Yesenia Garcia
Myself Third Continued Excellence in Civic Responsibility 2005 Scholarship Winner
Hunter College
Myself Third Scholarship Winner: June 2002
"Yesenia demonstrates empathy and compassion for the people she deals with, who are homeless. She listens to them and does her best to assist them in any way that is at her reach. She keeps her records up to date and makes sure that each person takes advantage of all housing programs available. If they require other services, she will not hesitate to look up information to where they can be referred to."
—Maria Tolentino, Supervisor, Alladin Hotel
Work, Volunteer, and Extra-Curricular Activities
- Case Manager, Alladin Hotel (homeless shelter/housing)
- Academic Assistant, Hunter College
Excerpts from Yesenia's Essay
My mother has always taught me that the key to get anywhere I want in life is through knowledge and acceptance—knowledge and acceptance of those around me and those who I have yet to meet.
Currently I am working as a case manager at a homeless shelter in Times Square, and I am very grateful to have found this job because it allows me to meet people from different parts of New York, learn how different people can be, and how their experiences have made them who they are today.
I work with adults who do not live with their children. Most of them have criminal backgrounds, are drug addicts, or once were drug addicts—adults who are in methadone programs and adults struggling to get their life together and make it on their own. By constantly giving them my unconditional attention every time they just need someone to talk to, by listening to their problems and offering my advice, I can feel happy that at the end of the day, I made a person?s day just a bit brighter.
Working with people, especially the less fortunate, and helping them help themselves is a civic duty that we should all take on. We can create a better and just society for all of us to live in if we all support and respect one another.
