Mariyah: Thriving in College and Beyond

Last May, we introduced you to Mariyah, a senior from Communities In Schools^® (CIS^®) of Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Mariah met her CIS site coordinator, Ms. Miller, her sophomore year. During their daily check-ins, the two discussed peer pressure and the day-to-day expectations of school. These meaningful conversations empowered Mariyah, building her confidence and helping her to achieve her goal of graduating high school a year early.

Today, Mariyah is a student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (A&T), majoring in mechanical engineering. We recently caught up with Mariyah to see what she’s up to, how CIS prepared her for life after high school, and if she has any advice for the Class of 2025.

Here’s what Mariyah had to say:

What are you up to now?

Right now, I’m focused on my classes. My first semester was definitely a lot rougher than my second semester has been, but because of that, I've had a lot of time to explore my interests. I'm working on getting myself involved at the on-campus lab—either by volunteering or working—where you can practice 3D printing, embroidery, sewing, and woodworking.

I like to be hands-on, you know? I like getting my hands dirty, crusty, musty. I LOVE it! That's definitely my thing. A&T has provided me with a great opportunity to do that. I'm also trying to connect with some professors so I can get involved in robotics opportunities.

Did CIS help prepare you for life after graduation?

Oh, yeah, for sure. I’m still in touch with my site coordinator, Ms. Miller. We actually got together over spring break. She's someone I can talk to and gossip with because if I keep all the drama in, I will EXPLODE. She's also a support system for me.

I get discouraged a lot, and I complain a lot, but Ms. Miller is there to tell me it will be alright. She was a big contributor to my mindset that confidence is a choice, and you have to choose prosperity for yourself. She always told me that the chances are never zero. You gotta believe in yourself first. Give yourself a chance. Why believe I can't do it, when I can believe I CAN do it? If I fail either way, at least I fail positively. So, she definitely enforced a lot of positive mindsets in me.

CIS as a whole, I've met a lot of people. Other CIS alumni from my high school go here and I’ve run into some of them on campus, and oh my goodness, it’s like a little family reunion. It was nice to just say hello and catch up. Being a part of the CIS alumni community also provides networking opportunities because one of those individuals could become a doctor one day.

Seeing a change in myself is great, but I can also see a change in my friends that worked with CIS as well. I like seeing my friends taken care of. CIS did something good for me and those around me, and that's a good feeling.

– Mariyah, Alumna, CIS of Charlotte-Mecklenburg

What advice would you give to the Class of 2025?

Watch who and what you surround yourself with. Not just, you know, the group of people, but your environment where you put yourself. You've got to watch what type of work and opportunities, and people you indulge yourself in.

Is there anything that you’d like to say to your former site coordinator, Ms. Miller?

I would just tell her thank you because I'm grateful to her for giving me an opportunity to be in her community.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see myself in an apartment or some type of home with my own little lab where I can make my robots and conjure up some cool stuff. I will likely have obtained my professional engineering license as well.

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