In this monthly column, we’re catching up with some of our most memorable teen programs participants who are now busy fulfilling their potential and changing the world!
Do you remember the moment you knew exactly what career you were destined for? While most of us don’t, and others are still waiting for inspiration to strike, Step Up alumna Tiara Kittrell will never forget.
Her light bulb moment came during a Step Up Pathways to Professions career field trip to Random House LLC, the world’s largest English language trade publisher. There, she decided to begin her pursuit of a career in publishing.
“It was the first time I figured out publishing was even an option,” Tiara recalls. “I had a smile on my face the whole time I was there. I just knew I could see myself working there. It was a dream come true, and the dream hasn’t gone away since then.”
Now, Tiara is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania and a double major in English and psychology. “It’s a lot of work,” she notes.
But with publishing as her passion, she is enjoying her time as an Ivy League student and filling her resume with many relevant experiences. She works on Penn’s literary magazine (and aspires to be the next editor!), and joined the school’s film society, ‘Spectrum.’ Needless to say, Tiara doesn’t mind when her Spectrum duties call for her to help coordinate campus conversations featuring big-name actors (previous guest speakers have included James Franco and Joseph Gordon-Levitt!).
Tiara, now a junior at the University of Pennsylvania.
Having just returned from a study abroad session in London, Tiara hopes to remain on campus this summer to take additional English classes and work in the bookstore. “The publishing industry wants me to have bookstore experience,” she explains.And just as you’re thinking Tiara probably doesn’t have much time to rest, she shares that a regular part of her week is her trip with the West Philadelphia Tutoring Project to mentor elementary school children. “I want to be a positive role model and build a relationship with the students,” Tiara shares. “And there’s still more I want to get into! Coming back after being abroad, you realize how much there is you want to do. Things are really falling into place, and I’m building the experience I always wanted to build for myself.”
Tiara cultivated this vision for her life back in Step Up as a student at The Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem. Her favorite Step Up program was Pathways to Professions, where she not only visited Random House, but also Google, Yahoo!, Estee Lauder and more. “Having the opportunity to speak with professional women and hearing how they did it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” Tiara recalls. “Incredible women doing incredible things: my dream is to reach that level of professionalism.”
She also participated in Step Up’s Young Luminaries program and was granted a paid summer internship with renowned jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels. “Interning with Van Cleef & Arpels was an amazing experience,” Tiara said. “The skills I learned, I continue to use at every job I’ve held since: basic office skills, how to handle projects, how to act in an office – these skills are so important. It was my first internship experience, and I’m so grateful to Step Up.”
With a resume that already puts many of us to shame, it’s no doubt we will soon see Tiara making waves in the world of publishing. But for now, she’s cherishing her college days and making the most of every moment.
Interviewed and profiled by Step Up Staff members Sarah Wendt and Alissa Zito
Let Tiara know she has your continued support by leaving her a comment below!
