journey? 

This academic year will mark the end of my second year.

What activities do you do with your mentee?

We meet regularly for coffee or a meal to talk about school, work, and life in general. We’ve also met at my workplace for a tour and to show him more about what I do.

What has been a highlight of your mentoring experience so far? 

For me, the highlight of my experience so far has been arriving at a comfortable place where my mentee and I can just chat and talk openly. I appreciate the mutual trust we have placed in one another. 

What is one of your mentee’s dreams? 

One of his dreams is to find his calling – that next step in life that will challenge him, bring out his best, and thrust him into the path of an amazing future that I know is just around the corner.

How are you helping them achieve it? 

I feel that my role as a mentor is to listen and understand, ask lots of questions to help my mentee think through his ideas, offer suggestions to meet interim goals and overcome potential obstacles, and encourage him when it all seems too daunting. I also think that offering up examples from my own life can be helpful to show how goals can be created and met, and challenges overcome.

How has Spark helped you in your mentoring relationship? 

The regular check-in calls with my Spark case manager have been extremely valuable because they serve as a sounding board especially during the relationship building stage. The calls have also been good to discuss plans and get feedback. The various activities and support provided by Spark (college visits, tutoring, etc.) have also been great.  Even though my mentee has chosen not to avail himself of these services, it’s good to know that these are available to him and I can always suggest them.

What advice would you give anyone considering mentoring?

My main advice is to be patient. The mentoring truly happens after a steady relationship has been established built on trust and good will. This takes time, consistency, persistence, positivity and honesty. Prepare to be open and vulnerable. The rewards can be really fulfilling and enriching for both in the end.

Each year, as part of our My Journey Continues campaign, Spark celebrates our graduating seniors and all the hard work they’ve put into preparing for the next chapter of their lives. Read on to learn about just a few of our talented participants and what they’ve accomplished during their time with Spark the Journey.

My Journey Continues at American University!

What are your plans for college next year?

Next year I plan to go to American University. I am currently debating between studying public health or political science.

What’s one accomplishment that you’re most proud of in high school?

An accomplishment that I am most proud of during high school is being able to intern at the National Credit Union Administration in the office of External Affairs and Communication. There aren’t many high school students who are able to get that opportunity. I am lucky to have been able to gain work experience in the media and writing side of things, as well as network with such amazing people.

What about college are you most excited for?

For college, I am most excited about being able to meet new people and start studying. I am excited to finally be able to start my education for the career of my choice.

What’s one goal you have for next year?

An educational goal I have for next year is to continue earning high grades and learn new studying techniques for my college classes. On the other hand, a personal goal of mine is to continue the good work I have done to improve my mental health. I also want to continue to be involved in extracurriculars I enjoy – especially those that give back to the community.

What’s one lesson or skill you’ve learned from your mentor that you think will be the most helpful in college?

A lesson I’ve learned from my mentor that I believe will be the most helpful in college is to simply let myself be. I often stop myself from doing certain things or acting in a certain way because of the people around me. My mentor has helped me become comfortable just going for more of the things I want to do and further developing my individual identity.

Can you describe in your own words how Spark the Journey has impacted your life?

Spark the Journey has impacted my life by providing me with a support team that I know I can count on in my education, career, and personal life.

Each year, as part of our My Journey Continues campaign, Spark celebrates our graduating seniors and all the hard work they’ve put into preparing for the next chapter of their lives. Read on to learn about just a few of our talented participants and what they’ve accomplished during their time with Spark the Journey.

My Journey Continues at Temple University!

What are your plans for college next year?

Next year I’m headed to Temple University!

What about college are you most excited for?

I’m most excited about the chance to meet people from different backgrounds and broaden my knowledge of the world.

What’s one goal you have for your future career?

For my future career, I’m interested in tons of things. Right now, I’m considering either IT and cybersecurity or psychology and counseling as potential options. Both would allow me to practice my leadership skills and tackle big challenges, which is what I really want to do at the end of the day. Regardless of what I choose, I know that I’ll be equipped to handle it.

What’s one lesson or skill you’ve learned from Spark that you think will be the most helpful in college?

Spark has provided me with endless opportunities to help me grow. They’ve shared information about scholarships, SAT prep, financial literacy, and so many other things that I wasn’t able to find anywhere else. Coming from a low-income community, it’s really important to me to learn about these resources. I want to use them myself, of course, but I also want to spread the word to others so that all of us can become economically mobile.

Can you describe in your own words how Spark the Journey has impacted your life?

When I started with Spark the Journey, I wasn’t very open-minded. I didn’t like trying new things. And I had never been part of a community that felt like family. Spark was different. They introduced me to my mentor, Vi, who’s one of the best listeners I know. I really appreciate that she’s always there for me, no matter what I need to talk about, and she gives incredible advice. She’s not just a mentor – she’s also become a true friend.

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